05 November 2018

How to convince your partner to be more environmentally concerned?

Partnerships broke apart due to smaller things than a fundamental disagreement over something that important to one side.

But like with any such issue, the solution doesn't start with just planning convincing strategy.

It comes down to finding the reason for not wanting to do something, in the first place.

In other words: Why isn't your partner convinced already?
The might be multiple reason for it, but the most generic ones are:
  1. They don’t believe there is a problem at all, a bit like people not believing in global warming,
  2. They believe there is a problem but don’t believe their actions are meaningful enough to make a difference,
  3. They think that convenience of living is more important than some far fetched gains for the humanity.

As much as it may seem counterintuitive, the last view is the easiest to fix!

If eco-friendliness is not inconvenient, or makes life cheaper your other half should have no problems embracing it.
So make them see that it actually is cheaper to use reusable containers than to get new ones every single time. Or that eco-friendly cleaning supplies can be as good as non-eco ones. And planning meals means less waste less smelly bins and less cleaning.
You get the idea.
A lot of people find recycling segregation extremely annoying. That's because they segregate straight into the collection bins. They have to go outside, sometimes in the evening, close to those smelly landfill bins and so on. Not nice at all. But if you get a recycling bin in your house that sorts all your problems. You segregate at home. That bin never smells because recycling materials should be clean. And it can stand anywhere.
In fact, what works best for me is a repurposed laundry bin. Looks good and is spacious enough for me to just empty it once in two weeks.

Beliefs are harder to fix. And not because there is not data to support the eco-conscious lifestyle, but mostly because people tend to stick to their own and fight for to the last drop of blood. It's important to challenge those beliefs in such a way that your partner doesn't feel ridiculed or attacked.

And if your partner doesn't feel powerful enough to make a difference just look for some examples of people who went out of their way and made a difference. Like Wayne and Koda or two small girls who changed the perception of many grownups.

Too much? No time. Just ask them this small question:

Do you think a piece of trash that someone dropped in the middle of a pavement makes a difference? That's how much it matters if just one person makes one action.