Earth Day

What is Earth Day and How Did It All Begin?

Earth day is an annual event on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection.

The first Earth Day was in April 1970. In the 1970s, there were no legal mechanisms to protect our environment, no EPA, no Clean Air Act. In order to force this issue onto the national agenda, Senator Gaylord Nelson created Earth Day. And this action worked!

Now, it is celebrated annually on every April 22.

How to Celebrate Earth Day?

We can celebrate Earth Day anywhere, at any time! Just a simple turning off the air conditioner for a few hours is contributing to Earth Day!

Here are a few ideas on what you should do!

1. Plant a tree or any plants!

2. Turn off the electricity, such as lights, air conditioner, fan, when not in use.

3. Reduce, reuse, recycle!

4. Take a walk around and observe nature!

5. Use reusable energy!

There are many more others than the ones stated. Of course, you can not only do these when it's Earth Day. You can have a sustainable lifestyle by doing these everydays!

How does Earth Day Impacts Us Physically and Mentally?

According to research and resources, it is proven that spending time with nature could help us release stress. Relaxing with nature improves our mood, nervous, endocrine and immune system.

An unpleasant or stressful environment causes us to feel anxious, sad or even helpless. Therefore, the green environment is helping us get closer to ourselves and enjoy spending time quietly.

Being with nature helps us reduce negative feelings, such as anger and sorrow, and increase pleasure and happiness. Research has shown that even a single plant in a room is improving our wellbeing! According to public health researchers Stamatakis and MitcheIl, nature may even reduce mortality.

Nature even helps us cope with pain. The beauty of nature distracts us from our own pain and discomfort. This was proven with the classic study of patients who underwent gallbladder surgery, who had half a view of trees and half a view of a wall. According to Robert Ulrich, the physician who conducted the study, patients with the view of trees tolerated pain better, had fewer negative effects, and spent less time in a hospital.

In one study in Mind, 95% of those interviewed said their mood improved after spending time outside, changing from depressed, stressed, and anxious to more calm and balanced. Other studies have also proven that nature is associated with positive moods.

“Nature deprivation,” a lack of time in the natural world, largely due to time spent virtually, has been associated with depression. Therefore, take a breath or two, and look around you. Walk outside and appreciate our mother Earth.

Now is Never Late

Showing affection towards the earth and our environment shouldn’t only be done on Earth Day. We could protect the Earth with a sustainable lifestyle everyday. Now is never too late.

References & Resources:-

• https://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/how-does-nature-impact-our-wellbeing

• https://www.epa.gov/history/epa-history-earth-day#:~:text=The%20First%20Earth%20Day%20in%20April%201970&text=Because%20there%20was%20no%20EPA,issue%20onto%20the%20national%20agenda.