By Maggie Romuld

If you are reading a magazine dedicated to finding and supporting green solutions, you probably already try to live a sustainable lifestyle. But as you look back over the past year and look forward to the year ahead, consider whether there is anything you might like to do better. Perhaps you don't always remember to bring your own bags to the grocery store, or you still haven't bought a programmable thermostat. Perhaps you meant to install low-flow fixtures or find out where to recycle your used batteries. Today's multi-tasking, all-or-none, take-no-prisoners approach to life can paralyze us into inaction because we feel as if we must do it all, do it now, and do it well. But change doesn't have to be extreme, nor does it have to be hard. Common sense suggests that it is easier to make gradual changes in your life, and research supports that theory. Studies also suggest that writing down a resolution or goal is more likely to lead to a successful outcome, and fitness enthusiasts use the acronym "S.M.A.R.T." as a strategy when setting goals to maximize the chance of success. If you want to set S.M.A.R.T. goals, they must be:

• S - specific, significant
• M - measurable, meaningful
• A - attainable, achievable
• R - realistic, reasonable
• T - time-based, tangible

Need a little green resolution inspiration? Here are some S.M.A.R.T. ideas to help you make some tangible, attainable and lasting changes in the year ahead. Good luck!

1. Measure your current water use and commit to reducing it by 10%. A bigger reduction would be commendable, but would it be reasonable? Water bills for metered water systems are not difficult to interpret. Resolve to spend a few minutes looking at your last bill - the amount of water you used is a tangible number. Keep track of your consumption throughout 2010 as you try to reduce the amount of times you let the water run in the sink or reduce your watering in the yard. The numbers will fluctuate through the seasons but you will soon have a pretty clear picture about your consumption pattern.
2. Consider your food choices. Perhaps you can locally source one food item per month, buy more food in season, or buy one fair-trade item per month. Again, make the goal measurable and realistic. No matter how much you might like to, you cannot commit to a pesticide-free, 100-mile diet if you live in a small town, in a desert, and need a cup of coffee every morning. You can, however, commit to buying locally grown vegetables from a farmer's market once a week, or buying regionally ranched meat. At least try to buy food that didn't travel on a ship to get to you.
3. Take a good look at the plastic in your life. The tide is slowly turning in terms of plastic bags and packaging but what about all the other plastic you bring into your house? Look around - take a mental inventory and vow that when something wears out, you will either: fix it; not replace it; or try to replace it with a non-plastic alternative. The amount of plastic in a typical kitchen or bathroom is shocking - pens, containers, toothbrushes, nail brushes, scrubbers, knobs, spoons, combs. You don't have to foreswear all plastic (that would be unreasonable and unrealistic) but there is definitely room for improvement.
4. Reduce what you bring into your house. Really consider your purchases. Can you make do without an item or can you find something in your home to use as an alternative? Many people recycle and re-use faithfully but stumble when it comes to reducing - the most challenging of the 3R's. Blame our culture of consumption; we are continually bombarded with commercials and pressured by peers. Try to just say no. Pick one thing - no more kitchen tools, no more plant pots, no more baby toys or whatever your particular weakness. Your junk drawer, your garage and your life are already full - no more stuff.
5. Consider your transportation options. Not everyone has access to public transportation but perhaps you could at least give a ride or get a ride - you still reduce total transportation because only one vehicle was used. Measure the kilometers and calculate the gas saved. Combine your errands and plan your route; try to cut out one trip to the grocery store a month, or to the Post Office, or the drugstore. If that turns out to be easy, try to eliminate one trip a week. You will probably end up saving even more than the transportation money - fewer trips to the store mean fewer impulse purchases.
6. Commit to one community action. Do you have a local group that does a shoreline or highway clean-up, or an Earth Day, Arbor Day or Park's Day project? Does your community have a civic committee that is looking for ideas about municipal sustainability? Is there an environmental group that could use your computer, writing or graphic skills? Volunteer. Once.
7. Commit to one global action. There are many, many groups searching for people like you where you can add your voice to the call for global change. What are your particular interests? If you like sailing, commit to an ocean action. If you like hiking, voice your concern for endangered spaces. Animal lovers can act to save endangered species or work towards biodiversity conservation. Do you enjoy paddling on rivers or lakes? Join the movement to protect watersheds. The worthy causes are endless and they all need you. But one is enough. For now.