Good Night Moon, Podcasting & Managing Eco-Anxiety

From using the bedtime story Good Night, Moon as a grounding exercise to the psychology of mattering to podcasting about climate solutions, the conversation with child psychologist Dr. Edward Plimpton and climate leader Heidi Pan is a must listen.

Ted is the host of Your Anxious Child: 5 Minute Solutions and Heidi is the host of the 1.5 degrees podcast. As podcasters, both of these guests focus on listening. It was fun to turn the tables on them and interview them about Managing Eco-Anxiety: Intergenerational Perspectives.

The big takeaways -

• Ask, then listen to young people.

• The psychology of mattering. Many young people don't feel like they matter or that their actions matter. We need to create safe spaces where they feel validated then we can shift the conversation to solutions.

• Anxiety doesn't like humor. Finding ways to lighten up is important. Ted used the analog of "Thunder Cake," where a grandma makes a cake for her grandchild during thunderstorms to create a more positive association with a fear.

• Move into action. Our institutions are being tested. We all have to stand up and act -- in our own unique ways- to protect them.

• Focus on solutions. Learning about solutions and telling the story of what's possible create hope and refocus anxiety into action and forward momentum.

You can view the full conversation here or listen in.

Managing Eco-Anxiety: Intergenerational Perspectives

Heidi and Ted's recommended strategies for dealing with eco-anxiety:

• Walks outside and connecting to nature.

• Try a grounding exercise. Ted used the example of the bedtime story "Good Night, Moon," where the bunny names all the objects in this room. This story is about the "grounding technique" to take you out of your internal dialogue of rumination into the present. It can calm the nervous system.

• Be prepared. Creating a go-kit, talking about your plan if you need to evacuate can actually reduce anxiety. Check out OneGreenThing's go kit here.

• Learn about solutions and share what you've learned. Whether its solar energy or sustainable brands, share what you know.

• Call a friend. Don't underestimate the power of reaching out to the people who know you best and "get you" - your friends and family can help.

• Lean into your #onegreenthing. Download your 7-day action plan based on your Service Superpower from OneGreenThing to get started.

You matter. Join us for our conversations, follow Ted and Heidi's podcasts, and keep having those critical conversations to make a difference and exercise agency where you can.