Hey earth muffins! When my boyfriend and I moved in together back in July, we knew that it would be a huge step in our relationship. We had been doing long distance for 5ish years, so going from not seeing each other very often to seeing each other every single day was an adjustment. The fact that I live a more sustainable lifestyle was another thing we had to worry about. But, so far it has been great! π Living with someone who isn’t as eco-friendly might seem like a challenge, so I thought I would share my personal tips to keep the household at peace. Let’s jump right into it!
Tips 1-3 for Living with a Less Eco-Conscious Person
The first thing I recommend doing is thinking about your relationship with who you are living with. It is important to classify them as a stranger/roommate, friend, partner, parent, etc. Now that the relationship is defined, you can think about what household things can be done separately and what must be done together. An example: if I was living with my parents they would be buying most of the groceries which could increase the amount of plastic I would want from the grocery store. But, if I was living with a friend at college we might buy our groceries separately, which would help my eco journey! Even if there is a possibility of doing everything separate, make sure you keep the economic feasibility in the back of your mind. It might be better to save some money and just create a bit more waste until you get your own place or live with someone who is willing to live more eco friendly!
Once you have identified areas that you do together, sit down with them and have a nice chat! π Tell them all about why you are trying to be more sustainable and see if they might be testing out the sustainable waters too. Definitely don’t keep them in the dark about the way you are trying to live, as they won’t understand why you are doing certain things. This could lead to them growing annoyed with you, which could produce some unnecessary roommate drama!
After talking with them, you have probably identified certain things that you both want to improve on. This could be eating meat less or switching the cleaning products to something more “green”. It is important to set goals for the household! Personally, I did this a while ago when I laid out what I wanted for my sustainable apartment. There is a lot of evidence out there that writing down goals helps you achieve them; so, try writing them down and hanging them on the fridge!
Final Tips for Living with Someone Who Isn’t as Eco Friendly
Even though you might have listed multiple goals, try to implement small changes one at a time! Every small change matters and helps the planet; if you try to change too much at once, there is a higher probability that your roommate will get overwhelmed and stop trying. My boyfriend’s first change was to switch from plastic water bottles to his Brita. After a few weeks he has accomplished that! π Now we are on to plastic soda bottles…
It is important to note that you will most likely not be able to convert all their habits. That is okay! You can’t force your ideal way of living onto them, which might end up with making compromises. Do not pester them and do not feel guilty if you have to make concessions in certain areas. Remember, every little thing makes a difference, so it’s better to make small progress than none at all!
Lastly, make sure your roommate knows that you are noticing the changes they are making. If you see them opt for a glass container over plastic at the grocery store, call them out on it! π People love being complimented and appreciated; it is important to tell them that their efforts are making a difference.
Overall, it might seem like living with someone with different values means that you can’t continue on your sustainable journey…. But that just isn’t the case! I’ve had plenty of success with my boyfriend so far, and I bet you can too! What are the best ways you have found when living with someone who isn’t as eco friendly?
Love,
Jenna β₯
