One Simple Switch for an Eco-Friendly Morning Routine

This post is sponsored by Intelligent Blends, but all opinions are my own. (In fact, I love this company so much that I’m writing another blog post for them completely for free on my other site! They’re doing good stuff.) Some of the links here may be affiliate links, which help support this blog. Now onto the post.

The average person throws away 500 disposable coffee cups every year.

That’s right–every year. That’s a lot of cups.

I’ve noticed that the little things we do on a daily basis are often the ones that have the biggest impact.

Saying “I love you” instead of complaining to a family member. Taking 5 extra minutes in the morning to just stretch before you go off to work. Choosing to eat some carrot slices instead of grabbing a bag of chips.

Choosing to buy a coffee at the shop on your way to work instead of making it at home. 

But often we underestimate the little things and instead look to the extremes. We read about the Zero Waste lifestyle, or watch Minimalist videos on YouTube and just think, “I could never do that.” (Or at least, that’s what I do!)

Living in an extreme culture makes it difficult to appreciate the impact of small habits. We don’t see people’s daily diet choices–we see the 200lb weight loss transformation video. We don’t see the small things people do anymore–we just see the final results.

But I want to challenge us to get back to focusing on the small things. 

You don’t need to uproot your entire life to make a difference, we just need to identify areas for easy improvement. It’s about choosing something other than that disposable coffee cup at the shop next to your office.

Here’s the thing–most eco-friendly coffee solutions are boring. There, I said it. Or else they take way too long. (No, I don’t want to grind my coffee to use in my french press and then froth my milk in a pot on the stove and use the flavor syrup that I made myself. That’s like a 20 minute task for a drink I’ll down in 30 seconds.)

As well, I don’t particularly enjoy just bland coffee–even with milk and sugar. Also, I always forget to bring a reusable mug to coffee shops.

Which is why Intelligent Blends coffee makes me so excited! Unlike most single-serve coffee pods, theirs are recyclable. Making your own coffee at home using recyclable pods is one of those small changes with a big impact–imagine being able to cut down your waste by 500 cups a year!

But what I love about Intelligent Blends coffee pods is that they aren’t boring! Seriously, you can get mocha cappuccinos, vanilla cappuccinos, and TONS of flavored coffee (personally, I love the Dreamy Creamy Salted Caramel decaf one!). It takes about 30 seconds, gives me a drink that I actually enjoy, and is completely recyclable.

I also figured out that if I microwave some cashew milk while my coffee is brewing, I can make myself a frothy latte in less than 2 minutes in the morning, completely vegan and completely eco-friendly. It takes less time than waiting in a drive through and saves money.

If you’re looking to become more eco-friendly, I seriously suggest starting to use Intelligent Blends pods. 

They were lovely enough to send me their coffee maker, too, but the great thing is that these cups work in Keurig machines, too, so if you already have one, you can switch out your typical K-cups for Intelligent Blends’ more sustainable options!

If we truly want to change the world, we need to start by looking at the small things we do every day.

For me, it comes down to walking 10 minutes to the store instead of driving, choosing to bring my own shopping bags instead of accepting plastic ones, and finding a more sustainable option for my morning coffee. I truly believe in what Intelligent Blends is doing, so if you want to check them out, please do. It supports small business, it supports your local blogger (that’s me!), and it supports a more eco-friendly morning routine.

 Starting your day right makes all the difference.

So while you’re at it, here are a few more simple habits to start practicing to brighten your morning:

1. Wake up 5 minutes early to stretch or cuddle a pet before you get out of bed
2. Practice writing down 3 things you’re looking forward to every day–even if it’s something simple (like your cup of Intelligent Blends coffee!)
3. Change your background on your phone to something inspirational or beautiful–or a reminder to put down your phone!
4. Take 10 minutes on your commute to work (or on your lunch break if you drive to work) to unfollow people on social media who make you feel anxious or like you don’t have enough.
5. Make your bed. It takes 20 seconds and turns your room from a crash zone to a luxurious oasis!

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