Combatting eco-Anxiety

A plastic cup AND a reusable straw? What is this nonsense.

This past year I’ve made changes to live more eco-friendly because, if I’m being honest, I’m scared for our planet. With the impending doom of the Earth being broadcasted on every news and social media network at least once a week, I’ve put a lot of pressure on myself to make changes to save the world.

One time, I felt so bad about using a plastic coffee cup that I asked to not have the lid in an effort to *save* the planet from the plastic. I ended up spilling my coffee on my shirt, causing more environmental damage by having to wash that shirt in my office’s sink. I’ve found myself having this *guilt* a lot when it comes to my everyday, causing me to take a step back and calm the heck down.

ECO-ANXIETY

This guilt I feel over forgetting my re-usable mug or washing my clothes too much is relatable to eco-anxiety. The American Psychological Association first defined eco-anxiety in 2017 as “a chronic fear of environmental doom.” In 2019, it’s expanded to people reporting stress depression symptoms in relation to the climate.

It’s important to call out from the article that “Eco-anxiety is not the same as a clinical anxiety disorder, though physicians say fears about the climate can worsen or trigger pre-existing mental health problems.” I’m sure the fact that I have generalized anxiety doesn’t help with my sustainability efforts so this was all starting to make sense.

WHAT I’M DOING TO HELP

Using a few non-eco-friendly products or practices shouldn’t give me anxiety. That I know to be true. Once I realized just how much I was criticizing myself, I’ve worked to accept that I can’t save the planet on my own. Instead of trying to go zero to sustainable, I’m hoping to create small changes in my life to gradually become more eco-friendly, without letting myself get anxious over it.

My first focus is to limit my plastic consumption when it comes to coffee… because I drink a lot of it. I do have the reusable mugs, my hardship with this it though is getting coffee on the way into work instead of going up to my office, getting my mug, and then getting coffee. Convenience is the death of sustainability!!

My hot tip (+ main goal for this year) is to try to always have a reusable mug or cup in my bag. What I won’t be doing is beating myself up if I forget my mug on occasion though. If you’re making ANY change to help the world, you are doing your part + should be p r o u d.

HOW WE CAN HELP THE EARTH

If you’re looking to make small changes to help the planet, check out this CHAARG article I wrote for some inspo. It’s important to note though — small steps people make can add up, but the main way to change the world is by electing officials into office — locally + nationally! — who have sustainability platforms, buying local + from companies with environmental pacts + staying informed.

Yes, I’ve accepted that I solely cannot save the planet, but we as a society CAN make a difference.