Looking to keep your momentum from Earth Day going year-round? Set achievable goals for actions within your sphere of control. We suggest setting a goal to kick your single-use coffee cup habit and instead bring your own thermos, or ask for your drink “for here” if you’re planning to sit down for awhile.
Not only will switching to reusables help the environment, it’s also better for your health: paper coffee cups are lined with a plastic layer to prevent the liquid from leaking, but studies have shown that this layer releases microplastics and chemicals into your drink. This plastic layer also means that paper coffee cups cannot be recycled or composted.
How can you make a new habit, like bringing your reusable thermos to your favorite café, stick? Here are some tips to make a new habit stick:
- Make your goal specific: Vague goals are hard to measure and stick to, while being specific can help you succeed. For example, “I will bring my reusable thermos to one coffee run per week.”
- Get friends involved: Make your habit more fun by making it social! For example, text a friend to try out a new coffee shop with a plan to both bring a reusable thermos.
- Allow for flexibility: A very rigid plan can be hard to stick to, and might make you feel like missing one goal means it’s time to give up on the whole thing. Allow yourself some flexibility and grace, and then get back on track without giving up entirely.