Laura Cookson

I will plant native species, landscape with water-efficient plants, and use eco-friendly fertilizers.

I will complete an online energy audit of my home, office, or dorm room and identify my next steps for saving energy.

I will get my Core Four Biometrics tests (blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and BMI).

I will make an appointment for my annual physical.

Both systemic and personal sustainability are important! I will develop a plan with my medical professionals to achieve my best health and live my life to the fullest.

I will spend 100 minutes researching toxic chemicals found in cleaning supplies and personal care products and remove them from my home.

I will reduce the amount of paper mail that I receive by 3.4lbs (1.5kg) a month or 41lbs (18.6kg) a year by opting into paperless billing, ending unwanted subscriptions and opting out of junk mail.

I will plant an herb garden in my home, workplace, or dorm room.

I will try a new method of food preparation, such as canning, pickling, or baking bread.

I will begin, or continue, on the journey of forgiving myself and/or other(s). I may do this through journaling, meditation, prayer, and/or talking with a licensed healthcare professional.

I will replace manual thermostats with programmable ones.

I will switch to washing my clothes in cold water, saving up to 1,600 lbs of CO2 over the course of the next year.

I will replace 2 incandescent lightbulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

I will make sure I’m registered to vote. While I’m at it, I’ll sign up to help others register too!

At least 30% of crops and 90% of flowering plants rely on pollinators to produce fruit. I will spend 90 minutes researching which plants support local native pollinators and plant some in my yard.

We may find more meaning and joy in life when our actions are aligned with our personal values. I will determine what my top 3-5 core values are so that I can better align my actions with them.

I will calculate the carbon emissions associated with my household and consider how different lifestyle choices could reduce our carbon footprint and our impact on the environment.

I will keep lights, electronics, and appliances turned off when not using them.

I will write down three things every day that I am grateful for, or send one email every day thanking or praising someone.

I will save up to .21 lbs (.09 kg) of paper per day by switching from one-sided printing to two-sided when I have to print documents.

If at all possible, I will not accept any disposable bags when making purchases.