Start a stuff journal
We do better and accomplish more when we can measure our progress. In fact, you will be up to 95% more likely to reach your goals if you not only count out your successes and failures, but also have others checking in on your record. This can be a great motivation, but with complex and potentially nebulous goals like reducing our impact and wasting less, it can be hard to see what makes for effective and achievable metrics to track. Even with all of our sustainability knowledge and our experience of working every day to close the loop in apparel manufacturing, it is never a straightforward process. That is why we keep it simple and track what we know and what makes sense. If you want to build up the habit of staying renewed, start out by tracking some simple metrics. Some easy places to start are monitoring monthly energy use, watching water use for washing us and our things, tracking our transit, and weighing in on our waste. Or better yet, close your part of the loop by keeping a journal of stuff.
Starting a journal is simple and quick: each week, choose 5 objects that you are bringing into your life and 5 objects that are ready for a renewed purpose. You can choose the next 5 things each that you come across, or you can spread it out with only one chosen each day. For each item, take some notes on how you are interacting with and thinking about the item and its uses. Then at the end of each month, reflect on how you are dealing with different items in a different (or maybe the same) way. The goal is not to track each little minute detail, but to simply develop a deeper connection with your belongings. Over time, your journal will reveal patterns in your interaction and behavior that you can then choose to mindfully continue or to experiment with and improve. Take a look at our example week below and then give it a try yourself!
Use the image below as a guide or fill in a copy of our spreadsheet template here. Get creative and customize the journal to make it work even better for you and your flow.
This works even better if we can do this together. We’d love to see your journals and hear any tips that you have for keeping connected with your stuff. Share your journal entries and ideas at connect@renewalworkshop.com
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