Goal For The Green

Most of us are doing our Spring cleaning from our house to our garage. Before you make a trip to the dump, check  your discard pile to see if there is anything you can give new life.  You just may save yourself some gas money and a trip to the dump.

If you have a tall wastebasket, use it to corral wrapping paper or crafting supplies.  You can even use hair scrunchies or elastic pony tail holders to keep the paper rolls in control.

Old furniture can often be put to use in a different room. An example, is a small nightstand or end table.  Either can be used in a bathroom to free up counter space and give extra storage for lotions and toiletries. Just paint it to your liking and you have a whole new look.  Coffee cups are useful to hold anything from make-up to pens and pencils.  Those hanging baskets that were meant for fruits and vegetables work great in little kids rooms for storing those small stuffed animals.  It looks adorable.  Give one to a teenager and they will find some cool use for it, just to have things close by the bed if nothing else.

Those old sheets and table clothes can be stitched up and used for storing, comforters, pillows, and blankets free from dust.  Sheets can also be made into easy tab-top curtains,or throw pillows.  All that is needed is a little time, ribbon and embellishments of your choice and you’ve put something old to new use, and saved money too.

Backless bar stools and laundry baskets work well to store anything from toys,camping gear, sporting  goods, or garden tools. Just turn the bar stools upside down and they do a great job of holding these bulky items.

Don’t toss those three-ring binders.  They are great for organizing recipes, (get page protectors), vet records, CDs (get the vinyl inserts) and anything of importance that you want to keep handy.  If they have writing on them, or they don’t match your decor, consider covering them with contact paper.

These are just a few ideas to help you wittle down your trash pile.  If you have books you want to get rid of, consider donating them to homeless or women’s shelters, nursing homes or hospitals.  Contact local thrift shops in your area for drop-off sites or possible pick-up of your unwanted items. Online sites to consider are charitynavigator.org and earth911.org for information on where to recycle specific items such as electronics.

Written in association with  waste management experts

Most of us set goals as an objective to achieve a desired outcome or a desired state of affairs. In today’s world, it seems that everything is “green” or “going green”.  So, why not goal green?

The thought came to me one day when I was thinking about my Mom.  She was the most organized, well planned, detail-oriented woman I have ever known.  I affectionately named her the “sticky queen.”  There were post-it notes everywhere in her house, on the fridge, on the phone, on and in her checkbook, the washer and dryer, even the bathroom mirror. I thought perhaps she couldn’t remember what she needed to do in a day. She boldly assured me that was not the case.  “If I write things down and stick it somewhere in plain sight, I’m more apt to complete the task. What I don’t finish, I move to the top of the list for the next day,” she explained.

It sounded like a good idea, but I didn’t take it to heart until about five years ago, after she passed away.  I had been one of the last of the great procrastinators, excellent at putting things off.  I always carried my thoughts, goals and plans with me in my head. I didn’t feel the need to take the time to write things down. I had even quit making New Year’s Resolutions, because most of the time I never got past January with any of them.

Mom was a well organized person because she took the time to set daily goals, and she wrote them down.  I now also write down goals, but not on sticky notes.  I’ve come to realize that if you can get in the habit of doing this, you’ll be surprised at how much you can accomplish.  It is the fact of taking the action of writing things down that creates visualization.  Visualization paints the picture in your mind of the goal or task you want to create or complete.  Post your goals in writing and with pictures on a bulletin board. Put the board in plain sight, where you can see these goals at least three times a day.  In doing this, you will notice how it helps you stay motivated.  Then watch yourself create what will become your reality.

There are many topics to cover as we strive to goal green and live a greener lifestyle. I think of green as an action and success color.  Green symbolizes earth, nature and life. Green also means go, – or in this case goal.  It is my desire that you will join me, as we set green goals to become Earth conscious, Energy smart, and optimally Healthy, just to name some of the ways to goal for the green.