10 Untraditional Ways to Do Your Part to Protect Against Environmental Degradation
youLiving in Park City, I get outside whenever possible…from skiing in the winter to hiking to waterfalls in the summer. With Earth Day tomorrow, I’m doing myself a favor and spending 30 minutes enjoying the calming, reinvigorating essence of Mother Nature.
Unplugging from life’s distractions and going for a nature walk has remarkable health advantages…from decreasing anxiety to lowering cortisol levels to reducing inflammation to improving time spent in REM sleep.
Dr. Oliver Sacks, best-selling author of “Everything in Its Place,” said that “In many cases, gardens and nature are more powerful than any medication.”
According to a study on the physical effects of the brain when you’re enjoying the great outdoors, an outdoor walk can change the workings of the brain in ways that improve your mental health.
Earth Day is a time to remember how important the planet is to us, our children, and generations to come. My commitment for the year is to really cut down on plastic — no plastic bottles, no plastic bags, no plastic cups.
What commitment are you making this Earth Day? Here are 10 SIMPLE and untraditional ways to do your part to protect against environmental degradation.
1. Say “thanks, but no thanks” to a straw in your drink when you’re dining out
2. Turn off the water when you’re brushing your teeth
3. Get you receipts electronically at the store
4. Wash clothes in cold water when possible.
5. Befriend your local thrift shop, and think second-hand first when buying something
6. Avoid palm oil when possible
7. Instead of grabbing a plastic-wrapped treat when you’re having a bad day, take a yoga class or go for a walk
8. Change light bulbs to LEDs
9. Wrap up with a sweater, or put on some socks when you’re cold, instead of turning up the heat
10. Start limiting your meat consumption…perhaps with “meatless Monday”… or perhaps Monday or Tues
