In recent years, the American Psychological Association has added climate change to the list of mental health problems that they deem essential to discuss in psychological therapy. You should understand you’re not alone, and that your anxiety over climate change is shared by thousands.
Reducing Your Climate Crisis Anxiety
Meditate. This is something that takes time to learn how to do properly. But even the process of learning is calming and helpful for reducing stress.
Exercise regularly. Walking can be great for both your body and your mind. If there are trails or parks you have access to with greenery, trees, flowers, and streams, it can do a lot to alleviate to improve your mood and outlook.
Talking to a therapist. Find a therapist who specializes in treating your particular anxieties. Thanks to telehealth, they don’t even have to be in the same state.
Joining a support group. Facebook is one resource for finding support for your climate change anxiety, but there may be local groups too.
Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
While there are many things we can do, one of the most important is reducing our own carbon footprint.
We can start by driving less and turning off lights in unoccupied rooms, for example. But it doesn’t stop there. You could switch from your current energy provider if they are not as environmentally friendly as their competitors. You could also look at installing solar panels on your roof. This will contribute to reducing the stress on the grid and may even allow you to sell power back.
What You Eat Can Make a Difference
To make a huge impact, you can reduce your consumption of meat and dairy. These have a higher carbon footprint than plants, so cutting them out will have a huge impact on your emissions. The next thing that you should do is reconsider the type of meat you buy. Buying beef is much more damaging than buying pork, chicken, or turkey. Going vegan or vegetarian will also make a huge difference in how many tons of CO2 you emit each year, so it’s worth considering if that’s something that could work for your lifestyle too.
Eliminate or Reduce Plastic
The amount of plastic used each year is increasing every day, and it’s harming the environment. Our oceans are filled with plastic pollution. An estimated 8 million metric tons of plastic enter the world’s oceans every year, and it is expected to increase tenfold by 2050. It’s important we each reduce our use of plastic as much as possible.
Bring your own reusable water bottle. Plastic bottles are not only bad for the environment, but they’re also expensive and unnecessary. There are plenty of eco-friendly choices available that will work more effectively at keeping your water cooler and fresher.
Say no to straws. They are an unnecessary habit we’ve all gotten into. If you must use a straw, use paper or reusable ones.
Bring reusable produce bags to the grocery store. Cloth produce bags are a great alternative or reuse some old shopping bags you have on hand.
Substitute plastic with bamboo products. Bamboo provides an excellent and sustainable alternative to plastic items. Shop Bamboodu for their eco-friendly family products like Bamboo Cotton Buds, Bamboo Drinking Straws, Bamboo Travel Cutlery Sets, Kitchen Loofah scrubbers, Bamboo Toothbrushes, and much more. 100% natural, chemical-free, cruelty-free.
Start Your Own Eco-Friendly Business
To be eco-friendly and help save our environment from pollution, it’s not only about recycling or reducing consumption. Eco-friendly entrepreneurs can find opportunities in businesses that can help in making the world cleaner and greener, like creating an app where customers can order and pick up their goods at various locations, and providing goods from other companies that are eco-friendly as well.
You will find several advantages to structuring your business as a Limited Liability Company, such as the ease of forming it ( no attorneys required) better tax advantages, and less paperwork. You can learn how to get an LLC online and do it yourself. Rules vary from state to state, so check with your local offices. Being environmentally conscious can help reduce our stress levels and feel more at peace with what is going on around us. It also helps us create a better world for all living beings.
