Quick Tricks to a Greener Family?

Old habits die hard. We naturally, unthinkingly gravitate to whatever’s easiest and most convenient, even when we know it’s not good for our health or the planet. We use cognitive tricks to keep bad habits alive — we tell ourselves that our small daily choices don’t matter, or that environmental problems live in a hazy, faraway future (you know, our grandchildren’s grandchildren’s future). But we can turn the tricks that reinforce bad habits into tricks for forging good habits. Whether it’s turning off the lights every time you leave a room, or packing lunch every day, the experts we talked to agree: A combination of awareness and repetition is the key to lasting change. Continue reading for the key steps to changing and forming habits.