1. Carry a cup, water, take-away cutlery & reusable bag (especially when you fly)

Investing in a cute back-pack to fit my take-away cup, water bottle and cutlery was the BEST decision I made for our New York City holiday. Over the three week vacation, I saved 50+ disposable cups from landfill. 

Bonus points for showing off your enviro skills to flight attendants. Not once has my reusable cup been rejected on a  flight, in fact Qantas and JetStar staff encourage it. The only thing better than a glass of wine at 30,000 ft is an ecofriendly one.

(P.S. did you know Air New Zealand is trialling an ediable cup?)

2. Sit down to eat where you can

Making the time to sit and eat is a great way to limit waste. HOWEVER increasingly cafes are serving up meals in disposable dinnerware. Seek alternative cafes and support those who are doing the right thing. Plus if they can’t wash a mug I wouldn’t trust them to make a good coffee.

3. Think like a local

“Tourist traps” are hot spots for disposable products. Take Times Square for example; a must-see for any visitor, but I can guarantee anything purchased within a four block radius will be gift wrapped. Even the nearby convenience stallsstock pre-cut fruit over an apple. When setting out to enjoy a tourist location, think like a local. Don’t leave hungry, take snacks, carry water and turn on that “we don’t need nik naks” mindset.

4. Use public transport

Shared services are and #ecotravellers best friend. The London tube, the NYC Subway, the Parisian Metro are all superior solutions to a taxi. Don’t stop there; jump on a city bike, an uber pool, even brave an Indian rickshaw.  Your carbon footprint will thank you for it.

5. Don’t open the hotel toiletries

Sure you paid top dollar for this room, but does the environment need to pay as well? Skip the mini soap and travel with your own. By the end of the week, you will have likely saved ½ kg of waste from landfill. Go you!

Plus…you never use them at home, I declutter hotel toiletries with clients ALLLLLL the time.

6. Seek out the businesses doing good

There are 1000 of local and international businesses doing amazing things for our planet.

For us, New York was a social enterprise tour. Browsing Brooklyn’s racks of recycled-clothing; admiring Patagonia’s repair floor; supporting cafes giving back to the Aussie Fire Disaster, trying alternative milk and vegan meat. Support those doing good

Trying “impossable meat” at Bareburger

visit bareburger.com

7. Fight the buying urge

Window displays look extra sparkly on vacation and our buying temptation runs high. Before the vacation discuss with your travelling companions what you would like to buy. 

If I had a penny for every decluttered “Bali” outfit!

Before the vacation discuss with your travelling companions what you would like to buy. And before each purchase ask yourself (your true self not your holiday excited self) will this item bring joy in my normal life; ie “will this large pineapple embedded cane hat still spark joy in Melbourne”…maybe not. 

8. Be present

Travelling is a luxury. In the Western world, it is easy to skim over the remarkable feats accomplished to get us to these remote or not-so remote areas. The resources, skills and investments made to enable us to explore our precious planet are immense. Presence and gratitude will go a long way.

9. Ditch air travel

While all the above are great, the best thing you can do to reduce your travel footprint is to fly less. Choose a choose a holiday locally or endulge in a stay-cation. For motivation read the New York Times piece, Flying Is Bad for the Planet. You Can Help Make It Better. Flying less is my goal.

For more sustainable ideas check out our blog on Selling Secondhand Clothes and Secret Santa Sustainable.

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2. Organise

Before you jet off, there will be multiple To Dos, from arranging pet-sitting, to booking tours, hire cars or hotels.

I recommend doing all of the above as soon as possible once you have booked your travel. If you can’t get onto it straight away, write a list and get them done as soon you can. Not only will you feel more prepared (and therefore more relaxed!) but you’ll likely save a bit of cash on tours and accommodation by booking early.

If you are looking for the best time to sit and complete the list, I recommend a Friday night. Time management expert Laura Vanderkam tells us that Fridays are the best day of the week for planning.

3. Pack

Most people hate doing it, but it must inevitably get done. With the right tools in place, however, packing can be quick, easy, and yes, even fun!

Click HERE to download your free travel checklist. 

Watch how Sallly packs for a weekender

our expert packing tips…..

Want to learn how to fold clothes for suitcase like Marie Kondo? We got you covered….watch these

How To Fold T-shirts

How To Fold Undies

I hope these three tips make it a little easier for you to start planning your dream holiday, whether that’s hiking through the bush, taking a guided tour of Tuscany, or simply soaking up rays cocktail in hand.

And remember a holiday is defined as “an extended period of leisure and recreation”, so let’s keep it that way. For more ideas, check out Tips to Get Your Home Organised For The Holidays.

For stay-cation holiday tips, check out The Art of Hygge: From The World’s Happiest People

The TripIt app is available for iOS (including Apple Watch) and Android (including Android Wear). TripIt is also accessible from any device with a web browser.

1. Curb Your Clutter

See your home as a guest, take a walk through the front door and look around your space with fresh eyes. You should be proud of everything you see in the living and entertaining areas and want to show it off. If you spot an item that doesn’t spark joy, question if you should keep it. See the“How To Curb Living Room Clutter Diagram”.

2. Create A Welcoming Sanctuary

Now that you have cleared the clutter and put haphazard items away, let’s go back to the entrance. Is there a place to drop a bag, or take off shoes? If you are pushed for space, try setting up a “drop off” zone on high traffic days to keep the entertaining area clear and clutter-free.

Diagram by Sally Flower from Home Sanctuary

3. Prepare Your Kitchen

Let’s be honest, the kitchen and dining areas go into overdrive during the festive season. Make it easy for yourself by keeping your kitchen and entertaining benchtops clear. You will need this space for appetisers and drinks. Use the same “curb the clutter” premise and keep benches clear of anything except for your favourite spark joy items.

Now is also a great time to do any deep cleaning before the holidays start. Give the oven, cupboards and mixmaster a once over.

4. Make Space and Reduce Waste

We tend to indulge a little over the holiday period, and rightly so. Our pantries become full with special occasion and celebration foods we don’t normally cook, eat or buy at any other time of year. Hence, tis’ the time to maximise your fridge and pantry space. In preparation, take a look in your pantry, are there items you can “use up” now? Check your dry foods for ingredients you can use in this year’s festive bake-up. Items like glacé fruit, flours and cooking brandy don’t really go off so don’t be scared to use them up rather than throwing them out. The less food waste the better!

5. Get Out Those “Special Use” Pieces

As a tidy consultant I have come across many special use items; candles, table cloths, serving wear, glassware, coasters, napkins, serving spoons, tea towels, hand towels, soap, guest towels, placemats, wine buckets, bottle stoppers and even pet outfits (just to name a few). 

Now is the time to find them. So often while pulling out items from the back of a clients wardrobe mid-declutter I come across one of these, “oh I was looking for that” responses…sound familiar?

Locate your speciality items now, and store in a place you will remember and access easily as you set up your home for the holidays. And if you don’t want to use it, ask yourself why you have it. Can’t be bothered finding it…then you definitely don’t need it.

5. Tidy Up The Bathroom

With more people coming and going over the holidays, the bathroom becomes a high traffic area. Cleanliness is vital, and let’s be honest a bathroom says a lot about someone. There is a reason restaurants invest in spa-like restrooms. Take the time now to declutter the sink area, placing as much as you can in drawers and cupboards. Clear benchtops = easy to clean.

5. Minimalistic Can Be Chic

How many times have you had to move a table centrepiece to make room for food? Fewer decorations is often best. When entertaining focus on the food, the drink and the quality of conversation, less on the nic nacs. Guests remember good food, company and music more than anything else. There is a lot to be said for a fresh table of flowers; sustainable and chic.

6. Enjoy The Finishing Touches

Why dress up your sanctuary only for others? You deserve finishing touches too. Is there anything you can add now to enjoy for yourself? A vase of flowers in the bathroom perhaps? Or bring out the crystal glasses a few weeks early.

Beautiful objects are made to be enjoyed.

Why stop there?! Check out Tips to Decluttering and Simplifying your Life & learn how to Sell Secondhand Clothes