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Top 12 ways to start the next decade on the right foot!

03 January 2020

Here it is, 2020, a new decade has begun. But don’t worry this isn’t a ‘new year, new you blog’ but more a ‘new decade, new habits to adopt’ blog. Below are some easy ways to get the new year off to a great start, put a smile on people’s faces and generally promote positivity in the 2020’s.

Use public transport

Well, it was obvious what our top one was going to be wasn’t it? Using public transport is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint with just one bus replacing up to 75 cars on the road and the pollution they cause. Try out WY Metro’s journey planning tools to see how you can do your commute using public transport in 2020.

Remember reading? Take back some me time.

We all need personal time to enjoy a good book or catch up on our favourite show but unfortunately life can get in the way and these things can take a back seat. Find more time for you in 2020 to do the things you enjoy. A great life hack could be to swap your commute in the car for the bus or train. Not needing to do the driving leaves buckets of time to sit back, relax and delve into a good book or listen to an audiobook or podcast.

You could learn more about the world on your commute every morning and evening. If you commute 30 minutes each way that's 360 hours of your life a year you have got back to read, learn a language or plan your next holiday.

Save ££ and energy

Here are some handy ways you can save both money and energy as well as reducing your waste in your day to day life.

Groceries

As well as eating foods that are in season and have travelled fewer air miles, eating less meat is a great way to save money and make a positive difference for the environment. Deforestation for meat production risks the extinction of other animals and creates pollution. But if you’re not quite ready to ditch your bacon butty just yet, why not introduce meat free Mondays and still have an impact?

Plus make sure to check out the numerous leftover recipes on the internet for great ways to turn your scraps into a delicious meal and reduce your food waste.

Water consumption

Taking less water out of the ground, rivers and reservoirs is better for wildlife and the environment and helps secure water supplies for the future. Here are a few quick and easy ways to reduce your water waste:

Shut off the water while you brush your teeth. Only turn it on when it’s time to rinse your mouth out.
Put the plug in the bath while you shower and see how much water you’ve really used. Try sticking to 5 mins.
Flush less and don’t flush things down the toilet to dispose of them. One flush uses up to 7 gallons of water.

Use Zero waste food shops

This new wave of shops are a great way to cut back on packaging, especially plastic packaging, as well as helping to eliminate the consumption of single-use containers. They allow you to refill your own bags and containers, saving on food and packaging waste in the process. Here's a few near you:

Gain hours back and put your phone away

We’ve all found ourselves aimlessly scrolling and before we know it we haven’t spoken to our loved ones and hours have passed. Instead, why not ignite a conversation at home or even on the bus or train and enjoy your fellow passengers' company. You never know who you might meet.

Fly less, bus and train more

Air travel is responsible for huge quantities of greenhouse gas emissions and although cheap flights can be tempting, how long does it take to find the best holiday deal online? Why not keep it simple this year and do a staycation. Scotland, Wales or even glorious West Yorkshire (there are tonnes of places you won’t have even visited) and you can probably do it by bus and train instead of the car. Liberating!!! Fingers crossed for the weather 😊

Invest in a decent rucksack and never leave it behind in 2020!

Do you need a bag madam? How many times do you get to the checkout and say ‘oh no, I forgot it. Get yourself a decent bag or backpack, add it to your ‘before you leave the house’ checklist along with your MCard (shameless plug) and never have to buy a plastic carrier bag again.

Have a right good declutter

Having a good clear out is a great way to liberate your home and your mind. When we have piles of stuff mounting up in front of us, it serves as a constant reminder of the all the things we need to do. Get it sorted and watch your productivity levels soar. But don’t just chuck things away that you don’t need. Remember, one person's junk is another person's treasure, see if you can upcycle/recycle or donate it to your local charity.

Exercise

Start as small as you like but why not start with taking 10 minutes out of your day to go for a walk, even better, get off the bus a couple of stops earlier and walk the rest. Exercise is not only good for your physical health but also increases endorphins, which makes you happy. One brisk walk a week will go a lot further than you think.

Go paperless

Do you print without thinking? Can you reduce your printing habits, at home or work? Make a big effort this year to see how you might go more paperless and look after our trees that play a critical role in absorbing CO2 from our atmosphere and producing oxygen to support life on our planet.

Can you walk or cycle it? - It’s nearer than you think.

Don’t you find when you drive you assume that walking it would be much further and take far longer than it does in reality. Short car journeys make a significant contribution to the UK’s air pollution. So try one of those short journeys on foot or by bike just once this year and see how you go. It’s a great fat burner. Get started with City Connect.

Gain happiness

Do one kind thing a month and see how it makes you feel. Take some baking to a neighbour, volunteer at a local group. Find out more about how you can volunteer with various schemes here.

And last but by no means least....always thank the bus driver (and everyone else of course)

It’s simple this one...

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