How do you feel when you read news stories about record breaking heatwaves, ‘once in a lifetime floods’ or climate induced famines? I don’t know about you, but my stomach tightens and I start to feel panicked.
We all know we’re facing an unprecedented fight for a future as we know it, but what happens when you know ‘too much’? What do you do to manage the eco-anxiety?
As a passionate environmentalist, I’ve been there. I’ve consumed too many of the scary statistics, I’ve felt powerless to do anything constructive for the future of my children. So, what can you do to help yourself?
Here are my top 3 tips for managing eco-anxiety:
1. GET AMONGST NATURE – going out for a walk is vital for our mental health, as we learnt over lockdown. Find the nearest beauty spot and blow the cobwebs away, take a carrier bag with you and litter pick so you’re doing something constructive at the same time. You could try growing your own fruit and veg in your garden or window box. Not only does this enable you to eat organic food affordably, it significantly reduces your food miles. Getting your hands dirty is also a great mood booster as soil contains mycobacterium vaccae, which is a natural antidepressant.
2. FOCUS ON WHAT YOU CAN CONTROL – be practical and realistic about what you can change around your home to reduce your carbon footprint. Make sure your home is well insulated, be conscious about saving water, buy preloved whenever possible-these are simple, affordable changes we can all make – and knowing we’re doing something positive and constructive helps a lot. Download an app called GikiZero for other helpful hints.
3. LOOK FOR THE CLIMATE HEROES – it isn’t just Sir David Attenborough and Greta Thunberg that are driving forces for climate action, climate heroes are everywhere. You just have to watch the Earthshot Prize launched by Prince William in 2021, to witness some in spring achievements of businesses and organisations across the world – all on a mission to improve biodiversity, reduce carbon emissions and fight plastic waste. There are many social media sites that focus on ‘Good News’ stories too.
If you’ve worked through these tips and would still like to do more, then get active. Write to your MP about what you’d like to see happen or seek out your local Green Party members and ask how you can support them. Sign petitions, join your local environmental group – they don’t all ask you to glue yourself to a motorway so don’t be put off! Surrounding yourself by like minded people really does give you support and hope. There are many hardworking charities that need our support too, donating to your preferred cause should not be underestimated.
I’ve created a course to help everyone live more sustainably around the home, showing how affordable and easy it can be. Click here for more details - https://eco-for-all.co.uk/
How do you feel when you read news stories about record breaking heatwaves, ‘once in a lifetime floods’ or climate induced famines? I don’t know about you, but my stomach tightens and I start to feel panicked.
We all know we’re facing an unprecedented fight for a future as we know it, but what happens when you know ‘too much’? What do you do to manage the eco-anxiety?
As a passionate environmentalist, I’ve been there. I’ve consumed too many of the scary statistics, I’ve felt powerless to do anything constructive for the future of my children. So, what can you do to help yourself?
Here are my top 3 tips for managing eco-anxiety:
1. GET AMONGST NATURE – going out for a walk is vital for our mental health, as we learnt over lockdown. Find the nearest beauty spot and blow the cobwebs away, take a carrier bag with you and litter pick so you’re doing something constructive at the same time. You could try growing your own fruit and veg in your garden or window box. Not only does this enable you to eat organic food affordably, it significantly reduces your food miles. Getting your hands dirty is also a great mood booster as soil contains mycobacterium vaccae, which is a natural antidepressant.
2. FOCUS ON WHAT YOU CAN CONTROL – be practical and realistic about what you can change around your home to reduce your carbon footprint. Make sure your home is well insulated, be conscious about saving water, buy preloved whenever possible-these are simple, affordable changes we can all make – and knowing we’re doing something positive and constructive helps a lot. Download an app called GikiZero for other helpful hints.
3. LOOK FOR THE CLIMATE HEROES – it isn’t just Sir David Attenborough and Greta Thunberg that are driving forces for climate action, climate heroes are everywhere. You just have to watch the Earthshot Prize launched by Prince William in 2021, to witness some in spring achievements of businesses and organisations across the world – all on a mission to improve biodiversity, reduce carbon emissions and fight plastic waste. There are many social media sites that focus on ‘Good News’ stories too.
If you’ve worked through these tips and would still like to do more, then get active. Write to your MP about what you’d like to see happen or seek out your local Green Party members and ask how you can support them. Sign petitions, join your local environmental group – they don’t all ask you to glue yourself to a motorway so don’t be put off! Surrounding yourself by like minded people really does give you support and hope. There are many hardworking charities that need our support too, donating to your preferred cause should not be underestimated.
I’ve created a course to help everyone live more sustainably around the home, showing how affordable and easy it can be. Click here for more details - https://eco-for-all.co.uk/
