Sustainable living describes a lifestyle that attempts to reduce an individual’s or society’s use of the Earth’s natural resources, and one’s personal resources.
Those that practice sustainable living often attempt to reduce their carbon footprint by altering their methods of transportation, energy consumption, and/or diet. To kickstart your personal journey, outlined below are key steps that are beneficial to this great decision:
Make a bold commitment to be a sustainability Ambassador: This would entail making bold decisions to drop certain habits and a decision to live sustainably.
Assess yourself: For you to identify where you are going on your personal sustainability journey, you must analyse where you have been and where you are at the moment. You need to conduct a GAP analysis to identify what you are not doing right and where you need to improve. It is also pertinent that you conduct materiality assessment to prioritise what issue matters most to you and what limitations your environment may pose.
Set Goals and Targets: This year, set all the personal sustainability targets you are willing to achieve. Without a target, you might be aiming amis.
Have an Action Plan: If you fail to plan, then you have planned to fail. Do not embark on any sustainability project without an action plan.
Have a Strategy: You could have a fantastic plan but without robust strategies to execute them, you might get things wrong.
Implement, Implement, and Implement: A good plan and strategy will never come alive unless you back it up with actions. This year, you need to move away from procrastinating (I want to…., I will like to…., I wish to….). Start implementing immediately. Your time starts NOW! As in NOW!!!! Not tomorrow.
Always have a BUDGET: One of your greatest tools in your sustainability journey is a BUDGET. Rather than wonder at the end of the day, month and year where all your money went, a budget should guide your planned expenditure.
Set your KPIs: A key performance indicator (KPI) is the quantifiable measure used to evaluate performance towards a target. Always measure your progress as you aspire for a sustainable lifestyle.
Communicate your progress: Always share your success story; it’s a great motivational tool that triggers you and others to do more and set a new targets.
Show gratitude: Always appreciate people and all other factors that assist you in achieving your success. If you are thankful, you will surely get more.
Post Credits
Debo Adeniyi
Debo Adeniyi is the Executive Director and the Global Sustainability Leader, at the Centre for Global Solutions and Sustainable Development, (CENGSSUD)
He is a seasoned professional, a Corporate Sustainability and Sustainable Development Practitioner, a trained business strategist, innovator with experience and specialties towards working with the private sector in implementing Sustainability in core business strategy, DNA and operations with a strong drive on values, results, creating compelling overarching aspirations and embedding them in the organisation through change management and empowered leadership to create growth, innovation and operational efficiencies.
He can be reached via debo@cengssud.org
very interesting post. i look forward to reading more of your posts on sustainability
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