You Can Make a Difference
A lot of people think that they can’t make a difference when it comes to the environment. The truth is, you can and you do! When you recycle your plastic bottles or ride your bike instead of driving, you are doing your part to help the earth. A great way to help is by making small changes like this because they can have a big impact over time. Not only can these small changes help the environment in big ways, but they also have other benefits for your own health and well-being, as well as for your community at large. We are the caretakers of this earth and have a responsibility to take care of it.
Small changes add up over time so don’t be discouraged if you feel like what you’re doing isn’t making much of an impact at first—you will definitely start to see results if you stick with it! An easy way to get started making positive changes is by getting involved with local community efforts, such as organizing a cleanup day for parks in your neighborhood or volunteering for an ocean conservation event. These things are not only great ways to give back but also wonderful opportunities to meet new people and make friends within your community who share the same interests as you do!
Get Outside
Spend time getting to know your local natural areas and visit them frequently. Spending time outside often is a great way to remember that we need to keep our planet healthy so that the future generations will be able to enjoy the same places we do. Nature is peaceful and it makes you feel good inside and outside. If you're not spending enough time in the great outdoors, make a point to visit some natural areas this week (if not today). You can relax in a meadow or go on a beach walk—pick your own adventure and have fun!
If you spend time exploring the wilderness with friends or family, always be respectful of nature. Don't take anything but pictures and leave nothing but footprints. When wildlife is involved, be especially cautious—always err on the side of caution when interacting with animals in their habitats. In addition to being as safe as possible at all times, avoid disturbing living things as much as possible: don't pick flowers or leave trash, always leave the space better than you found it.
If hiking isn't your thing and you find yourself getting worn out after walking a short distance search for nearby parks that offer more sedentary activities like picnicking or kite flying Either way, get out there and enjoy what the planet has to offer!
"Earth is what we all have in common."
-Wendell Barry
Talk to your friends, family and colleagues about how they can get involved in Earth Day.
An important part of Earth Day is spreading awareness on the importance of our planet’s health and how everyone can help. The first step is to talk to your friends, family and colleagues about Earth Day. You can do this in person, on the phone or even via email. The important thing is to get them involved in Earth Day, even if it is just for a moment of time. Your friends, family and colleagues can have a huge impact on the health of our planet and its environment by doing small things like recycling and composting or by supporting local farmers who use sustainable practices on their farms. Alone it may seem like you are not making a huge difference, but all our efforts combined can really help improve our planet’s health.
Remember the Environment in All Your Activities
Ensure that the environment is respected and protected in everything you participate in. Remembering to think about the environment when planning activities helps to get in the habit of making small daily decisions to keep our planet healthy. When you attend a meeting, take a few moments to look around and make sure that the waste is managed in an environmentally responsible way. The next time you are planning to host or participate in a party or meeting, consider taking it outside. The weather may be gorgeous, and holding the discussion on a patio or lawn can inspire creativity and encourage open dialog. If you’re planning to have refreshments at your event, think about using reusable mugs instead of disposable cups. Remember that there are always opportunities for you to promote environmental awareness in your day-to-day activities!
Bring awareness to issues that affect the environment.
You can bring awareness to environmental issues by talking about them with family and friends. One of the biggest environmental issues today is climate change. The environment is being affected by climate change which has resulted in extreme weather conditions such as droughts and hurricanes in various parts of the world. Sea levels will continue to rise if we do not make changes. Burning fossil fuels leads to higher amounts of greenhouse gas emissions. If possible, choosing electric and hybrid cars is a helpful way to do your part.
Another big environmental issue is pollution. Pollution is caused by harmful substances which are present in the air, soil and water. Big cities that have a lot of factories and cars cause the most air pollution. Consider car-pooling more to help reduce the smog in your area.
Deforestation and protecting endangered species are also important issues that need our attention. We’ve lost more than half the world’s tropical forests since the 1960s. It’s time that businesses take forest conservation seriously and take an active role in replenishing the natural resources that have been lost over time. Forests clean the water we drink, purify the air we breathe, and give us food we rely on. Rebuilding forests can help reduce global warming and provide a place for many endangered animals. Most of the species that are endangered are a result of human activity so it is our responsibility to help reverse that.
There are many ways individuals can help save our planet: walking or cycling instead of driving a car; recycling more; not littering or throwing waste on the streets; planting trees; using less plastic; and using renewable sources of energy such as solar power and hydroelectricity for our electricity needs instead of non-renewable fuels like oil, coal and natural gas.
Stay positive
While it might seem like a strange topic for Earth Day, your thoughts and mindset can have a huge impact on the world around you.
That’s because when you think about your life in a positive way, you are much more likely to stay motivated and take action. But if you’re constantly focused on the negative parts of your life, then it may feel hopeless and therefore more difficult to make any kind of change at all. So how do we shift from one mindset into another? The following three tips are some ideas that might help!
- Focus on what is within your control. Focus on what you can actually change—your actions—and not just complaining or thinking about things that have already happened or larger events outside of yourself. You will feel more confident when making choices in this way because they’re based on things over which we do have some influence (like our behavior).
- Set realistic goals for yourself so that they are attainable rather than overwhelming; otherwise it will be hard not to get discouraged when progress seems slow or non-existent. This could be something like going vegetarian once per week instead of fully committing right away; another good example would be taking public transit instead of driving whenever possible during rush hour traffic periods like late afternoon commutes home from work because those times tend to congest with vehicles too often as well which leads us back again toward our original goal here: reducing emissions outdoors by eliminating unnecessary car trips altogether! Having measurable goals helps people stay motivated by giving them something specific to work towards while also feeling achievable in terms of time frame/skill level needed.
- Meditate. Meditation can bring you into the here and now and help show you what really matters. Allowing you to be present allows you to not be dragged down by past regret or future worry, but instead on what you can do right now to better your position mentally. Taking the time to meditate helps your own mental state and in turn our planet’s well-being as well.
Make a change today.
If you are not sure where to start, think about some of your daily habits, such as taking a shower or brushing your teeth, and see if there is a way you can do these things sustainably. When it comes to living sustainably, everyone has to start somewhere.
Sustainable practices are important for reducing our carbon footprint, but also for conserving resources and making the choices that will benefit future generations. A few simple changes in your daily routine could have a huge impact on the environment!
- Recycle. Be conscious of your impact. Try doing a personal audit of what you're throwing away and where it's going. What can be recycled? Repurposed? Composted? You might find yourself wanting to change what you buy. If you're feeling stuck in a rut because of how many items you've thrown away or bought during quarantine, consider bringing nature into your space through plants and flowers instead of another piece that will just end up in a landfill.
- Keep water use top-of-mind. From using less water when washing dishes or clothes to being mindful about how long your showers last, there are so many simple ways to help conserve water during Earth Day (and every other day).
- You could go to the beach and pick up trash or join local beach clean up day.
- Turn off lights when you leave a room. Conserve electricity during peak hours and limit use when not needed. Limit air conditioning when not needed as well.
- Shop from sustainable stores. There are many more health conscious stores that practice environmentally healthy business practices. Doing a little research into where you are buying your clothes or home décor from could help our environment. Also, donate and shop from thrift stores. One man’s trash is another’s treasure and it keeps it out of landfills.
- Ditch the plastic. Instead of using single-use plastics try to use reusable items instead. There are reusable straws, grocery bags, ziploc bags, and tubberware available that all help reduce the amount of plastic used.
Overall, do what you can this Earth Day and every day to keep our planet healthy and happy because a green future is a prosperous future. You matter and you can make a difference!
