8 ways to help beat climate anxiety
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Did you know that three-quarters of adults in Britain are anxious about the impact of climate change, according to an Office for National Statistics survey?
What’s more, a YouGov survey shows that 78 per cent of children under-12 say they’re worried about it, with over a quarter saying they’re ‘very worried’.
It’s no wonder. There’s a seemingly never-ending barrage of coverage from TV, radio, newspapers and social media about everything from rising sea levels to extreme weather events and species extinction.
All this bad news, coupled with a feeling of powerlessness, can easily cause a build-up of worry, anger and frustration about the future.
It’s a totally rational human response but there’s only so much we as individuals can do without burning out.
This Mental Health Awareness Week, here are our top tips to make life a little lighter by taking small meaningful actions.
1. Connect with your community
You don’t need to solve the world’s problems but you can make a big difference where you live. Why not find a local clean-up project or community gardening group where you can improve the environment and talk with like-minded people? If you fancy a bit of exercise, there’s lots of organisations you can join where you can take part in free workouts that help the environment and your community.
2. Spend time in nature
Green spaces are proven to have a calming and beneficial effect on humans, so find a park, a trail or a long-distance hike and make the most of it. Boost your local insect and bird populations by adding greenery to your garden or windowsill.
3. Choose genuinely green energy
If you’re not already an Ecotricity customer, take a look at our latest tariffs. What makes us different is that we turn your Bills into Mills. So, instead of paying dividends we invest your bills in building new forms of green energy. Switch to us and you can hum a little song of satisfaction every time you turn on a light!
4. Find the positive news
If you start finding yourself overwhelmed by climate news, there's nothing wrong with taking a break from doomscrolling your social media. Even better, spend a few minutes finding some positive news sources on the environment. Like the amazing rewilding initiative led by Ecotalk and the Green Britain Foundation, working in collaboration with the Beaver Trust, who have recently released a family of (extremely cute!) beavers into woodland in East Sussex.
5. Dispose of the disposable
Do what you can to eliminate single-use plastics and disposable fashion from your life. Recycle and compost what you can and give pre-loved clothes a go. Every time you upcycle a pair of jeans, you save a huge amount of water and energy.
6. Upgrade to a smart meter
This is an easy one – just contact your supplier and book an appointment for a free upgrade. Smart meters help green up the grid by understanding where and when energy is needed for better efficiency. Plus, no more meter readings.
7. Eat more plants
Plants make you feel better and improve your health, as well as helping to fight climate change. Researchers at the University of Oxford say that a vegan’s environmental impact from food is around 33 per cent that of an average meat eater, so start planning those meat-free days now!
8. Use your vote wisely
When you have the chance, don’t let your vote go to waste. Ask yourself who has the best policies on fighting climate change and promoting green energy in Britain?
If you’d like to talk to someone about climate anxiety, speak to your GP or contact an organisation that may be able to help such as Mind, The Resilience Project or Climate Psychology Alliance.
There’s lots of information and guidance available if you need it.
Ready to start turning your Bills into Mills?
Switch to Ecotricity and we’ll use your bill money to build new sources of renewable energy and build a greener Britain.
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