The best souvenir is a new eco-friendly habit to bring home.
Walking through a charming downtown area…
Riding bikes to the beach, or a restaurant with a view…
Enjoying local specialties and freshly harvested ingredients…
Think of all the things you look forward to on a typical summer vacation. I’m sure many of them are specific to your destination.
You make a point to support the local economy, buying gifts from local artists and shopping at the farmers’ markets. Those pleasant memories and fun stories, activities and behaviors that divert from your daily life, are so connected to that unique place and time of year.
You’ve got beautiful photos, maybe even special art purchased for your home, to help you call up lovely memories and experience a dose of that relaxation as you await your next trip.
I had the realization as I was watching Faraway on Netflix that the special activities we enjoy when we go far away on vacation have a lot in common with the kinds of low-carbon, sustainable, and ecological lifestyle changes known to help cool the climate.
What if we could infuse our lives with the things we already enjoy, and at the same time, have a bigger positive impact on the fight for climate change?
Why this works
Basic human psychology tells me this approach to a more climate-friendly lifestyle should work, based on two principles: the concept of set and setting, and the behavioral science around habits.
'Set and setting' is a concept popularized in research around psychedelics, and seeks to explain why one might have a good or bad trip regardless of the size dose of your chemical of choice. Set refers to mindset, your personality, mood, mental health and beliefs. Setting refers to the physical, social, and cultural surroundings of the experience.
In this case, connecting a new habit to positive memories and a pleasant location should make a change in routine easier to stick to.
Habits allow us to look back at the end of each day and see that we’ve lived in a way that reflects our values and aims—without even having to think about it. - Gretchen Rubin
Then, using the science of habit, and the power to do things on autopilot, we can turn those positive-associated tasks into changes for good in our everyday lives.
Would you be willing to slow the pace of your day-to-day, make a few shifts in your shopping, and vacationize your life?
6 ways to vacationize your life for the planet
Here are the vacation-time activities that you can bring home to your workaday life to build new, climate-friendly habits.
Indulge in local, seasonal food
Dip into a 100-mile diet, support local farms, and discover new flavors local to you. Shift just a portion of your grocery bill to your local farm stands and farmers' markets to start making a difference. And try your hand at some easy preserving methods for a taste of summer during the off-season.
Go for a bike ride
Get some exercise and look like a chic European when you ditch the car for short trips. Your mood will go up while your carbon emissions go down.
Walk this way
Like wheeling around on a bike, this climate-friendly habit is so normalized in the cities and islands we love to visit - why not do more walking in your hometown? The slower pace and street views may lead to new discoveries and new friends.
Use less water
In many popular vacation spots, water infrastructure doesn’t have the same capacity as a well-developed city or suburb, and it’s common to have some restrictions on water use. Rest assured, restrictions are coming to your hometown in the near future, so why not get ahead of the curve.
Support local artists and musicians
You probably appreciate your favorite vacation spots for their unique local culture. Maybe you've found some great art and music on your trips. Don't neglect the specific local culture of your hometown - support the creatives in your neighborhood too, the people who give a place its particular flavor..
Get involved in local celebrations
By the same token as tipping your artisan neighbors, consider taking part in the quirky local events that reflect your hometown's history and character. You'll get to know your neighbors and local businesses, connect to your landscape, and develop your own place-based traditions while having fun. Some of my local favorites are an annual sculptural sled race, and a Halloween boombox parade...
I invite you to vacationize your life to reverse climate change. Bring home romance, a slower pace, and an appreciation for the local.
Hacking your habits by making little swaps in a fun way is a winning recipe to do your part to heal the climate. And by unpacking ideas from your cherished vacations, you'll actually enjoy making the changes that align with your values.
Do you enjoy the simpler life during your time off, and have an idea to add to this list? Contact me on social media or email Contact@GreenArts.shop
Learn more about these ideas:
For more climate action, check out the solutions from Project Drawdown
Gretchen Rubin's body of work explores how to use behavioral science to make life easier, more enjoyable, and more aligned with your values. Her habit-hacks are a great way to bring climate solutions down to earth and actionable.
If these sustainability tips were interesting or helpful, please help me spread the word - share with a friend using the links below.
Comments