As an environmentalist, here’s what helps me!
This week, I had planned to write about food waste, but given everything currently happening in the world—especially in the environmental space—this topic felt more urgent.
Just last week, climate action—or moves away from it—made headline news, with one New York Times story reading, “Trump Allies Near ‘Total Victory’ in Wiping Out U.S. Climate Regulation.” Included in this deregulation was the administration’s repeal of the endangerment finding, allowing oil and gas companies to emit greenhouse gases without limits in order to maximize profits. So uplifting…
But if you’re deeply involved in sustainability and climate action, you’re probably familiar with the sinking feeling that comes with every new piece of disheartening climate news. It’s been going on for literally decades.
In fact, I vividly remember the collective depression my entire graduate school class experienced during the first year of our environmental studies program. Every lecture seemed to deliver another blow to our optimism and our drive to make the world a better place.
But then something changed—in me at least. Whether it was desensitization, radical optimism, or the first inklings of insanity—who can say?—I began to rise above the doom and gloom, feel more empowered, and become less paralyzed by each piece of devastating climate news. This is partly thanks to the emotional regulation toolkit I built to become more resilient to scary climate news (and all other unfortunate news, really).
That said, I’m far from perfect and certainly still feel the grip of climate-related (and general) anxiety. These worries are often exacerbated by everyday life triggers. In fact, I’ve been a bit more anxious in the past couple of weeks for reasons having nothing to do with climate change that prime me to become more worried about the environment. *As we head into another week of one of the driest winter Colorado has seen on record, with the snowpack at a critical deficit.
But these setbacks are just that—temporary setbacks. We all have the capability to regulate, re-center, and get back on the path of purpose when the grip of climate anxiety takes hold. I’ve found a handful of things to really help me to feel better, so I thought I’d share them with you!
Head Out On a Hike
It may come as no surprise that heading outside tops the list. I’m fortunate to live near several serene and beautiful natural areas in Colorado, perfect for hiking and outdoor recreation. While I walk local paths in my immediate suburban area, I head into the foothills for real quiet and close connection with nature when I’m feeling particularly anxious. Lately, I’ve left my headphones behind to fully absorb the deep peace and unique sounds that nature offers—something that my soul craves as a sound-sensitive person in this noisy world. Without fail, this calms my nervous system and helps me return to my regular life more regulated and centered, enabling me to make more of an impact.
Invest in Your Local Community
Whether it’s taking a walk in your neighborhood, joining a local group, volunteering, or engaging in some other community-based activity, I’ve found investing in my local community to be incredibly helpful in managing climate anxiety. When we’re doomscrolling or consuming a lot of worrisome news, it’s easy to feel as though we’re on an island all by ourselves, just minutes away from being swallowed by a tsunami. Realizing that I’m not alone—in the physical sense of community and neighbors—helps me zoom out a bit and see that, in my immediate world, everything is (usually) okay. In fact, many times, life in our immediate communities is supportive and peaceful.
Realize That We Live in An Imperfect World
For those of us committed to supporting planetary health, every new piece of bad news can feel like a personal blow to our purpose. However, one mindset I’ve adopted to help manage climate anxiety is accepting that the world is imperfect—and that doesn’t negate my efforts to make a meaningful difference or mean they aren’t a worthwhile use of my time.
Plant a Garden
Gardening—whether that be traditionally in an outdoor space or inside with window boxes or hydroponics—is a great way to support Mother Nature and your mental health. I’ve found this connection with nature—even when gardening indoors—to help regulate my nervous system in similar ways as going on a hike. Plus, it helps us—even if in tiny ways—become less reliant on our very flawed food system.
Support Local, Organic Agriculture
In the same vein, supporting local agriculture—especially farms using organic and regenerative principles—is an excellent way to pull yourself out of a funk. I personally love visiting local farms, farmer’s markets, or farm stands to procure my food. It’s a fun activity that gets me out of the house, out of my head, and into the reality I want to see more of in the world. Plus, it supports my local economy and encourages stewardship of my local ecosystem in a way that feels most aligned with my values. This is also a great way to avoid many of the harmful chemicals that this administration has recently approved for use in national food production.
Get Clear on Your Why
Something else that really helps me is getting clear on my “why.” That is, what I set out to do in life and why that mission is important to me. For me, this is supporting the planet and the people, flora, and fauna that call it home through sustainable food and nutrition education. This purpose and desire is completely valid solely because it’s something I feel called to do in this life.
With this, of course, comes hopes of desired outcomes. But I’ve really tried to make a conscious effort to detach myself from any specific outcomes associated with my mission. Doing the work and supporting my local and greater environment is a fulfilling act in and of itself. Even if we environmentalists don’t see the outcomes we hope for in our lifetimes, nothing can diminish the fulfillment and good intentions behind our actions—and that brings me solace.
Hug an Animal
I’m a huge animal person as a horse and dog owner. One of the reasons I love animals so much is that, to me, they’re nature embodied in the most beautifully unadulterated forms. Plus, they often offer lots of unconditional love. Spending time—or hugging—a (consenting) animal is one of my favorite ways to regulate my nervous system and bring myself back to the present moment.
Meditate, Ideally in Nature
We’ve all heard it before, but as it turns out, meditation is genuinely as beneficial for mental health as it’s claimed to be. In fact, this year I’ve adopted a morning meditation practice that I have actually stuck to—and haven’t missed a single day yet. This choice was made in an effort to support my mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health—and it has certainly delivered. I can’t imagine starting my days any other way now.
While I’ve made a bigger commitment to this practice—waking up 30 minutes earlier and sitting for periods of time that push my comfort levels—even small bouts of quiet time are beneficial. I’m no expert, but I believe there’s no wrong way to do this. For example, I mostly do guided meditations, varying between lying down and sitting, as well as adjusting the length of my sessions—and I’ve found all of it equally helpful for managing anxiety.
Call Your Representatives
When it comes to mental health—anxiety in particular—it can be really helpful to get up and actually do something. This could include exercising, dancing, shaking, calling a friend, taking a walk, or otherwise. However, taking tangible, pointed action—like calling your representatives on various issues—can feel incredibly empowering and help you bounce back from tough mental health days. 5 Calls is a platform that makes it super easy. They offer all the numbers you need for your local representatives as well as scripts on what to say.
Healthy Disconnection
If you consume lots of wellness and emotional health content (like me), then you know that “buffering” (or disconnecting from reality through scrolling, gaming, watching TV, substance use, or even healthier activities like reading, exercise, or cleaning) is generally frowned upon.
However, in this day and age where there’s no shortage of bad news and things to lament over, I find some healthy disconnection to actually be really helpful. I think labeling it as such—as opposed to mindlessly buffering—is key in optimizing the mental health benefits of this intentional practice.
Often, this will look like turning off my phone to go for a walk, spending time with friends (avoiding doom-and-gloom topics of conversation), finding a quiet place in nature to read, or just having a “me night” of crafting, puzzling, or watching TV with my phone in a completely separate room. This usually always helps me settle down.
Cry
While I’m not a therapist, I’ve found that expressing your emotions can be an excellent way to move through challenging mental health moments. In fact, I’m a big crier. I’m known to shed a tear out of joy and beauty just as much as I do out of anger, sadness, frustration, or worry. From my understanding of mental health, physical release (like crying) helps move emotions through and out of the body, rather than getting buried inside—which research shows can have negative effects on our physical health.
Seek Therapy
Therapy is so normalized these days that I’m sure many of you reading are already engaged in it—or invested in some other sort therapeutic modality. Of course, it’s worth mentioning that therapy is an excellent way to gain tools and safely express your thoughts and concerns in a supportive environment. While many of these existential worries are ultimately up to us to settle for ourselves (because the ultimate outcome is unknown), therapy has been hugely supportive over the years.
The Story’s Not Over
And finally, perhaps the most impactful resource I turn to when I’m feeling deeply worried about the state of the world is reminding myself that the story isn’t over yet. I like to believe that the current, turbulent state of affairs could be one of the greatest catalysts for positive change in modern times. Maybe I’m wrong—but there’s only upsides to approaching our current world with optimism. The fact that we don’t know how this story will end—or even how it will unfold in the near future—means that something incredible occurring is just as possible as something catastrophic. This perspective gives me hope and energy to keep working towards a healthier, happier, more collaborative, and peaceful global future.
While these are just some ideas that have been effective for me, I’d love to hear what’s worked for you!
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