Embracing Change

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Whether it’s remembering to recycle or landing your dream job, incremental changes might be the key to success.

Driving up Interstate 35 in Austin, Texas, I saw a billboard that said: “Dude, it’s not that hard. Recycle.”

With Earth Day fast approaching, you, too, are probably noticing the increased attention to green living. The message is simple: It’s really not that hard to toss your plastic soda bottle into the plastics-only bin. And it’s true; tossing a bottle into another bin isn’t that difficult—except that it involves changing a habit, and that can be tough.

Even when we know the change is good, healthy or smart, breaking old habits can still be a challenge. I have been recycling paper for years, so when my environmentally conscious co-workers placed plastic, aluminum and paper bins around the office, I didn’t think it would be challenging to recycle everything else, too. But at the end of the day, with a sense of guilt, I still notice that I have thrown several bottles into the trash can next to my desk, even though those handy bins are less than 50 feet away. If I’m not in a hurry to leave, I’ll pull them out and take them to the bin. If I’m truly pressed for time, I promise myself that I’ll do better tomorrow.

Isn’t that why change is often so difficult? Thinking that we can put off until tomorrow what we should do today creates stagnation. And, if the change is something more complex, not knowing which step to take next can also keep us from moving forward.

Ariane de Bonvoisin, author of The First 30 Days, understands that even though change isn’t always easy, it can be extremely rewarding. With the right attitude, information and support, it’s possible to create the change you want in your life. It doesn’t matter if you want to live greener, lose weight or land your dream job, and it doesn’t matter if you are faced with an unexpected change, such as the death of a loved one, being laid off or relocating to a new city. Change can be successfully incorporated into our lives because, as de Bonvoisin notes, many of the skills needed to make the transition in a healthy manner are the same. Taking the change day by day and sticking to a plan for 30 consecutive days increases our chances for success.

Small Steps for Big, Green Changes

In honor of Earth Day and in the spirit of embracing new habits, here are a couple of resources to help us all live a little greener.

Check out these tips for creating a green home: http://www.first30days.com/creating-a-green-home

Add The Green Year to your reading list. This little book offers 365 simple ideas about how to reduce your energy consumption. For example: “April 15—Request an electronic tax refund. You could let the IRS mail you a check, or you can have your refund deposited directly into your account. Every year, the IRS has to print and mail 54 million tax refunds to individual taxpayers across the United States.”

Also check out an article about green-living expert Sara Snow, who shares tips for moms on the go: Top 10 Tips for Green Living

With so many ideas that make going green simple, maybe you’ll find a couple of new habits to incorporate into your daily life. Remember, bigger isn’t always better. Whether it’s as easy as recycling or something far more challenging, you’ll boost your success rate by making consistent, incremental changes.

Additional Reading

• Home-Grown and Nationally Known
• Spring into Action, and Save Some Green!
• Top 10 Tips for Green Living