When it comes to New Year’s resolutions, you tend to bite off more than you can chew.

Rather than tell yourself you’re going to increase your gym time by two days a week—two more than you’re currently going—you make the lofty goal of five days. By mid-January, you’ve already thrown in the towel and decided 2011 was meant to be the year you finally watched the entire series of Lost on DVD. What an overachiever … Well, at least Netflix thinks so.

The same goes with the Earth. Last year, you promised to lick its sweet tears by brewing your own Fair Trade coffee instead of supporting Big Enterprise. But then Starbucks introduced VIA and you were dunzo. 

Snap out of it, honey. You have the will of a klepto in a WalMart Superstore. Instead of making a resolution that you’re going to ride your bike to work every day, tell yourself you’re going to buy a bike and use it for nearby errands. Look at that …

The key to lessening your impact on the earth is to set your goals lower and make tougher ones throughout the year. In other words, set yourself up for success. Here are five simple things you can do to lower your carbon footprint in the New Year that won’t require as much effort.

Say it with me now … I think I can, I think I can.

Quit Buying Bottled Water. We’ve gone over this. It requires about 1.5 million barrels of oil to make plastic water bottles every year. When you wean yourself off, the planet wins and so do you.

For one, you can save up to $1,400 a year. For two, your health doesn’t suffer. The water in that sleek bottle is likely plain ‘ole tap water. Scratch that … municipal tap water is better regulated than bottled water. In a study conducted by the NRDC, researchers found that 22 percent of bottles tested contained chemical contaminants at levels above strict health limits. Some of them had the ability to cause cancer or other serious ailments, if consumed over a longer period of time. Not to mention, the plastic encapsulating that bottle of water usually contains Bisphenol A (BPA.)

It’s easy. If you are forgetful, keep a reusable water bottle on hand in your car, and if possible, one in your purse. If you are that thirsty and water bottleless, find a water fountain or stop into the nearest establishment and lay your desperation on the table.

Healthy Bitch Pick: We love the new mini KOR Delta Hydration Vessels (500 mL) and the water filtration systems by Sovereign Earth (soon to be relaunched as revolve)

Actually Remember Your Reusable Bag. Let me guess—You left it in your drawer. Ask yourself this: What the hell good does it do in there? Beats me. For the love of our oceans, buy a handful of reusable bags and store them in various useful places. Store one in the house for packing lunches and gym clothes, and keep a stack in the car for grocery shopping. I also keep one rolled up in my purse for occasional unplanned stops at the drugstore or vintage boutiques.

Stop it With the Paper Towels. Some of us are paper towel happy. Yes, I said “us.” Rather than using a paper towel to wipe the counter, another to wipe the floor, a third to disinfect the dining room table, and a fourth to clean off Dexter’s paws, consolidate. Use one to wipe the counter, floor, and the mutt’s paws, and then a clean one to disinfect the dining room table. Better yet, invest in half a dozen cloths and throw them in the wash when you’re running low. These will help eliminate your contribution to the more than 3,000 tons of paper towels that crowd our landfills every year.

Healthy Bitch Pick: Twist Euro Sponge Cloth. With a lifespan of approximately a  year, Twist biodegradable cloths replace paper towels and can last for up to 1,000 uses. Visit Twistclean.com

Say Adios to Phantom Power. Plain and simple, if you’re not using the plug, it shouldn’t be plugged in. When it sits there with nothing to do, it just sucks up energy. If it’s so time-consuming for you to unplug your iPhone charger when you head off to work (one whopping second), then invest in a power strip. Plug all the appliances in the room to one strip—computer, TV, DVD, cable, Wii, and whatever other silly little appliances you feel the need to own. When you leave, just flip the switch off and every gadget cord connected to that lifeline will take a nap. Plus, you can save up to 10 percent on your annual energy bill by doing so. Mission accomplished.

Sign Up for Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). The Farmer’s Market is fantastic, but why not have the freshest organic fruits and vegetables delivered right to your door? Save time and energy by letting your local CSA assemble a box of their featured produce picks and surprise you! This saves you time wasted shopping, while supporting local farmers and a healthier lifestyle. Who can argue with that? Your major neighborhood supermarket, for one. Screw them. 

Healthy Bitch Pick: LocalHarvest. Find a CSA closest to you and get nifty tips on farm events and featured seeds or produce. Visit LocalHarvest.org.

For more tips, visit our friends at Treehugger.com.

Carly Harrill, Co-Founder of HealthyBitchDaily.com
A publicist and writer with a big mouth, Carly taps into mainstream media and the entertainment community to educate the everyday woman on making small changes that are better for her body and the earth—both on and off the plate. Outside of HBD, she works on upcoming installments of the Skinny Bitch book series, and is a partner at Farmacy, a boutique marketing agency that focuses on brands at the forefront of wellness and sustainability.