Though many people out there are giving gloomy forecasts for 2009, and bemoaning the tough economic climate, I am looking forward with great anticipation to the new year. I believe the new year offers a lot of opportunity for self-reflection, giving us a chance to reexamine priorities and figure out what really matters to us. For me, the necessity to engage in some belt-tightening is a chance to rethink some of my consumption habits, and to resolve to not buy anything that I really don’t need. On that note I will make an effort to get more DIY / crafty, and start making anything that I need in my house (like cleaning supplies), rather than buying them. I also resolve to find a better live/work balance in my life (ie tipping more towards the ‘live’), so I can spend more time with my family and friends. Finally, though I’ve been a ‘mostly vegan’ for many years, I resolve this year to finally commit, go all the way, and stop eating those seductive non-vegan cookies!

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MIKE CHINO, Managing Editor of Inhabitat, San Francisco, CA

This new year I’m resolving to eat better, cook at home more, and go the locavore route. Eating in is more economical than dining out, builds community through shared meals (I’m a huge fan of the dinner party these days), and can support local agriculture. Fortunately San Francisco has no shortage of local food sources, and I’m looking forward to receiving my first organic Community Supported Agriculture box next month! What’s not to love about fresher, seasonal, and sustainably grown food? I’m also going to make a more serious effort to tame the wilds of my backyard into a garden, and am going to give composting a go.
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BETH SHEA, Managing Editor of Inhabitots, Portland, OR

My personal New Year’s Resolution is to drastically cut back/stop using paper/disposable products like paper towels, napkins, tissues, etc., in favor of using reusable alternatives. I also will continue to spread and encourage sustainable awareness via Petite Planet and Inhabitots!
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OLIVIA CHEN, Senior Editor, New York, NY

I would like to flex my green thumb this year and get involved in some community gardening. Also, a friend and I have also both resolved that we need to flex our creative muscles on a regular basis, and I think a great way would be to learn to sew – then I would have a real skill to allow me to creatively reuse old clothing.
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SARAH RICH, Contributing Editor, San Francisco, CA

No doubt 2009 is going to be a tough year for everyone. It’s no longer just a good idea, but a necessity, for designers to think about designs that aren’t things. Consumers aren’t consuming in the same way, money is tight, and priorities are shifting, so I resolve to keep conversation focused towards pushing green design forward – what kinds of services and systems can we invent that flow with the current of decreased consumption, rather than resisting it and producing extraneous goods? How can design improve people’s lives without requiring the use of more money and material? I hope the design field will view 2009 as an opportunity to creatively rethink our relationship with objects and to set a foundation for sustainability that will remain viable and desirable even when the economy improves.
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JORGE CHAPA, News Editor, Brisbane, Australia

I will take up biking more. This may sound like a silly thing, but when one thinks of all the benefits that you obtain, such as giving you more awareness of your urban landscape, your environment and your own self, you realize that there are significant benefits to such a simple activity. So indeed, if you are in the streets of Sydney, watch out for a fool on a bike – it may be me. Will you join me as well?
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ABIGAIL DOAN, Art & Style Editor, New York, NY

[I resolve] to find even more eco-friendly ways to make and install art, improve studio processes, and reduce waste overall in the home. With two babies I am very conscious of the added impact we have on our immediate environs and the daily demands involved. My family is committed to not owning a car but prefers to travel by mass transit or by simply strolling on foot and maximizing neighborhood resources. As a mother and artist, I want all materials that enter and exit our home to be utilized to the utmost and to have a positive influence and green ripple effect.
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EVELYN LEE, Senior Contributing Editor, San Francisco, CA

In 2009 I look forward to getting outdoors more and actually enjoying the environment we are fighting to save – snowboarding, biking, hiking, going to the beach, and getting my knees strong enough to start running on hard ground again. I’m also looking forward to taking advantage of the local farmer’s market, cooking more often, eating in, saving money, and enjoying the good company of friends.

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WHAT IS YOUR NEW YEARS RESOLUTION?

If you have one that you’d like to share with us, leave it in the comments below. We’ll be sending Inhabitat T-shirts to our favorite submissions at the end of the week. Be sure to include an up-to-date email address if you’d like to win a free inhabitat T-shirt.

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