Earth Day is a very special and meaningful day that we should all pay our respect and celebrate the earth too. As mothers, we are having difficulties of handling one child with all their characters and behaviour. So, imagine how difficult it would be for the mother of the nature ‘handling’ us, the humans.
Believe it or not, COVID-19 pandemic is actually a blessing in disguise – especially for the earth. While we are ‘resting’ at home and not doing our normal-commuting-and-activities before the MCO, our earth (finally) has the time to rest now.
This year marks the 50th Earth Day celebration and all we can do is just sit at home and contribute to our mother earth. Fret not, as there are many things that you can do as a contribution to the earth while being at home with your kids during this lock down.
For most people, Earth Day goes under the radar; unnoticed and uncelebrated. In a society where we honor each other with celebrating birthdays, Mothers/Fathers Day, and more, it is not wrong for us to celebrate the earth as well.
So let’s come together and honor the earth that allows us to eat, breathe, love, and exist. Here are 10 simple ways you can celebrate this Earth Day during this lock down!
1. Practice Yoga Outdoors
Fresh air, a natural setting, no butts in your face, and no need for electricity. Ending the yoga with a meditation and offering a little love and gratitude to the earth would be a beautiful way to complete this natural yoga experience at home with your kids.
2. Recycle
As Voltaire says, “no snowflake in an avalanche ever feels responsible,” yet where would the avalanche be without each snowflake? In the same way, our individual and seemingly small habits can combine to have a powerful effect — and recycling is a great example of this.
Get the kids involved too and help create some positive habits for generations to come! Meanwhile, during this lock down it is very much easier for you to get your kids to recycle and do some inventory things with the recycle product.
3. Cleaning the Unwanted
Since you are at home with your family and as the Ramadhan is getting closer, why not start a spring cleaning of the entire house? You can rearrange or decorate your living room, bedrooms, kitchen, and many more.
As the weather in Malaysia is hot and humid year round, interspersed with tropical rain showers; you might want to check and clean all the drains, vases at every nooks that may contain water. These vases can be breeding grounds for mosquitoes that carry dengue.
Thanks to COVID-19, we’ve overlooked the impact of dengue within us. In Selangor alone, there are more than 23,000 cases of dengue. Thus, doing house cleaning with your kids would help saving the earth and many people as well.
4. The Big Turn Off
Did anyone else’s mum ever bang on about turning off appliances or lights when you were a child? Chances are she was trying to save money on the power bill, but money isn’t the only thing you’ll be saving.
For today, try turning off appliances at the wall when you’re not using them, or switching off lights when you leave the room. It sounds so simple but still worth mentioning as it still takes conscious effort! You will be saving a lot for the earth rather than the money.
5. Unplug The TV
Relax, it’s only one day! Following on from the previous point, why not keep the TV switched off all day? By making it as a ‘no TV’ day, you will have extra time to connect with nature in some way.
Instead, spend this time with fun activities at home. Read out books with your kids, tell them a story of your childhood or even you can read out a story book and ask them to act like one.
6. Start Gardening
Today’s the day to take the plunge and create a veggie patch. You will not only be eliminating the carbon emissions that are involved in getting produce to plate, but you will also be able to enjoy fresh, organic produce whilst saving some money.
If you find the idea of a veggie patch daunting or if you have limited outdoor space, you could start by planting some fresh herbs or a couple of lettuces in a bucket — or for a rustic look, an old wine barrel.
7. Use Earth-Friendly Cleaning Products
It’s easy to just keep using chemical-laden cleaning products without giving it a thought. So try being really conscious about the product you are using to clean with. Having to wear gloves and being advised to not breathe in the fumes should be a sign that the product you are about to use is not a healthy option.
We all want our homes to be clean and germ-free, but we don’t need to rely on chemicals to achieve that. There are many cost-effective and green-friendly options to choose from, and today is the day to give them a go.
If you are really resistant to spending extra money on cleaning products, then why not do some research where you can use things from your kitchen such as cleaning with fresh lemon juice or vinegar?
8. BIO Grocery Bags
Making the effort to put reusable shopping bags in your car? You could start a new habit that would reduce the use of plastic bags. I’m sure I don’t need to mention how horrid they are for the environment.
There are so many nifty reusable bags that fold up to a teeny tiny size, making earth-friendly shopping easy and convenient. If you don’t want to spend money on reusable bags, take an extra backpack or duffel bag and leave those plastic bags behind.
9. Be a Vegetarian For a Day
Some of us love meat, some of us detest it, and some of us just go along with the flow of what is serves on the plate. Today, why not make a conscious choice to say NO to meat. Instead, try some of the mouth-watering vegetarian options out there.
The excessive demand for meat creates an excessive strain on environmental resources and the more we ask for, the more our planet suffers. A quick search online will give you tons of easy and delicious vegetarian recipes, so for one day, why not give it a go!
And if you really can’t go without meat for a whole day, at least commit to have one vegetarian meal. But, IF that one day gives you a better feeling of being a veggie, then you can turn it into a habit for the rest of your life, slowly.
10. Walk or Cycle
We are in lock down but still some people have to go outside for many purposes such as buying groceries or any other reasons. Even some people are working in the office or company on this lock down days. For them, it is the best way to show your contribution by not using car or motorcycle on this day.
Instead, you can have a walk or cycle to the nearest grocery shop to buy things. And for the working people, you can have a public transport in option, but do take all the safety precautions and social distancing. Make sure after you’re back home from work, never touch anything and straight away go to your bathroom and take a bath.
So, how are you celebrating and honoring the earth this Earth Day? It is the 50th Earth Day celebration and due to the lock down of Covid-19 the Earth is getting recovered from many pollution.
This has been a biggest contribution so far by the entire world. Please #stayathome to protect yourself, your family and (thank you!) for saving the mother nature coincidentally due to this lock down. Remember! The sacrifices that you are doing now, will be fruitful in the future – for you, your family, and everyone around you.
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