Climate Coaching – even small changes make a big difference!

Climate Coaching – even small changes make a big difference!

 

 

 

Climate Coaching – even small changes make a big difference! On #climatecoachingactionday Helen Smith reflects on the small changes she has made and how this is inspiring us all to take action…

David Attenborough is one of my all time heroes. I remember as I kid how much I would look forward to watching his latest documentary and listening to his calming voice whilst he told me about the amazing world in which we live. I guess he is one of the people who has inspired my love of our world, the environment and the wonderful creatures and plants that work together to create a biodiversity.

Today, David Attenborough is one of the many experts that tell us how we need to be taking greater care of our world. We are told to use less plastic, create less pollution, turn the heating down, think about travel – the list is endless and at times it can feel overwhelming and as if our actions will never be enough. This can create what has been called; Eco Anxiety. This is not helpful – it paralyses us from doing anything at all and in kicks apathy.

As it is Climate Coaching week, I have been thinking about this. About how each of our little actions make a difference. About how we can encourage people to recognise this and how people can think about the steps that they want to take without it becoming overwhelming. So I created a new coaching tool to help people do just this. Take one step at a time, start by recognising what you are already doing and think about what you could do next.

I’m not proclaiming myself to be the master of eco living. I’m just your average person living my life. But I want to share with you some of the things I have done recently to reduce my environmental impact and some things I plan to do differently over the next 12 months.

In the last year, I have personally switched to glass milk bottles and I love the fact that my family wake up to fresh organic milk and create less waste. It also saves time and faff walking to the shop in an evening for the milk for breakfast!

I have got to the point that I never use a plastic bag from a shop – I always remember to take my own.

When we moved house 2 years ago, it was important to choose somewhere that enabled us to walk to more places. I now walk the school run, walk to the hairdressers and to the local shop. As well as living opposite the fields and woods to get out in the fresh air. This has saved many of those little 2 mile trips that cause a lot of local pollution.

I set myself a challenge to reduce the number of new things I buy; instead buying pre-loved items or reusing and recycling things. I have found Facebook market place a great source. I have a new rustic solid wood cupboard waiting for me to upcycle for my conservatory, a wonderful garden furniture set complete with cushions, kitted out my new touring caravan with cutlery and crockery and even got my son some much longed after football boots. When we had to have the bathroom ripped out due to a leak in the wall, I kept the existing toilet and sink to be refitted and just updated the tap – with the new shower, the whole rom looks like new!

It feels good to know that all of these actions have benefitted the environment, and at the same time saved me £100’s!

Over the next year I am planning to continue on looking for preloved items before I go to buy new. Along with this I will be looking to switch to a sustainable energy supplier and look how I can reduce my food packaging – at the same time as keeping an affordable food bill; it is not cheap keeping the bellies of two active growing boys full up! I will let you know how I get on.

So why not spend some time thinking about the things you already do and what you might like to commit to next to help our environment?

Here is a link to our #climatecoaching webinar which will help you to reflect on what changes you could make. Simply click and register to watch Helen talk you through an easy to use coaching wheel.

#climatecoachingactionday

#TeamBoo