New Year, New Trails: Resolve to Make Friends with Nature This Year

Sponsored by Everist

The calendar has flipped, and the world is brimming with fresh possibilities (and maybe some leftover holiday cookies). While many of us are scribbling down resolutions about hitting the gym or decluttering closets, this year, let’s try something different: let’s resolve to befriend nature.

Whether you’re a seasoned trailblazer or more of a backyard birdwatcher, making nature part of your goals is a win-win—for you and the planet. Need a little nudge to get started? We’ve got a trail map of ideas to guide you, with a special shoutout to our friends at Everist, who make eco-friendly resolutions a breeze.

Find New Trails—and New Perspectives

Exploring new trails isn’t just about racking up miles. It’s about uncovering hidden wonders, soaking in serenity, and sometimes just seeing how many snacks fit in your daypack. Whether it’s a local greenway or a national park, make it your mission to discover one new trail every month.

Apps like AllTrails or Trailforks make it easy to find paths suited to your mood and skill level. Keep a journal of your adventures to note wildlife sightings, trail quirks, or which granola bar was a hero (or a zero).

Field Tip: Everist’s waterless shampoo and conditioner concentrates are lightweight trail essentials—perfect for keeping your pack light and your post-hike hair happy.

Tackle Plastic Waste—One Tiny Tube at a Time

Nature doesn’t ask for much—just a little respect and a lot less plastic. Start 2025 by swapping out single-use plastics in your daily routine. Reusable water bottles, beeswax wraps, and Everist’s ingenious personal care concentrates (yes, that’s hair and skin care without the plastic waste) are small changes with a big impact.

For a deeper dive into waste reduction, commit to a composting project at home. Not only will it reduce landfill contributions, but your garden (or your neighbor’s) will thank you.

Field Tip: Turn this into a family challenge—who can come up with the most creative zero-waste hack? Loser buys the marshmallows for the next campfire.

Volunteer for the Wild

Ever hiked a trail and thought, wow, this is too beautiful to be real? Someone helped make it that way. This year, join them. Conservation volunteering is as rewarding as it is impactful. From cleaning up beaches to planting native species, you’ll be giving back to the places that fill your heart.

Look into groups like The Nature Conservancy, Leave No Trace, or local land trusts. (Many events are beginner-friendly).

Field Tip: Make it a monthly tradition and bring friends along. Conservation is better with camaraderie—and carpool playlists.

Take Meetings Outside

Hybrid or remote work? Make it a hybrid lifestyle, too. Instead of sitting through endless video calls, try walking meetings. Studies show walking boosts creativity and reduces stress, making it easier to tackle tough topics or brainstorm big ideas.

If a walk-and-talk isn’t practical, take your laptop to the backyard, a park bench, or even a quiet picnic table. Fresh air can do wonders for productivity and mood—no filter required.

Field Tip: Keep your travel kit stocked with Everist travel minis to freshen up before your next in-office day or retreat. (Your colleagues will thank you.)

Join Our Resolution Giveaway!

To make sticking to these goals even sweeter, we’re teaming up with Everist for a New Year’s giveaway! Subscribe to Field Trip by January 31, 2025, for a chance to win The Shower Essentials Travel Kit from Everist! All subscribers will be entered to win. Field Trip will notify the winner via email on February 1, 2025.

The trails of 2025 are calling, and they’re ready to show you just how much nature has to offer. Whether it’s a quiet moment by a stream or a sweaty uphill climb, every step you take brings you closer to a more balanced, adventurous you.

So, lace up, step out, and make 2025 the year you truly make friends with nature.

This content is sponsored by Everist. Field Trip always tests products before recommending them to our readers. We genuinely love and trust the brands you find featured on our platform.

A note from our Founder, Kayt: “I discovered Everist over a year ago and soon after donated all my unused hair care and body wash to a local charity. With Everist, I have found my hair and scalp to be the healthiest it has ever been (my hairstylist agrees). I only need to wash my hair a couple of times a week. I no longer need to use any styling products—just shampoo and conditioner. The concentrates last forever, making Everist products an extreme value. It takes a bit of getting used to using the products if you have never used concentrates but after a few uses, you’ll wonder why you didn’t make the switch sooner. And wait until you smell how fresh and clean the products (and you) smell!”