A new year is dawning, and as expected, many people are once again making their New Year's resolutions. The two goals we most frequently set ourselves are: " avoid stress" and " plan more time for family and friends ." In a survey conducted by Forsa on behalf of DAK-Gesundheit on the most popular New Year's resolutions in Germany, almost 60 percent of respondents included these two items on their to-do list for the next year.

Reason enough to find out if sustainable coffee capsules can help us achieve our New Year's goals. As is often the case, a good cup of coffee really does work wonders and can perhaps contribute more to our resolutions than many coffee lovers might imagine.

In addition to the aforementioned goals of "less stress" and "more time with loved ones," we ideally want to combine all of this with a sustainable lifestyle. We've figured out how to reconcile all of this.

New year, new lifestyle – concrete plans for your New Year’s resolutions

People like to use a specific date as an opportunity to make major changes. Starting a diet next month, exercising more after Christmas, and reducing stress in the coming year. But the date alone doesn't guarantee success – so concrete plans are needed.

As we have all probably noticed at some point, New Year's resolutions - and the ones mentioned above in particular - are not always as easy to achieve as they seem at first glance.

“ The most important thing if you want to achieve your resolution is to have a concrete plan.”

In addition to this rule, there's another factor that contributes to the success or failure of your resolutions: Find like-minded people, talk to them about the change you've planned, your successes, and the hurdles you might encounter during implementation. It helps to know that you're not alone and that other people struggling with the same resolutions are also struggling.

Armed with these tools, we now look at how we can integrate more time with our loved ones, less stress, and more sustainability into our everyday lives – always with a cozy cup of coffee, of course.

New Year's Resolution #1 - Spend more time with friends and family

Spending more time with friends and family is important – whether digitally or in person.

What, another month has passed? We all know that we visit good friends or family far too rarely. Work and everyday life often keep us very busy, and the days fly by. Humans are creatures of habit, so routines and rituals help us achieve goals.

Our tip for coffee lovers is: Schedule regular appointments with your favorite people, where you can meet up for a cup of coffee , for example —this can also be done digitally. Taking turns hosting ensures variety, and with a capsule machine, you can start chatting at the touch of a button.

New Year's Resolution #2 - Bring more sustainability into everyday life

We must protect our planet – more sustainability is therefore a good resolution for 2021.

Things get a little trickier when you have to examine your daily habits to determine their ecological footprint. Our consumer behavior, in particular, has a significant impact on people and the environment. More and more consumers are becoming aware of this. If you want to make more room for sustainability in your life, you don't have to spend days researching products; there are easier ways.

“ We recommend that you trust selected seals and product labels that transparently explain what they stand for and what they guarantee.”

One of these seals is the Fair Trade seal . It stands for sustainable cultivation, fairly traded products, and thus also compliance with certain minimum standards for workers along the entire supply chain.

For coffee lovers, this seal makes it easier to make a daily habit more sustainable, and there are indeed many companies whose products carry the seal . You get the green icing on the cake if you also use compostable coffee capsules . This gives you coffee at the touch of a button and, at the same time, the certainty of having saved the world a lot of CO2 emissions and aluminum waste.

Sustainability, as defined by the Fair Trade seal, doesn't just mean that the products are kind to nature; it also has a social dimension. Improving small family businesses and working conditions is just as much in the hands of us consumers. By choosing organic and Fair Trade products, you are actively contributing to a better world .

New Year's Resolution #3 - Enjoy the day stress-free

We don't see sustainability as something that can be practiced solely for the sake of the environment. We can also be sustainable for ourselves by treating ourselves with care, allowing ourselves conscious time out, and thus maintaining balance. Coffee lovers have it particularly easy to escape from everyday life here: a cup of good coffee is always a welcome break, one we can also enjoy in good company.

Our third resolution can also be easily combined with the two New Year's resolutions mentioned above: If you take time for your loved ones and the environment, you can reduce your own stress and discover new ways to approach life a little more relaxed and with more enjoyment, à la Dolce Vita.

Doing good can be good – fair trade coffee is one approach

Becoming aware of the impact of your own actions and discovering new ways forward can truly be beneficial. Engaging with sustainability is like a Christmas cleaning, where you declutter what you no longer need. Step by step, you'll discover everything you can change in your everyday life to achieve greater sustainability, less stress, and more time for those who matter to you.

Whether you shop locally, discover a new way to commute by bike, support family businesses through your shopping habits, or improve your carbon footprint by reducing waste: changing your behavior often brings unexpected surprises.

More exercise, more intense enjoyment through fair-trade products , a better conscience, and relaxing moments with loved ones. It's definitely worth thinking about your New Year's resolutions now. Take some time with a delicious cup of capsule coffee, make plans, and set your New Year's resolutions. This will take you another step toward greater well-being and sustainability in your everyday life.

Cover photo by Cathryn Lavery. Additional photos by Windows and Elisabeth Lies.

About the editorial team

Hannah Doths is an online editor who enjoys the pleasure of a hot cup of coffee not only while writing. With respect for nature, she wants to make a small contribution to the fight against climate change through her sustainable vegetarian lifestyle.