Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 5: Weekly Update

     

http://www.greenworld365.com/topic/appliances/

     
     My SMART goal is to cut down on how much electricity I use.  This week I followed the same routine as last and tried to cut down on my use of lights, use the dishwasher less, and only wash laundry every two weeks.  I was diligent in turning off lights and handwashing my dishes, but cutting down on laundry was challenging.   
     Making sure lights are off in every room but the one I am in has become a habit, and I actually get annoyed when I see one left on, so that is good.  Handwashing dishes is becoming more of a habit because I am turning into a neat freak.  It bothers me to see dirty dishes in the sink that might build up, so I just go ahead and wash them rather than waiting to have enough for the dishwasher.  It is great to get dishes done every morning and have a clean house for the rest of the day, so that has become my breakfast routine.  
     Laundry is a subject to avoid :)  It just seems to build up in a matter of days and take over my closet. This is partly because I work out every day, so more than one outfit gets dirtied per day.  This week I will have done one load in five days, and I am hoping to get down to one load every fourteen days.  Wearing the same pair of pants every day has been nice and easy because I don't have to spend time planning my outfit (yes I do that), and it saves room in my laundry load.  
     I felt really proud this week that two of these things are almost second nature and that they are probably saving me money.  I am learning that the art of forming a good habit comes from repetition and accountability, both of which I have had over the last five weeks.  This week I will keep the same game plan because I want to conquer these goals before I move on. 


Review:
     Overall, I learned a lot about myself through this SMART goal.  My plan on how to go about saving electricity was not set in stone at the beginning of this, but eventually my aim became clearer. I tried to turn off lights that were not being used, not run the dishwasher, and do laundry less.  So once I figured out my goal, it stayed the same throughout.  
     My strategy on being successful was to be mindful of my actions. So many bad habits become second nature throughout our lives, so to re-learn something takes thought and effort.  Every day I tried to remember my goals and actually do them.   
     I benefited from this goal in that I now know I am capable of changing the environment for the better. I went into this being like, yeah right, I can't make a difference, but my thought process has completely changed. Now it is exciting to see that we can all make changes in our daily lives and it does make a difference, no matter if we can see it or not. 
     My roommates definately noticed that I turned off my lights more because they got on my case before when I didn't. Positive reinforcement makes a big difference and is very helpful in motivating me to change. So I thank my roommates for being a good influence.  
     I will most definately continue this lifestyle change because it is not only good for the environment, but also my bank account and me personally.  The discipline I learned will be helpful in many areas of life. And now I am more aware of how I use electricity in general, not just with lights and laundry.
     The advice I would pass on to anyone who wants to try a SMART goal would be keep going even when you mess up. I way 'when' instead of 'if' because we are not perfect and will forget. But the more you keep at your goal, the easier it will get. So don't give up, it is worth it :)