The term “sustainability” has become a buzzword, a politically loaded reference, and the basis of much theoretical argument. The Wikipedia page (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainability) gives some entertaining and perhaps informative explanation of this aspect of sustainability.
My personal view of the word sustainability is much more basic. Maybe I’m just a simple guy. To me, the concept simply boils down to whether a given behavior can be continued into the long term without severe consequences.
Like beauty, it is up to the beholder what time reference applies to “long term.” For some unfortunate people, long term might mean “any day past today.” For others, it might be until the end of their lives. For the really far-sighted long term might mean thousands of years; or perhaps until the end of humanity.
Personal bad habits can be greatly destructive to human relationships. Examples would certainly include addictions, abusiveness, or criminal acts. It is often said that people need to hit rock-bottom before they can truly see the results of their behaviors. They then might come to understand that the behavior was not sustainable. In other words, they realize the action is something they just cannot keep doing.
As an individual, you should not expect to carry on very long spending a lot more than you earn.
Businesses can develop bad habits too. Foolish management might mistreat vendors, employees, and even customers in the interest of a short-term gain. Likewise, a company that abuses any factor of the people-time-money-results balance is accelerating the arrival of bad consequences.
Here are some actions that are not sustainable:
I can hear in my head some bad managers saying, “But I only plan to do this for a little while!”
As employees, we can also be accused of violating the same bad behaviors. Sometimes we need to look in the mirror first.
I am sure that you do not fall into these traps. Your habits are impeccable and your projects are flawless. Therefore, I should stop writing and get around to those chores my wife has so patiently requested. Any other path would not be sustainable.