365 Sustainable Decisions Challenge

Do you have any new year's resolutions for 2021? And are you fed up with setting good resolutions and not being able to put (some of) them into practice? Then your answers to these three questions will make it easy for you:  https://youtu.be/XKFN_VHl9Fk   I wish you a happy and healthy new year!

A while ago, I decided to organize the many (plastic) bags so that I can find and reused them more easily. Instead of buying a special box for it, I used empty toilet rolls as they all have the same size. It works very well.  

Due to my Twitter suspension and feedback, I realized I love making more videos. As the mere drawing of a four leaf clover doesn't improve the video's content nor my drawing skills, I've decided to only add a clover when relevant, e.g. to wish you a happy and lucky new year!

When I drink tea during the day, I reuse my cup several times. And the good thing is that this saves a lot of washing-up, which then causes me to have the dishwasher run less often. This in turn saves water and energy.

Over the last year, I have found many tins and bottles. I saved them from a slow death by picking them up and bringing them home. And today, I handed them in, as they are deposit bottles/tins. They earned me €7,30 (about $9). A nice bonus for my cleaning efforts!

Some restaurants have heat lamps outside, so that at cooler days or nights, people can still sit on the terrace. I find this a real waste of electricity. That‘s why I asked the restaurant that I visited to switch off this lamp. I‘m glad they did.  

One of my bananas has accidentally become quite brown. Here are 5 ideas on how to nevertheless use this old banana:  https://youtu.be/W-VyVvqzsFI

As mentioned in #17, I use cutlery that can be washed and reused as often as possible. Therefore, in this restaurant, I chose to use the spoon instead of the one way chopsticks. This saves waste.  

Today, I walked past these deserted, empty bottles. The only think I could think of was "Why?!".

I didn't make this doll myself as I can‘t crochet. What I love is that it is made from wool scraps, that is leftovers from previous projects.  

In this video, I explain what is required to make sure not to take something personally:  https://youtu.be/OVN7MfpuKUk

In restaurants and bars, I sometimes get a drink with a drinking straw. If so, I forgot to tell them that I don’t need one. Drinking from the glass works very well for me and I don’t like the idea that this straw is thrown away after having used it – or in my case not even having used it!  

Even though I enjoy Christmas, I at the same time miss the wonderful, daily conversations I usually have on Twitter. And as I was thinking about you all, I accidentally threw this glass on the floor. Lets hope this Dutch proverb comes true: "Shards bring good fortune".

When there is a reason to celebrate and I‘m having a 3-course dinner in a restaurant, I always wait with ordering the dessert. The reason is that I‘m sometimes full after the main course. It would be a waste when I then can‘t finish the dessert and it has to be thrown away.  

123 days into my 365 Clover Challenge:  Today, I shared a message on Twitter to share with the community what happened yesterday and that - most importantly - I won't give up.  Blog: http://www.SustainableDecisions.eu YouTube: https://bit.ly/37NjlP4 https://youtu.be/fYdeMFgIfNU

In this hotel, refraining from having your room cleaned allows you to get a drink in the bar or give €5 euros to a nature and environmental protection association. I don’t want my room cleaned every day, so I chose the second option. And this is – including other environmental-friendly decisions they make – for me a good reason to go to this hotel again.  

122 days into my 365 Clover Challenge:  Today, I've been called back for sending too much love: I've sent merry Christmas messages on Twitter to some who've supported me a lot this year. I've thanked each of them personally, so I didn't expect Twitter to see this as spam and suspend my account.

On one of my walks, I saw this beer in the little stream to cool down. Very clever idea as it saves energy compared to using the fridge. And as one bottle is missing, I think he or she was at that time enjoying a cool beer.  

121 days into my 365 Clover Challenge:  Even when someone or something is missing this year during Christmas time, I hope you'll nevertheless enjoy this time of the year with what/whoever is there. I normally visit family and friends with my partner; this year we'll enjoy the extra time we have as a couple.

I got this fabric bag a long time ago during a flight. I kept it and now use it the bring my lunch. It can be washed and therefore saves me a plastic bag (and of course waste in general).  

120 days into my 365 Clover Challenge:   Only one word is the beginning of making a dream come true:  Video:  youtu.be/4eEpfyILOyc

On one of my walks, I came across this handcart. I really like the idea of using it as a raised bed. As I‘d like to have a raised bed too, maybe I ask whether someone in my town has an unused one left for me.  

119 days into my 365 Clover Challenge:  This week, I recognized another old pain (🌱Day 280). It took me quite some energy to heal it, but interestingly, only a few days later, I feel much better than before! It feels as if so much #love is inside me that it is bursting out of my #heart. A wonderful feeling!  🌱Day 280: Today, I share with you how an old pain is making me stronger, hoping that it makes you stronger too (duration: 1:46 min):  https://youtu.be/cRADwWl6d8M

In the winter, I use a hairdryer to dry my hair before I go to sleep. Otherwise I get really cold. But now it is warm enough to let my hair dry naturally. It of course saves time and another good reason is that it saves energy.  

118 days into my 365 Clover Challenge:  Today, I was asked on what day I am, as different numbers pop up:  in my 365 Clover Challenge (drawing a clover every day for a year) it's day 118,  yesterday, I shared Day 240 from my 365 Sustainable Decisions Challenge.

For the area I live, I can look up on the Internet what meadows are orchard meadows. The idea is that passery-by can take the fruits whenever they are edible. A great service and good to know where I‘m allowed to take them for free so that I don‘t accidentally steal them.  

117 days into my 365 Clover Challenge:  Yesterday, I shared that I had three reasons to go out. And I had a bonus, as I on the way walked past these two wonderful, upcycled Santa Clauses.

Looking back: 240 days into my 365 Sustainable Decisions Challenge:  Moving towards 365, I often find obstacles on the way. When there is one, I try to go around, under, over or get rid of it (of course respecting others and nature). When it works, I feel good and learned something. As you can see, no #obstacle has stopped me yet.

I am sometimes asked whether I want to have my hotel bill in an envelope. Sometimes, I am not even asked. As I don’t need this envelope and would throw it away, I these days refuse the envelope or give it back.

116 days into my 365 Clover Challenge:  I didn't feel like going out today, even though I know it is good for me. That's why I decided to combine going for a walk with buying milk from the machine (Day 72) and bringing back empty bottles and egg cartons. Having three reasons motivated me to go out after all.

As I love eating watermelon (it reminds me of being on holiday), so it is easy for me to finish the watermelon completely. This time, I finished it even further than normally to reduce any foodwaste.  

115 days into my 365 Clover Challenge:  Good news: the European Union has changed its climate target for 2030, aiming at reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% below the 1990 level instead of 40%. So, changes are heading in the right direction.

These small containers with hand soap are often provided in hotels (see also #58). In the past, I used some in the hotel and took others with me to use at home. I now decide to leave them as for only a little bit of soap, I have to throw away a lot of plastic.  

114 days into my 365 Clover Challenge:  Today, it was raining when I went to the city center. I nevertheless went by bike (as opposed to e.g. car), because I have rain pants so that the rain doesn't bother me. This is because I was taught as a kid: there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.

Looking back: 239 days into my 365 Sustainable Decisions Challenge:  On Day 238, I mentioned that it's not my goal to become perfect: good is good enough. I do tend to be a perfectionist though. That's why I've adapted the 80-20 rule to make sure I do the work properly and have time to work on different aspects of my Challenge.

One of my chairs is made of material that started to crack by sitting on it. As I like the chair and want to use it as long as possible, I put tape on it each time a new crack appears.  

113 days into my 365 Clover Challenge:  As I love to connect with others who also want to make a huge positive difference, I've become a liaison in the One Better World Collective ( http://onebetterworld.org ). This collective advances the SDGs through a transformational message of love, which is what I do too!

Hotel rooms and offices often have more than one bin. In this case, both bins had a plastic bag in it. I would much prefer a bin without a plastic bag in it. So, the best I could do here was to only use one bin. I hope that saved a plastic bag.

112 days into my 365 Clover Challenge:  In one of my magazines, I read something I agree with: Inner peace doesn't mean staying in a peaceful place free of noise and trouble. True inner peace means keeping a calm heart in the midst of chaos; it cannot be found in our environment, but only in ourselves.

I've started using a separate, clean spoon for my sandwich spread. In the past, I used my knife, but when it contains for example butter, the sandwich spread started molding on the spots where something was left behind. When that happened, I had to throw it away. That doesn‘t happen anymore now.  

111 days into my 365 Clover Challenge:  Today, I have prepared a Random Act Of Kindness. From an old magazine, I created three postcards, which I'll send in about two weeks to three random people I don't know and live in different countries. I love doing this and imagining their surprise when they get it! ❤️

Looking back: 238 days into my 365 Sustainable Decisions Challenge:  The famous psychologist Carl Rogers once said: “The good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a direction not a destination.” That's why I'm on a journey: https://youtu.be/CRXBEkvEbFo

In the hotel I went to, I found two containers with soap. I decided to use the soap in the larger container, in this case a dispenser. It looks like this dispenser can be refilled. And even if it can’t, it produces less plastic waste as soon as the bottle is empty. I can of course also do this at home.  

110 days into my 365 Clover Challenge:  Today I had a great chat with Yuliya and Inna, who have a podcast about growth mindset ( bit.ly/liveandlearnpod ). We touched on so many interesting topics that we could have continued talking for ages. And in the end, our cheeks hurt a little from smiling so much. I loved it!

Before making this item, I learned a lot! As I wanted to make sure that I can eat the pumpkin completely, I researched what to do with the seeds. The first time I baked and ate them, I realized the white shells don‘t taste good, so I assumed that I did something wrong. The second time, I tried again and learned that the green seeds that are on the bread I buy in the bakery for example, are seeds that grow that way. Without the shell. A lot easier, but I found that getting them out is quite meditative and I valued the seeds even more.  

109 days into my 365 Clover Challenge:  Recently, I got a lot of input through feedback and courses on how to do things. Very helpful, however, it also made me struggle recognizing what is right for me. That's why it helped when I was reminded to follow my heart and that doing things my way is a strength.

Looking back: 236 days into my 365 Sustainable Decisions Challenge:  Have you ever found a shortcut that made your route to e.g. work shorter? And after that, have you ever traveled the long route again? The ideas in my Challenge to live more #sustainable feel like shortcuts to me: as soon as I found them, it's easy to go that way.

I am getting more and more used to switching off the light when leaving a room. Even when using LED lights, it saves energy. And as the switches are often at places that I pass anyway, I only need to swing my arm and the light is off. That doesn’t even take time.  

108 days into my 365 Clover Challenge:  On 🍀Day 84, I shared that a plant started growing in my compost bin. Today, I was flabbergasted when I noticed that it is indeed a potato. It looks delicious and ready to be harvested. And so I did: my first home grown potato.

Over the last 16 months, I've shared ideas about how I reduce my waste. Would you like to make your life easier by learning to come up with your own ideas that are easy to put into practice? If yes, subscribe to stay updated and get limited offers first: https://bit.ly/331G0nU

The Christmas tree on the left was in 2011. The one on the right in 2019. There are already fewer Christmas presents. This year, I hope everyone contributes to only one present: a new pair of walking shoes as my current ones will soon we worn off.  

107 days into my 365 Clover Challenge:  Today, I did the most sustainable driving possible: I imagined during a relaxation exercise driving along the Pacific Coast Highway. As I've never been there, I imagined what you see on the left. On the right is what I later found on a picture. 

Whilst traveling by subway, I got to an escalator that wasn’t moving. I guess it was waiting for someone to step on it, to decide whether to go up or down. To save energy, I decided to take the stairs and let it rest for a little while longer.  

106 days into my 365 Clover Challenge:  In recent months, I received more and more tweets and messages, shared by tagging me or in a direct message. As I often can't recognize whether this is a (re)tweet/share request or not, I'll from now on focus on explicit requests you can send via this little form: www.erlijn.nl/tweet.htm .

Looking back: 235 days into my 365 Sustainable Decisions Challenge:  There are two types of motivation:  one comes from within (intrinsic, e.g. joy)  one from outside (extrinsic, e.g. money).  I'm intrinsically motivated doing this Challenge, as I love working on it: at night, I can't wait to work on it again the next day. 😁