Living Gently with the Earth’s Resources
Thank you for your interest in living differently by trying new approaches that are kinder to the environment and to you! Below is a list of
actions to take that can help create people and communities that live better. Your actions are already creating a better future for all of us!
1) Put an “O” by all of the steps you already take.
2) Next, put an X by the steps you want to take within the next 6 months. This will help you make a commitment to yourself and your
community. It's really an easy, cool way to keep moving in the right direction!
3) Choose 5 of those steps and use the Plan of Action to get started.
4) Post your plan in a public place at home/work OR show your plan to someone at work/home as a way to publicly commit yourself to your
plan. Consider asking them to do this exercise with you and then check on each other’s progress!
Gifts to Yourself & Others
___Identify two ways to pamper yourself without buying something. And…next time you need pampering, do it!
___Pay as you buy—use cash and checks OR pay off your credit card completely with each bill.
___Help at least one child in your life learn the difference between needs and wants by developing wish lists and then prioritizing wants.
___When gift-giving, give local, experiential gifts -- a local Farmer's Market jelly, or taking your friend/relative to a movie, theatre
performance, or a local singing event.
___ Give the gift of a skill -- one that you or others can teach (1 month of piano lessons, or how to start a garden).
___ Incorporate exercise into your daily routine -- walk/bike to work, to do an errand, to go to the library, to get to church.
___ Read a book, or listen to an audio book.
___ Fill in your own idea here __________________________________________________________________________
Gatherings and Get-togethers
___ Choose an outdoor Iowa location for your next family gathering to enjoy the beauty of our state.
___ Plan a low-key potluck with family or friends.
___ Get to moving outdoors whatever your mode is -- walking, skating, running, biking, visiting on the porch.
___ Establish a ritual, something you do regularly or seasonally, with or without friends/family. How about an annual fall leaf trip? A Sunday
afternoon walk? Or having balloons at every birthday celebration, no matter the person’s age?
___ Initiate a low-impact /simpler activity with friends/family -- a singing party, dancing, basketball, card-playing, board games, full-moon
walks…the sky is the limit!
___ Fill in your own idea here _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Relationships
___Identify a few people you admire (who share your values and live those values) and plan to spend more time with them.
___Cultivate (or deepen) your inner life through prayer, meditation, sitting quietly, doing yoga, taking walks and observing your
surroundings, spending a weekend at a retreat, etc.
___Become part of a community such as a congregation, dog-walkers, hikers, book group, exercise class, choir, dancers.
___Have friends over without cleaning your home first.
___Write a gratitude letter to a family member or friend explaining in concrete terms why you are grateful for the relationship.
___ Fill in your own idea here _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Communicate
___When planning a vacation or making holiday plans, talk to family members to find out what’s important to them.
___Unsubscribe to at least one online store that sends you email solicitations.
___Talk to your children about how to analyze commercials and recognize exaggerated claims.
___Strike up a conversation with a stranger.
___Think of something special you could do for one or more people and then do it, without letting them know.
___ Fill in your own idea here ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Food Stuff
___ Plan menus for a week.
___ Use a list when you go grocery shopping.
___ Start a compost pile.
___ Add one new vegetable to your plate.
___ Shoot for eating until you are just 80% full.
___ Fill in your own idea here ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
My Action Plan – Aim to choose 5 things that you marked with an “X” from the Living Gently list to make a plan of action in the chart
below. Then post your plan in a public place at home or work to make a commitment!
Action & timeline
When I
Barriers to
will start overcome
Example:
Shop w/ a grocery list for 3 weeks
1/29/15
Shoot for eating until I am 80% full
1/18 –
2/28
My strategy to
overcome the barriers
Who is going
to help me?
I'm not sure how to
organize the list.
Go online & see if I can find a template
to use.
My shopping
partner
Food tastes so good;
need self-discipline
Tell family my plan (public
commitment) & set my watch timer to
remind me during a meal
Jack & Elizabeth
(family members)
(Modified from Cool Neighbors project ©2011 Yates & Webb)
Name ___________________________________________
Phone ____________________________________
Address _________________________________________
Email _____________________________________
___ Yes, you can publish my name on The Way We Live web site with others who make a Plan of Action.
Please sign: __________________________________________________________________________
✓
Done