Self-Care During a Climate Crisis

NewScientist Reports: Stressed about climate change? Eight tips for managing eco-anxiety

Climate change is a very imminent threat to our global community, making many stressed, anxious, or depressed. But while it's important to dedicate our emotional and physical energy to fighting for solutions to climate change, it's also important to take care of ourselves. Here's some tips on how to ease your eco-anxiety by through some small sustainable steps:

Live more in alignment with your values

Make lifestyle changes in small ways. Eat less meat and dairy, drive less, and limit buying single use products.

Give your home an energy health check

Make sure your home is energy efficient - good insulation, draught-proof windows, and put on an extra layer and turn down the heat.

Reduce Flying

Reduce your yearly flights, unless is necessary for your job. If you do fly for work, consider switching from business to standard class. The Grantham Institute says this uses a plane's capacity more efficiently.

Don't be ashamed

Don't be ashamed if you can't fully change your entire lifestyle to be most sustainable. One action is better than no action.

Change systems, not yourself

Individual action is a great step towards combatting climate change, but its really the systems in place that should be advocating for change. Contact your Representatives and ask about ways to make your community more sustainable.

Find like-minded people

Find people who feel similarly to you and talk about how you feel. Talking it out can reduce anxiety and enable you to make new friends.

Protect local green spaces

Get involved in community environment projects can boost your mental health while also helping out the planet.

Talk about how you're making change

Advocacy is everything and the more you talk about the causes you care about, the more people you reach and the more you spread the word.