The New Year is just around the corner and it is time for you to set your goals. Notice, I don’t say, “resolutions”. Yes, goals are what you’ll need to set if you need to move forward with eco living and a greener lifestyle.

Here is a month-by-month goal checklist for you to enjoy a self-sufficent, earth-friendly life in the new year:

January: Declutter, Recycle and Reuse

The start of the year is perfect for getting the clutter out and taking a good, hard look at what can be recycled or reused. Involve the kids in the recycling process as you get rid of toys that are no longer played with or clothes that don’t fit. Use this month to reflect upon all the “stuff” that you have and probably set a spending goal for the family so that you don’t end up replacing your clutter with more clutter as the months go by.

February: Eating Green and Healthy

February is perfect for setting the healthy eating goal. Begin the month by buying organic groceries, menu planning so that you can cook from scratch without losing your sanity and, exploring DIY options for family favorites like granola and cookies. Eating healthier is not only better for your family but also for the planet. Organic produce is free of pesticides and chemicals that eventually enter the earth and also, cooking from scratch means you’re consuming less processed and packaged foods.

March: Greening Your Laundry

The crisp air and sunny days in March are perfect for going green with laundry. Switch to organic detergents and line dry your laundry. Not only will you be saving money on power bills, you’ll be saving the environment too! This is also a great month to think about water conservation and reuse grey water too.

April: Grow a Kitchen Garden

Ahh, the weather is great and perfect for growing yourself a kitchen garden. Gardening can be a real fun eco activity for the kids and can help you grow your own organic herbs and vegetables. Even, if you live in an apartment, a “garden” of potted plants can easily be grown.

May: Plan Green Celebrations

Its almost the middle of the year and while you may have celebrated birthdays and anniversaries in the past few months, use May to plan for eco-friendly celebrations. Going forward strive to celebrate every occasion in an eco-friendly manner using reusable crockery and cutlery, cloth napkins and linen and food that is free of chemicals and preservatives.

June: Go Green with Cleaning Home

Summers are perfect for switching to eco-friendly household cleaners. Just make sure that you dispose of chemicals carefully and safely. You’ll be surprised at how easy it is to make your own all-purpose cleaner using just vinegar and water. Save money, go green and have a clean home too. Wow, win-win!

July: Plan Eco-friendly Activities with the Kids

The kids are at home and you don’t want them planted in front of the television, right? So, set yourself the goal of planning fun and frugal eco-friendly activities for them. Regardless of how old a child is, you can always teach him about being green while having fun. From spending time in that organic garden of yours to making crafts, there is plenty to choose from.

August: Buy Eco and Green Back-to-School Supplies

Planning for back-to-school season is in full swing now and while you may be tempted by all the deals to buy the latest, fanciest, cutest, backpack or lunch box, stop. Can you reuse what your children already own? If not, don’t buy lead-laden, PVC-filled school supplies. Opt for natural and eco school supplies such as reusable snack sacks, tree-free notebooks as well as organic cotton backpacks.

September: Spend Time with Grandparents

Yes, this is a green living goal. Why? Because grandparents can teach children SO much about living an eco-friendly life. From baking cookies from scratch to having fun without technology to natural home remedies, grandparents are a storehouse of eco learning. Let your kids quiz them about how life was in their time and make positive changes in their own lives.

October: Enjoy an Eco-friendly Holiday Season

Yes, it is only October but goals need planning to be successful. So, plan now to enjoy a green and eco holiday season. From using good-for-you treats for Halloween to planning to rent your Christmas tree, you need to prepare in advance if you want to enjoy the holidays without hurting the planet.

November: Be a Green Beauty

The holiday season is perfect for revamping your skincare and beauty routine and switching from chemical-laden lotions and makeup to natural, homemade and eco products. You can easily make your own face scrubs and lotions using ingredients that are right there in your kitchen. So, make that switch.

December: Celebrate!

Yes, you green living goal for the last month of the year should be to celebrate everything that you’ve done in the past year. From greening your laundry to switching to eco-friendly cleaners to cooking from scratch, you’ve come a LONG way this year. So, take the time to celebrate the fact that with each month, you’ve come closer to living a life that is good for you and the planet.

What green living goals will you be setting yourself this year? Let me know in the comments and I’ll be your personal cheerleader!

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