Celebrating Earth Day: Transforming Eco-Anxiety into Action
- Heather White
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Earth Day is April 22nd, a global day of action for the planet.
To learn more about Earth Day, check out our webinar on how Earth Day began and mobilized more than 20 million Americans on April 22, 1970 and then became a global movement.
What is "Eco-Anxiety"?
As the Artemis expedition made clear, we are all connected. The need for global climate action has never been greater. Despite the rollbacks of the current Administration here in the US, we must remain vigilant and continue to demand action. Future generations are depending on us.
OneGreenThing’s mission is to tackle eco-anxiety through joyful daily action. The term “eco-anxiety” has been defined as “the chronic fear of environmental doom,” but it now encompasses a generalized anxiety about the future. With the attacks on the rule of law, diversity, equity, and inclusion, climate and environmental justice, federal environmental laws and policies to protect public lands, clean energy, and clean water, that’s understandable. Resilience is an essential strategy to fight for a greener, healthier, equitable future. We CAN create a better future. Here’s how.
Here are 5 Ways to Transform Eco-Anxiety into Action this Earth Day
Identify & Express Your Feelings about the Future
Understanding the climate crisis, its impacts, and our shared future if we don’t take urgent action generates a wide range of emotions. Sometimes it’s anxiety, anger, a sense of betrayal, or even despair. See a professional if eco-anxiety interferes with your daily life. Create space to feel all the feels and ask the young people in your life how they view the future they’re inheriting from us. Truly listen and hold space to foster resilience.
Find Your Service Superpower
Check out the 5-minute OneGreenThing Service Superpower Assessment and find your unique profile in service to help create meaningful change. Download your 7-day Climate Action Kickstarter kit based on your Service Superpower. Journal about your feelings, your
worries and your hopes, and take an inventory of your talents, interests, and unique skills.
Speak Out & Stand Up for Climate Action
Talking about the climate crisis and climate solutions are important ways to foster resilience. Help family and friends understand what’s at stake and let them know that all the technology exists to make a greener future. Volunteer at a local Earth Day clean up. Call your elected officials, request meetings with them, and be sure to share your concerns and hope for the future.
Rest & Recharge
Time connecting with nature can help restore a sense of well-being, decrease the stress hormone cortisol, and help restore your spirit. Play, humor, and time with friends can also help create support. Spending time outside is a meaningful way to celebrate Earth Day. Talk about the importance of public lands and conservation to you as go for a walk or hike. Know that taking time to avoid burnout is essential.
Connect with Community!
Take the Service Superpower Assessment at www.onegreenthing.org. (link in bio). Download your 7-day action plan based on your talents in service to others. Check out the FREE OneGreenThing bullet journal and the OGT Joy Tracker. Sign up for an online interactive workshop. Call your members of Congress to urge for strong climate action.
Register to vote and embrace your #onegreenthing, a daily practice of sustainability.
Tune into our OGT online, interactive conversations.
OneGreenThing Founder & CEO Heather White is an environmentalist, lawyer, and nonprofit executive with more than 20 years experience in environmental law, policy, and advocacy. She's a frequent spokesperson in the national media on environmental issues and has appeared on ABC, NBC, MSBNC, Fox News, and quoted in numerous national media outlets including the New York Times, Washington Post, and the Guardian.
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