There are some things in life that just work more smoothly when we’re in our daily home schedule: eating right, studying, sleeping well and living sustainably.

Problems emerge when we go outside this routine, including multiple times a year when our campus goes on break. We forget the behaviors that make our world and ourselves healthier and happier.

You lose sleep traveling, and then maybe gain some when you get to a nice cozy bed at your parents’ house. You go from eating ramen and dining-hall food every day to having a huge Thanksgiving dinner with all your family members.

You go from riding your bike or walking to campus every day to taking a 200-ton flying machine to your desired destination. Transportation Security Administration takes away your reusable water bottle because you forgot to empty it, and then when you buy disposable water bottles you can’t find recycling anywhere in the airport.

This happens to countless travelers and holiday-takers because it’s hard to plan out trivial, commonplace behaviors when you’re focused on getting work done before break or finally taking the trip you planned weeks or months before. But we have to look at the bigger picture.

History is filled with mishaps and mistakes, and an eco-warrior taking a transatlantic flight is not really going to make the history books. At the same time, it’s important to carry through with sustainable practices throughout all parts of life as much as you can and to the best of your ability.

To be a truly eco-conscious person, sustainability fits right in with daily tasks. It becomes just part of the routine. So when sustainability suddenly turns into a struggle, the only phrase that really jumps to mind is “hindsight is 20-20.”

Why didn’t we just empty our reusable water bottle? Why didn’t we try to plan out a less carbon-intensive way to travel? It’s too late now. We’ll just buy a disposable water bottle and get on the plane.

These are not things to be guilty about. A major part of sustainability is improving our behaviors to sustain our planet, and not calling on every person to be perfect 365 days a year. We must learn and grow, and see where we can do things better next time.

As we return to our daily routines, we’re reflecting on our vacations. We’re telling stories about the good and bad times, and in those conversations we can bring up what to do next time for a more sustainable vacation.

Sustainability is a constant progression toward a better tomorrow for our planet and all 7 billion of us humans. While no one is perfect, we must all learn to incorporate these positive behaviors into all parts of our lives — whether during daily life, or extraordinary vacation and holiday times.

Meg Callaghan is a junior environmental studies major and writing minor at the SUNY-ESF. Her column appears weekly. She can be reached at mlcallag@syr.edu.

 

Published on November 28, 2012 at 1:00 am