Want to convince your parents to live sustainably? Great! Then you've come to the right place. Young people can learn a lot from their parents and grandparents and vice versa! The Grandparent generations are even a role model when it comes to sustainability for young people - at least to a certain extent! Because back then, there was no plastic and no energy-guzzling smartphones. And air travel to the other side of the world was not yet possible.
But sometimes sensitive intergenerational conflicts become apparent when visiting your own family. For example, because the parents have habits that are harmful to the environment or are no longer socially acceptable. When different views clash, arguments are inevitable. But in my experience, this can also be avoided!
In this article, I would therefore like to give you some valuable tips on how to give your parents or even your older siblings, cousins and sustainable life - and lifestyles such as Veganismzero waste or minimalism - without getting on their nerves! Let's go!
Important: Please do not feel personally attacked by the content of this article. Of course, there are also older people who act very sustainably and young people who couldn't care less about the environment. This is not about blaming the older generation, but about working together to meet the challenges of our time.
10 tips to get your parents excited about environmental protection and sustainability
People are different. Some are open to change - others love consistency. And some soak up the knowledge of others, while others prefer to stick to their usual views and standpoints.
Accordingly, you must also have a healthy portion of empathy if you want to inspire your family about sustainability.
Don't start arguing and show respect at all times. Never say that a view is wrong. We humans all crave validation to a certain extent and don't like to be reprimanded. Especially not from our own children. 😉
You'd better try to put yourself in your parents' shoes and they to convince slowly and steadily. Perhaps in the same way that you would like to be convinced.
You can also use the following tips to teach your parents about sustainability.
1. shopping together
When my mother heard that my brother and I were now vegan lifeAt first, it was a shock for them. She simply didn't know what to cook in the future - Only salad?
But then we went shopping together and the worries vanished into thin air. Afterwards she had a A feeling for which foods are vegan and where they can be found in the supermarket. And now oat milk, for example, is a permanent guest in the fridge.
Continuing Contributions:
2. cook together
When cooking or at the dining table will get your family excited about sustainability! Definitely! That is my rock-solid conviction based on my experiences with my parents and parents-in-law.
What speaks against a meal prepared with love? Lasagna with vegetable mince or a Bread dumplings in a mushroom sauce with vegan cream? (Cookbook recommendation: Vegan & Easy by Bianca Zapatka*)
And if your parents are allergic to the word 'vegan', you can give them the plant-based alternatives are also easy to prepare and only explain after the meal that the minced meat was not made from animal flesh. In the best case scenario, they have already said that it tastes great 🙂
More recipe ideas for family meals:
- Vegan burgers made from kidney beans and oatmeal
- Vegan hand bread with plant-based ham and cheese
- Vegan Christmas roast based on seitan
Tip: Offer with pleasure to cook alone and to spoil your parents as a small thank you! This automatically increases the willingness to engage in something new and not get the proposal in the wrong.
3. casually share insights from your own everyday life
What are your plans for today? How was your weekend? Whether visiting the parents or during the weekly phone call: such questions are a real Door openerto inspire your family members to live a more environmentally friendly life.
Take the opportunity, for example, to talk about your latest vegan cooking activity, your visit to a demonstration for animal rights or compliance with climate targets - or your eventful Cycling tour in the countryside to tell. Positive change can be so simple and beautiful. Especially when you with enthusiasm reported about it.
4. make sustainable gifts
Is your mother or father's birthday coming up? Is Christmas just around the corner? Or do you just want to say thank you to your parents? Such days and moments are idealto give the gift of an environmentally friendly product or thing that makes life even more sustainable!
How about, for example with a reusable CoffeeToGo mug (is available here*), waste-avoiding Fruit and vegetable nets (is available here*) or one of many, worth reading Books about sustainability? (e.g. Sustainable living for beginners*)
Let your imagination run wild. Every creative idea guaranteed to help get your family excited about sustainability 🙂
Tip: For more inspiration, take a look at the Sustainability Shop from CareElite um.
5. watch a documentary together
Everyone knows it: you see a Movie or a documentarythat open your eyes to the Environmental problems of our time or a certain grievance in our society.
And of course you can get your parents excited about sustainable living in exactly the same way. Simply suggest that you organize a Documentary about sustainability to look at to think outside the box and learn something new.
Alternatively, you can simply suggest a movie to them or give them a date when an interesting feature will be broadcast.
Continuing Contributions:
6. show pictures of your engagement
You have once again picked up trash together with others while jogging or taken part in an animal rights demonstration? Then don't be shy, tell your parents about it or send them a picture of your action via Messenger.
They will certainly show an interest in it - and give you a Open up the opportunity to explain why you are so committed. Here's how to get your family excited about sustainability!
7. use simple introductory topics and motivators
As I said, everyone is different! If you can put yourself in your parents' shoes, you'll probably be able to think of a few topics that concern them on a daily basis and where they could therefore find motivation and access to sustainability somewhat more easily.
In our case, for example, these were the areas of Garden, household and Food. My mother has her The garden has since been redesigned so that it is now home to dozens of different bird species. accommodated. It makes us mighty proud that she dared to make this change!
Continuing Contributions:
- Garden sustainable design
- Sustainable cooking, made easy
- Bee-friendly garden - tips & tricks
- Plastic free in the bathroom
8. make them aware that they are also living sustainably for their children and grandchildren.
Want to convince your family to adopt a more sustainable lifestyle? A real change in life does not need only the HOW, but also the WHY in front of your eyes!
If your parents ask you for more Sustainability they don't just do it for their own health, environmental or animal ethics reasons. No. They are also doing it for you, their grandchildren and all generations to come and may live on this planet in the future.
I believe that it is extremely beneficial to make your parents aware of this - and to provide additional support, so to speak. Awaken protective instinctsthat also motivate.
Continuing Contributions:
9. go to collect garbage together
Plastic waste in the environment is one of the greatest ecological challenges facing mankind. We are the problem - but we can also be the Solution be!
So how about getting your parents excited about sustainability on a walk together, where you can simply a pair of pliers (is available here*) and Bag with you and Collects waste from nature?
It's really a lot of fun because the Positive result directly visible is. It is also extremely calming and will automatically add more karma points. 😉
Related links:
10. propose a simple challenge to them
If you do not live with your parents, you will probably leaving again soon. Before that happens, you can challenge them to try new things and live a little more sustainably with a small challenge.
For example, the to master plastic-free shopping next time or itself eat a plant-based diet for a week. However, depending on your parent's character type, it may be important to have more fun and less pressure to change with these challenges.
Book Tip: In my book "Sustainable living - the challenge" you'll find dozens of these little challenges that your parents can master whenever they feel like it and have the time. If you like, get it here*.
Getting your family excited about sustainability? You can do it without trouble!
I hope that the tips in this article will help you to make sustainable living more appealing to your parents and other family members. To make it work without annoying discussions and arguments, you should show empathy, respect and recognition at all times. Because the Changing habits is difficult for most people.
At this point, I would also like to mention both praise my mother as well as my mother-in-law for thisthat they are always open to our adapted attitudes to life and that they have also allowed a change in their lives! 🙂
"What we do today will determine what the world looks like tomorrow."
Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach (more at Change quotes)
Do you have any questions or suggestions about this article for more sustainability in the family? Then, as always, please write me a comment.
Stay sustainable,
PS: In my sustainable family blog you will find more valuable tips! For example, think about whether it makes sense, not to have children for ecological reasons.
