Earth Day & Stress Awareness Month

---

April’s Call to Action for Planet and Self

As winter winds down in Southeast Alaska, the warmer days of April serve as a reminder of our responsibilities to maintain our own well-being and also our planet’s wellness. In April, both Earth Day and Stress Awareness Month, recognize the importance of health, in the environment, in the person, and in the community. Let’s explore the benefits of healthy behaviors and how to create and maintain wellness for the planet and for you.

---

🌱 Earth Day 2025: “Our Power, Our Planet”

On April 22, 2025, we celebrate the 55th anniversary of Earth Day. This year’s theme, “Our Power, Our Planet”, emphasizes the responsibility of our society to return energy to the people with renewable resources and the collective action needed to ensure a healthy environment for ourselves and future generations.

How to Get Involved with Earth Day:

Participate in Local Events

April offers Alaskan’s a chance to get outside during the longer daylight hours. Some fun ways to get involved include joining clean-ups, tree-planting initiatives, and educational workshops.

• Anchorage hosts a Citywide Cleanup event, beginning May 3rd.
• Fairbanks hosts the Golden Heart Cleanup Day on May 10th.
• Palmer and Wasilla also host Cleanup Days on May 10th and May 5th through 10th respectively.

Educate and Advocate

Another way to participate is by talking with people about the need to be good stewards of the vast amount of natural resources here in Alaska. Check out the Earth Day Education Resource Library for toolkits, lesson plans, and reading lists to spread awareness in schools and communities.

Support Renewable Energy

Within the pristine landscape of Alaska lies an immense source of natural resources. With the increasing demand for energy, these priceless treasures are vulnerable. One way to have a positive impact is to sign petitions and advocate with your area’s local and state representatives for policies that promote clean energy solutions. A list of legislators’ contact information can be found at the Alaska Policy Forum. 

And that’s not all! April has the honor of hosting both Earth Day and Stress Awareness Month.

---

🧘‍♀️ Stress Awareness Month: Prioritizing Mental Health

Since 1992, April has been recognized as Stress Awareness Month. For Alaskans coming out of hibernation after winter, April is an active month filled with outdoor projects, maintenance, and hobbies. Thankfully, Stress Awareness Month gives us an opportunity to reflect on the impact of stress on our health and the importance of effective stress management. 

Recognize Stress Symptoms:

The first step is to recognize that stress is real and has an impact on our body, mood and behavior. 

stress effects on:

Mayo Clinic – Stress symptoms: Effects on your body and behavior, 2023

Mindfulness practices to try in Stress Awareness Month:

Engaging in daily mindfulness can significantly reduce symptoms of stress as well as increase ability to regulate our body, mood, and behavior. 

Benefits of Mindfulness

Monitor on Psychology – What are the benefits of mindfulness, 2012

The key is to start with small actions. Look over these mindfulness practices and pick one that seems interesting. Try it out and see how it works for you. If a practice makes you feel relaxed, soft, and calm, then you have found a good fit!

As with anything, mindfulness can fall in and out of our routine, so let’s celebrate those times we engage in any mindfulness activity. 

5 Senses Grounding Practice

This exercise engages the mind to focus on what the senses are observing. Simply bringing awareness to what is happening in the present moment helps to reduce anxiety. The science explaining why 5 Senses works is found in the brain. Shifting our attention from worry to what is in front of us moves us from an emotional state in the right-side of the brain to a logical state in the left-side of the brain. 

5 things you see: Name the first five things you see in your environment, in the room, through a window, or outside.

4 things you can touch: Notice and name four things you can actually touch while bringing your awareness to how they feel.

3 things you hear: Focus on three things you can hear, starting with the loudest and moving on to quieter sounds.

2 things you smell: Check your sense of smell to try and detect 2 scents in your surroundings.

1 thing you taste: Does your tongue sense a taste of coffee, mint, or something eaten earlier?

This practice can be used when you are alone, with other people, in a meeting or class, outside on a walk, and anywhere you want to feel calm, relaxed, and present.

Walking Meditation

Mindful walking is a great way to combine personal wellness and environmental awareness. A walking meditation is basically bringing our attention to the present moment while walking at a slow place. In this practice, you focus on the contact your feet make with the ground. This can be done on a walking path, around the home, or hiking around. 

Meditative walking increases mind-body connection, utilizing the breath to bring awareness to the feet and contact with the earth below. Studies show benefits of walking meditation include:

Healthline.com – The Benefits of Meditation Walks

---

🌟 Take Action This April

Make a difference on Earth Day and in Stress Awareness Month

Whether you want to plant a tree or practice daily meditation, your actions during April can lead to meaningful, long-lasting change. I encourage you to embrace the spirit of Earth Day and Stress Awareness Month by getting involved with activities that promote environmental and personal well-being.

---

Feel free to share this post to inspire others to take action for both the planet and their mental health!