Fix It. Make It. Make Do. A Practical Start to Sustainable Living

This year, we’re starting small and staying practical. Each week, we’ll share three simple ideas you can actually use: one Quick Fix, one Quick Make, and one Quick Do.

Nothing fancy. Nothing overwhelming. Just small actions that help things last longer, reduce waste, and build confidence over time.

Week One is about getting started.

Quick Fix: Tighten a Loose Zipper Slider

If your zipper closes but slowly creeps back open, your jacket isn’t failing you. The slider is just tired.

Most of the time, the fix is simple:

• Take a pair of pliers

• Gently pinch the slider from the top and bottom

• Test the zipper

• Repeat once if needed

Stop as soon as it holds. Five minutes is often all it takes to keep a jacket in use for another season.

Quick Make: Build a Simple Repair Kit

You don’t need a sewing room to fix everyday things. You just need a few tools within reach.

Start with:

• A needle

• Heavy thread

• Small scissors

• A few safety pins

Put the kit somewhere visible. When tools are easy to find, repairs actually happen.

This isn’t about being ready for everything. It’s about being ready for the small fixes that add up.

Quick Do: Fix One Thing Before Buying Anything New

Before replacing something this week, try a pause.

Fix one thing first.

It doesn’t have to be the broken item. Sew a button. Patch a tear. Tighten a screw. Sharpen a tool.

This small habit shifts your mindset from reacting to choosing. Often, after fixing one thing, the urge to buy something new fades entirely.

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How This Series Works

Every week follows the same rhythm:

• Fix something you already own

• Make something simple and useful

• Do one small thing differently

Some weeks will focus on repair. Others on making, seasonal living, or slowing down. The point isn’t perfection. It’s practice.

This Week’s Invitation

Try just one of these. Or try all three.

A slightly crooked stitch still counts. A zipper that works “well enough” is a win. A repair kit can grow over time.

This is how change actually happens. Quietly. Repeatedly. With care.