At this time of the year it is easy to give ourselves a holiday from “doing the right thing” in terms of sustainable and environmentally friendly behaviours. Various reasons exist for this feeling – among them the social expectation of buying and consuming lots of stuff, changes in routine, and sometimes a temporary change in physical environment as we head to holiday spots or visit family and friends. This article looks at some of the common reasons why we engage in less sustainable behaviours during the festive season, and what we can do about it.

“This is an exception”

A 2009 study found that most people are less likely to behave in an environmentally friendly way when on vacation. The main reasons provided for this change in behaviour were that they feel less morally obligated, they feel like a break from “everything”, and that the infrastructure doesn’t exist to support eco-friendly behaviour.

This is an easy trap to fall into when you are on holiday. “I’ve worked hard all year, so why not be a bit indulgent and wasteful?”. Of course it is hard to do the right thing all the time, and we all have times when we just need to relax and not be so worried about saving the planet. In order to counter the temptation to drop your bundle during the holidays, try to seek out ways in which you can still minimise your environmental impact - without feeling like you are unable to relax. Simple things like seeking out recycling options close to holiday accommodation, taking public transport to visit people, and giving quality, locally-made Christmas gifts seem like small things. But they all add up, they set an example to others, and they help you maintain your sense of contribution.

Getting out of the habit

The whole point of habits is that they are supported by routines – when we are in a familiar place, around familiar people, doing familiar things, then we tend to stick to our familiar behaviours. Because the festive season is a break from routine, often our habitual behaviours also take a break. Things like sustainable transport, recycling and purchasing local and/or organic food all seem a bit harder when not supported by our usual schedule. While there are probably some great benefits to having a change from the norm, there are usually a few behaviours which we will feel better for having maintained. The best thing to do is to be aware of our habits and what holds them in place, and to plan our break in such a way that we still maintain our positive behaviours while out of our normal routine. The Exercise of the Month below can assist you with that

Lack of knowledge

Even during the normal course of events it can be difficult to know which behaviours have the best environmental and social outcomes. Should I buy local conventional products, or imported organic/recycled ones? Can I put #2 plastics in this recycling bin? It’s even harder when we are outside our home environment. Finding out sources of sustainable products, holiday transport timetables, and local waste disposal practices are among the challenges of trying to maintain sustainable behaviours in the festive season. Doing your research helps – set aside some time to search the internet for this information and download the information you need. If vacationing, choosing a location and/or accommodation which makes sustainable living easy can also help.

Nobody else is doing it

Often sustainable behaviours require us to do things which are not in our immediate self-interest, but instead are undertaken for the good of the wider community or future generations. One of the big barriers to undertaking these behaviours is the suspicion that nobody else is pulling their weight. While during the normal course of the year we might surround ourselves with like-minded folks, holidays can be a time when we spend time with those who might not share our values and behaviours. If they are not showing much concern for sustainability, it is easy to get disheartened. In order to counter this feeling, try seeking out examples of people who are doing the right thing. We are often drawn to examples of things which prove our beliefs, so if we feel like nobody is caring about the environment, often all we see is people littering and behaving wastefully. However, if you look closely, you will see that a lot of people are making an attempt to tread more lightly on the planet. Choose to focus on them, and also be assured that the more people who join them, the closer we will get to a tipping point where it will become socially unacceptable to trash the planet.

Also, use this time to provide a positive example and gently nudge friends and family to be more mindful of their environment. Simple things such as providing a recycling bin for Christmas wrappings and using biodegradable or reusable dishes at gatherings often stand out and help to add to the collective sustainability mindset.

Exercise: Keeping Up The Habit

The feature article above discusses the challenges of keeping up sustainable habits during the festive season, when we often have a change of routine and environment. This month's exercise provides an opportunity to look at how we can keep up those good habits, while still enjoying the season.

1. List all the things you do during the year which you would consider sustainable or eco-friendly. (e.g. using re-usable shopping bags, using public transport, riding a bike, composting etc)
2. Which of these things are going to be a challenge to maintain during the festive season, and why? (e.g. Recycling - not sure of recycling facilities at holiday location. Re-usable bags - I will be out of my routine. Riding a bike - not planning to take it on holiday.
3. What can you do to overcome these challenges and maintain your good habits? (e.g. Recycling - I can research recycling facilities online, or possibly even bring some of the recyclables home with me. Re-usable bags - I could pack some in my luggage. Biking - I could hire a bike at the holiday location.

Most of these challenges can be overcome by some thought and planning. Make sure to remind others and be a role model too - show them how easy it is and let them see you enjoying it!

Awake provides psychology-based tools and services which support organisations and communities to develop a culture of sustainability. Visit www.awake.com.au for more info.

Image credit by Erica G. via Flickr Creative Commons