Fair February

Well, well, well, would you look at that – we’ve made it to the 🌟grand🌟 finale of Fair February! It’s been a wild ride through 29 days, tackling 31 challenges, and scribbling down none less than 31.5 thousand words (cheers, WordPress) along the way. Today, I am taking a hard look at everything that shaped the past month, from the highs that made me feel unstoppable to the lows that had me questioning life in general. Let’s talk about the most surprising moments, the lessons that hit me like a ton of recycled bricks, and everything in-between.

The very design of the to-do list was more than just a list of tasks – it was my personal testing ground and a pretty bold experiment. I wanted to make a difference, sure, but it was also supposed to be achievable. I didn’t want every day to feel like climbing Mount Everest (although, let’s be real, some days it did). Some challenges, like short showers and composting, seamlessly fit into my routine, becoming second nature. But others, like volunteering or planting a tree, required more effort, time, and planning.

So now, drumroll please… *mic check, one, two* I am thrilled to announce that every single challenge on my Fair February list has been conquered! 🎉 I would like to thank my mom, dad,… ok, jokes aside it does feel a little bit like an accomplishment. Seriously, who on earth writes over 30,000 words in a month? It’s like running another half-marathon, but with a keyboard and a cup of coffee.

Now what worked and what didn’t?

Most Impactful Challenge: The easiest tasks were those that slipped into my routine effortlessly – like composting (once I got a bin and found a nearby drop-off point) and unplugging devices when not in use (they often stayed unplugged for days). Surprisingly, my diet was already pretty vegan-friendly, and I even discovered I didn’t miss cheese as much as I thought! Plus, I snagged some killer baking recipes that are now bookmarked for life.

Most Educational Challenge: This project became my crash course in eco-awareness, pushing me to scrutinise my everyday choices and dive deep into research. Take, for instance, the task of joining a community/activist group¹ or supporting a local business or initiative with an environmental or social focus. It wasn’t just about signing up – it was about uncovering every option, vetting their track records, and understanding how my involvement could truly make an impact. This research marathon not only widened my perspective but also sharpened my focus on supporting causes and businesses with real impact – ultimately, all this new information will guide me in my decision-making going forward.

At the same time, the world of eco-labels got a bit less confusing, non-dairy milk choices clearer, and the plastic pollution crisis a tad less overwhelming (though still a downer).

Most Memorable Sustainable Swap: Collecting rainwater to water plants was so easy, I was almost annoyed I hadn’t thought of it sooner. Sure, it depends on the weather, but in the Netherlands, where rain is practically a lifestyle, it’s a game-changer.

Most Surprising Challenge: A couple of challenges did *not* go as expected. Going paperless, for instance, proved to be difficult because I hardly used paper products this month – perhaps subconsciously avoiding writing down notes instead of typing them up. One win was having my take-away hot chocolate in a reusable cup, but that has become such an autopilot habit now.

Another challenge that surprised me was about the disposal of broken or old things, which were supposed to be recycled or upcycled instead. Besides the failed attempt to bring a plastic bottle and leftover wax to a designated shop, the only occasions meeting this task were fixing my bike lights (which I thought could be beyond repair) and stitching up some slightly ripped pieces of clothing. Who knows, it could be just one of the months where things did not break easily, at least in the physical realm.

Most Creative Solution: The most surprising outcome of a challenge is, hands down, learning or enhancing a new skill. Of all activities I could think of, Nuad Thai was certainly not one of them! Just goes to show how much better my head works while I am on holidays…

Most Enjoyable Lifestyle Change: Turning to TooGoodTooGo for my groceries felt like going on a treasury hunt! Amsterdam’s spoiled for choice, that’s for sure. This could easily become a long-term change with some strategic planning – the financial savings were nothing short of astonishing, cutting my overall food expenses in half.

Most Stubborn Habit to Change: Those five-minute showers are so bloody annoying! Just kidding. And no, I won’t blame it on an elaborate hair routine that conveniently takes up all that time. Instead, this challenge forced me to be more mindful of my water consumption. Gotta admit, it’s a work in progress.

Most Eye-Opening Lesson: Making oat milk is ridiculously easy! With a couple of recipes up mastered to meet different texture and flavour needs, I can easily turn this into a regular DIY ritual.

On a side note, here’s a revelation: the less specific a challenge, the more it felt like a brain teaser. Case in point – “learn to make one new thing.” It turned out to be a bit of a sneaky challenge, demanding extra steps of research and prep compared to, let’s say, opting for pick-up delivery. Lesson learned: specificity is the spice of challenges!

Most Valuable Community Connection: Even though one hell of a load of digging through hundreds of pages, getting my head around what Amsterdam is doing to meet its sustainability goals was really cool. Through this, I learned about many local initiatives that go to show that every small action counts. For example, I was surprised to hear that this winter, we had a suspended coffee campaign running almost for a whole month. At the same time, thinking about the Happy Planet Index, got me wondering about other ways our community can come together to create positive change. The journey of exploration continues!

Most Rewarding Personal Achievement: Let me tell you, this list – and the daily rhythm it brought to my life – put my discipline to the ultimate test, especially when it came to reporting on my progress nearly every day. February would’ve been challenging enough without these challenges, but sticking to the schedule of updates turned out to be both a curse and a blessing. No regrets though, as I am happily flipping the final page of Fair February, feeling grateful and ready for what’s next.

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And so, it is a wrap! Thank you for reading. ❤️ Until next time, stay green, stay curious, and keep the planet smiling!

1. I joined a local support group following Navalny’s death as well as  Citizens’ Climate Lobby ↩︎