Earth Day
How Caring for the Planet Can Support Your Wellbeing
Each year, Earth Day invites us to pause and reflect on our relationship with the natural world. As we consider the ways we can care for the planet, it’s also worth exploring how that care can, in turn, support our own mental health and wellbeing.
Spending time outdoors has been consistently shown to reduce stress, lower anxiety, and improve mood. Natural light helps regulate our sleep. Green spaces have been linked to better concentration, especially in young people. Being in nature helps us feel more grounded, more present, and more connected.
Purpose is Powerful
Earth Day can sometimes feel overwhelming. There’s so much to be done, and the scale of environmental challenges can seem daunting. But change often begins with small actions.
Recycling mindfully, reducing waste, walking or cycling instead of driving, and choosing more sustainable products are all meaningful choices. And they come with an added benefit that reminds us that our actions matter.
This sense of purpose is powerful. Especially when we’re feeling low, anxious, or adrift, reconnecting with a sense of contribution can help us rebuild a sense of control and hope.
Connection as Self-Care
Caring for the planet also encourages us to connect with others, with our communities, and with ourselves. Whether it’s planting a tree with a friend, joining a local clean-up effort, or sharing a conversation about sustainability, these experiences foster belonging.
And belonging is essential to wellbeing. It reminds us that we’re not alone. That our presence here matters.
Earth Day Reflection
This Earth Day, consider what the planet means to you. Where do you feel most at peace in nature? What small steps could you take to care for the environment in your daily life? How might those steps also nurture you?
We often think of wellbeing as something we work on in isolation. But it’s deeply connected to the world around us. When we take care of our environment, we’re also tending ourselves.
You can celebrate and connect with Earth by trying one of the following activities:
- Create a Safe Spot in Nature: Choose a spot outdoors: a bench, a patch of grass, or under a tree, and visit it regularly, even for just five minutes. Sit quietly, notice what you can hear, see, and feel. Returning to the same place over time can deepen your connection to nature and offer a calming anchor in your day.
- Nature-Based Mindfulness: Go outside (or near an open window) and close your eyes. Breathe deeply and focus on the sounds around you. Can you hear birds? Wind? People? Let each sound ground you in the present moment. This is an accessible way to reduce anxiety and build awareness.
- Plant Something: Whether it’s a sunflower in a yoghurt pot or herbs in a window box, nurturing a living thing can be incredibly soothing. It’s also a great metaphor that small daily attention leads to growth.
- Green Gratitude Walk: Take a short walk and challenge yourself to notice five things in the natural world you’re grateful for. A bright leaf. The smell of rain. The way ivy curls along a wall. Gratitude has been shown to boost mental wellbeing, and nature is full of things worth noticing.
We hope you take time today to reflect on our amazing planet and how helping the Earth in turn helps ourselves!
