The consequences of climate change have arguably never been more tangible than in the last few weeks, with record-breaking heat waves and floods, and fires in our communities and oceans. It is no wonder that more than half of Americans feel helpless about climate change, but helplessness will only guarantee the worst outcomes of the crisis. If you’re experiencing anxiety about the fate of our planet, please read through the following tips in order to feel empowered in the fight against climate change, while also prioritizing your mental health.
1. Recognize that your actions DO matter.
It is worse for your mental health to feel like you are powerless against climate change, because then the only option is to stand by hopelessly and do nothing. It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy: the more impact on our planet’s health that you think you can have, the more impact you WILL have. Reclaiming your control and reflecting on how you can make a difference is an essential first step to combat eco-anxiety.
2. Find community, inspiration, and empowerment by joining an activist group.
If we want to see the end of fossil fuels, we will need strong government interference. That interference will not happen without a powerful social movement propelling it forward, and that social movement will require as many people getting involved as possible. Yes, that includes you, even if you don’t consider yourself to be an environmentalist or an activist!
Going to meetings or demonstrations when you can can be a fantastic way to educate yourself on the issues, surround yourself with people who feel the same way about the climate crisis, and feel like you’re making a difference. A significant contributor to climate anxiety is feeling small against such an all-encompassing issue, but when you join a coalition, suddenly you don’t feel so small. Plus, speaking from experience, activist demonstrations can be a fantastic outlet for climate anxiety. Feeding off the electric energy of a crowd and getting to express your frustrations with the current system as a unit has been a source for catharsis and hope when things feel dire.
3. Channel your anxiety into action.
Choose one quick, simple task that you can do for the planet every day, and build off of that. This can mean calling your government representatives to demand climate action, or signing a petition that speaks to you. It can mean choosing chicken instead of beef at the grocery store, or deciding against purchasing something you don’t need.
Addressing the climate crisis each day with these actions means you’re not avoiding the issue, or restricting your relationship to climate change to scary headlines. Taking action doesn’t just let us reclaim some sense of control, it can also be a mood-booster, in the same way doing something kind for someone else makes us feel good. You are choosing to change your habits and consumption for the greater good, since we’re all in this together.
4. Question your institutions’ climate impact and take a step toward internal change.
Institutions, no matter how large, are made up of individuals like you. Take some time to consider the impact your workplace or school has on the planet. Do they invest in fossil fuels? Do they recycle or compost? Do they implement climate change in internal discussions or trainings? Do they have sustainability goals, and how robust are they?
Then consider actions you can take to move the needle in the right direction from the inside. Actions can be as robust as starting a composting initiative, or as simple as emailing your manager expressing your concern with higher up decisions. Only you know which actions you are comfortable and capable of doing; do not put pressure on yourself to completely revolutionize your institution. Instead, know that collective internal discussion and action can and has resulted in institutional change for good.
5. Choose joy over any negative feelings that aren’t serving you or the planet.
So you’ve acknowledged that your actions matter to the planet, and you’ve inserted yourself into the climate fight accordingly as a productive outlet for your eco-anxiety. Unfortunately, worrying about the fate of our planet is still bound to happen. The good news is, now that you are making environmental sustainability and activism a recurring part of your life to the extent that you are able, you know that any climate anxiety that is left over is unproductive and unhealthy.
Whenever intrusive and frightening thoughts are debilitating you, you can tell yourself “I am doing what I can, and I deserve joy.” There is nothing more freeing in such overwhelming times than to say this statement to yourself and know in your heart that both parts of it are true. It is an activist’s duty to be joyful, to make fun plans with friends, to laugh, to relax. You deserve to experience the most beautiful parts of life, while taking the time that you can to fight to preserve that beauty for future generations.
6. Donate to the Carbon Lighthouse Association!
If you’re ready to transform your climate anxiety into action but don’t know where to start, donating to the Carbon Lighthouse Association is one of the simplest and most powerful steps you can take. We provide individuals with the ability to take polluting power directly from fossil fuel corporations, while funding the green government reform that we need to transition to a sustainable future. Every single $12 donation equates to preventing one ton of CO2 emissions, which is the average American’s monthly carbon footprint. Therefore, donating $12 monthly can effectively neutralize your negative impact on the planet. CLA is proud to empower people to no longer feel complacent within the fossil fuel system, and to take such direct and tangible action against it. We hope you add us to your toolkit to battle climate change and eco-anxiety. Donate now!