How celebrating Earth Day can improve your peace of mind
Explore why celebrating Earth Day can benefit mother nature and your mental health. Plus, 10 mindful activities to try on Earth Day to improve your peace of mind.
It’s no secret that our relationship with Earth supports our mental health. Research has shown that connecting in nature can boost our mood, reduce stress, and even give us a better night’s sleep. In celebration of Earth Day this April, take some time to think about how you can have a positive impact on the Earth and celebrate everything that it does for us.
What is Earth Day, and why do we celebrate it?
Every year on April 22, people around the world celebrate Earth Day to demonstrate support for environmental protection. Since Earth Day celebrations started in 1970, it’s grown to include a wide range of events coordinated globally by EarthDay.org, involving over 1 billion people in more than 193 countries.
Earth Day celebrations help raise awareness about key environmental issues, such as pollution, deforestation, loss of biodiversity, and climate change. It reminds us how important it is to actively protect the planet and encourages people, communities, and governments to take concrete steps toward sustainable living.
Earth Day has played a significant role in environmental advocacy, leading to policy changes and the establishment of environmental laws. It's a day for learning about environmental challenges and for mobilizing toward making the Earth a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable place for future generations. On Earth Day we can also show our individual commitment to preserving the environment and to inspire positive change in our daily habits.
How celebrating Earth Day can benefit your mental health
Celebrating Earth Day reminds us of the importance of taking care of our planet and ourselves. This can lead to a range of benefits to our mental health and overall wellbeing.
Connection to nature and Earth can improve mental health
Spending time in nature has been proven to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. Earth Day activities often involve being outdoors, whether it's planting trees, cleaning up local parks, or simply appreciating the world around you. This connection to nature can improve your mood and overall sense of wellbeing.
Nature can give you a sense of purpose
Participating in Earth Day events can give you a sense of purpose and belonging. Knowing that you are contributing to a cause greater than yourself can boost self-esteem and provide a sense of accomplishment. This collective action toward environmental conservation can make you feel part of a community, combating feelings of isolation.
💙 Jay Shetty’s We Are Nature meditation provides insight into how you’re connected with the world around you.
Celebrating Earth Day can encourage physical activity
Many Earth Day activities involve physical exercise, such as walking, gardening, or cleaning up beaches and parks. Physical activity may release natural mood-lifting chemicals in your body, sometimes helping to reduce feelings of stress and depression.
💙 Mindful Walking will help you get the most out of your time outside by combining mindfulness, meditation, and physical movement.
Nature allows learning and growth
Earth Day provides opportunities to learn more about environmental issues and what you can do to help. This learning process can be empowering and offers a sense of control. Engaging in educational activities keeps your mind active, contributing to your overall mental health.
Mother Earth can promote mindfulness and reflection
Celebrating Earth Day encourages mindfulness and reflection on our impact on the planet. It can be a day of gratitude for the Earth's resources, leading to a more thoughtful approach to how we use them. This mindfulness can extend to other areas of life, promoting a more balanced and reflective mindset.
💙 Tune in to nature even if you’re meditating indoors by listening to Calm’s Soundscapes, like Rolling Thunderstorm.
Getting involved in nature can reduce eco-anxiety
For those concerned about environmental issues, taking action on Earth Day can help alleviate feelings of eco-anxiety. Being proactive in environmental conservation efforts can provide a sense of control over environmental concerns, reducing feelings of helplessness and despair.
💙 If you’re feeling overwhelmed, the Grounded Like a Mountain mindfulness meditation can help you find a sense of calm and connect you with the world around you.
10 mindful activities to celebrate Earth Day
Each of these mindful Earth Day celebration activities offers you a way to promote sustainability and build a deeper sense of connection with nature.
1. Learn patience by planting a garden
No matter what you’re growing, gardening connects you with the earth. It's a mindful practice that teaches patience, care, and the cycle of life. Invite friends or family to join you in planting something new, turning it into a communal and educational activity.
💙 Tune in to Tamara Levitt’s Earth Day meditation dedicated to celebrating Earth Day and appreciating nature.
2. Stop and stare at the world around us
Organize a nature walk in a local park or nature reserve. Encourage participants to observe the flora and fauna, breathe in the fresh air, and appreciate the beauty around them. This activity can serve as a reminder of the natural wonders we're working to protect.
💙 Step outside to better understand the impacts of nature with Nature Walk from Eric López, PhD.
3. Refresh how you recycling
Spend a day learning about and organizing your recycling. This could involve setting up a more efficient recycling station at home or hosting a community workshop on the importance of recycling correctly. Invite neighbors to join in and share tips on reducing waste.
4. Clean-up your community as a group
Organize or participate in a clean-up event in your neighborhood, local park, or beach. This not only helps the environment but also strengthens community ties. Working alongside others for a common cause can be a powerful bonding experience.
5. Get crafty to avoid landfill
Host a workshop or a small gathering to create upcycled crafts from materials you might otherwise throw away. This can be an engaging way to spend time with family or friends while also promoting the idea of reusing and repurposing.
6. Eat local (and be vocal about it)
Invite friends or family over for a meal involving dishes made from locally sourced, sustainable ingredients. Use this as an opportunity to discuss the impact of food choices on the environment and share tips on eating sustainably.
💙 Take Mindful Eating to a new level by incorporating more local food and encouraging others to do the same.
7. Unplug and go outdoors
Encourage a day or even just a few hours of unplugging from electronic devices to enjoy the natural world. This can improve mental health and lead to a greater appreciation for the environment. Share the experience with others by spending this time in a group outdoor activity.
8. Donate to environmental causes
As a group, choose an environmental charity or cause and make a donation. This can be a powerful and tangible way to contribute to environmental protection efforts. Discuss as a group why you chose the organization and how its goals align with your values.
9. Create a carbon footprint challenge
Promote a day of using eco-friendly modes of transportation such as biking, walking, carpooling, or using public transport. This can be a fun challenge to do with friends, family, or coworkers, encouraging everyone to think about their carbon footprint.
10. Plant a tree for a better future
Participating in or organizing a tree-planting event is a direct way to contribute to the environment. Trees are important for absorbing CO2, providing oxygen, and supporting biodiversity. Doing this as a group enhances the experience, allowing for a shared sense of achievement and commitment to the planet.
Sleep more, save the planet
If you’re looking for an unusual way to make your daily routine more eco-friendly, consider sleeping more! Research suggests that if everyone in the U.S. got just one extra hour of sleep, we could save up to 2.4 billion pounds of CO2 emissions a day. A good night’s sleep also gives us the energy to engage in sustainable choices, and puts us in a better mood for engaging in advocacy.
To help you cultivate gratitude for the planet and ease you into sweet, earth-supporting sleep, we’ve unearthed a collection of our favorite Sleep Stories featuring incredible landscapes across the globe (minus the carbon footprint).
💙 Press play on any one of Calm’s Nature Stories to transport yourself to a peaceful landscape and get some quality shut-eye while doing it.
The soothing sounds of Mother Nature
Modern lifestyles don’t always make it easy to access the peace and quiet of the great outdoors on a daily basis. Thankfully, research studies have found that even just listening to the sounds of the natural world can support our wellbeing.
It turns out that listening to nature soundscapes at bedtime can boost your sleep by an average of thirty minutes per night. So why not celebrate Earth Day every night, boosting your sleep habits and reminding yourself of the beauty that needs protecting.
💙 Drift off to sleep and dream of relaxing in a faraway land with Calm’s Travel Sleep Stories that will lull you to sleep and have you dreaming of nature.
Celebrating Earth Day FAQs
How do we celebrate Earth Day?
Earth Day is usually celebrated through activities that promote environmental awareness and conservation.
Participating in cleanup drives: Join or organize local cleanup activities in your community, such as picking up litter in parks, clearing plastic off beaches, or cleaning streets.
Planting trees and gardens: Support biodiversity and reduce carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere by creating or joining a community gardening group, or organizing a tree planting session.
Educational programs: Attend or host workshops and seminars on environmental conservation to learn about sustainable practices and how to implement them in daily life.
Reducing, reusing, and recycling: Commit to minimizing waste by reducing your household and office consumption, reusing items, and recycling materials properly.
Advocacy and awareness: Use social media platforms or participate in environmental campaigns to spread awareness and advocate for policies that protect the environment.
Supporting sustainable products: Choose products that are eco-friendly, from sustainable sources, and minimize environmental impact.
What are 3 things we can do to support Earth Day?
Adopt sustainable practices: Implement eco-friendly habits in your daily life, such as using reusable bags, bottles, and containers, conserving water and energy, and choosing sustainable transportation options.
Educate yourself and others: Learn about environmental issues and share your knowledge with friends, family, and your community. Education is a powerful tool in encouraging a culture of conservation and sustainability.
Support environmental organizations: Donate to or volunteer with organizations that are working to protect the environment. Your time, energy, and resources can contribute to making a significant impact on conservation efforts.
Why should we celebrate Earth Day every day?
Celebrating Earth Day every day emphasizes the idea that our commitment to the planet should not be limited to a single day of the year. Continuous action is necessary, because environmental challenges such as climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss require ongoing attention and efforts. By integrating Earth Day's principles into our daily lives, we can:
Reduce our ecological footprint: Everyday actions contribute to a larger impact on our planet's health.
Promote sustainable living: Consistent practices in sustainability can lead to more significant changes in consumption patterns and lifestyle choices.
Inspire others: By practicing environmental stewardship daily, we can influence others to adopt similar habits, creating a ripple effect of positive change.
Ensure a healthier planet for future generations: Our daily choices shape the kind of world we leave behind, making it crucial to act responsibly and sustainably.
Use this Earth Day as an opportunity to refresh and reinforce your daily commitment to protect and cherish our planet.
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