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<\/span><\/p>\nWe wanted to share some of these tips and ask you for your feedback and ways you\u2019re coping with these alarming events:<\/p>\n
1. Stay connected with your friends and family<\/strong>\u00a0over text messages, social networks and email. We\u2019re not alone \u2014 and you\u2019ll find that openly sharing the anxiety you\u2019re feeling and your views on dealing with big global crises like climate change and the coronavirus can help, and that many others feel the same way you do.<\/p>\n 2. Take action online<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 Since many public events and gatherings are being canceled, and since we\u2019re all going to spend a bit more time at home, this is a great opportunity to take action online. Email your members of Congress and let them know you support climate action and clean energy. Message them on social media. Write a letter to the editor. Try calling congressional offices and leaving messages if they\u2019re not around to pick up. Let\u2019s all be active as we hunker down. Important tip: Please be sensitive to the fact that congressional staff are also dealing with the coronavirus threat, so let\u2019s all be extra polite and understanding in tone.<\/p>\n 3. Make sure you\u2019re registered to vote<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 and encourage your friends and family to vote as well. We have a tool to help:\u00a0edf.turbovote.org<\/a>. Besides registering, many organizations provide online tools that give you the chance to call Americans across the country to encourage them to turn out to vote \u2014 I\u2019ve done this myself, and it\u2019s really fulfilling.<\/p>\n 4. Stay active through exercise and stretching<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 from yoga to hiking to biking to even just going for a nice walk around the neighborhood. You can listen to music or your favorite podcasts as you go \u2014 maybe listen to soothing meditation tracks. Clear your head and focus on the rhythms of your breathing and the motions of your body.<\/p>\n 5. Get outside to soak in some rays<\/strong>\u00a0if it\u2019s a nice day. You can get your spring gardening started. Some yardwork is a good way to get some exercise and fresh air. If the weather isn\u2019t great, maybe get some spring cleaning done around the house.<\/p>\n 6. Spend some quality time with a favorite show<\/strong>\u00a0on Netflix or other networks. I\u2019ve just started watching the recent Netflix series, \u201cOur Planet,\u201d David Attenborough\u2019s latest exploration of our beautiful and magical world and the threats climate change poses. His call to arms that \u201cthe stability of nature can no longer be taken for granted\u201d has me already fired up for more online advocacy! You can also find \u201cNational Parks Adventure,\u201d \u201cMission Blue,\u201d \u201c72 Cutest Animals,\u201d \u201cOceans\u201d and \u201cNight on Earth: Shot in the Dark.\u201d And Disney+ has the Disneynature series. Plenty of good options out there.<\/p>\n 7. Look up new, nutritious recipes<\/strong>\u00a0that help boost your immunity. There\u2019s nothing like some good comfort food. Bonus: Good food fills your home with good aromas.<\/p>\n 8. Knit or crochet for a good cause<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 If you\u2019re a knitter or crocheter, check out the\u00a0Tempestry Project<\/a>, which \u201cblends fiber art with temperature data to create a bridge between global climate and our own personal experiences through knitted or crocheted temperature tapestries, or `Tempestries.\u2019\u201d Knitting and crocheting are very enjoyable and are also a proven way to cope with mental health issues and anxieties \u2014 so if you aren\u2019t a knitter or crocheter, this could be a great time to give it a try.<\/p>\n 9. Express yourself<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 If you\u2019re a writer or painter or woodworker or craftsperson, take the time to express yourself through your art on the issues you care about. And share your art with us on\u00a0Instagram<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0Facebook<\/a>. As spring weather returns, maybe consider setting up a bird feeder or planting pollinator-friendly plants, such as purple coneflower and milkweed native to your area.<\/p>\n 10. Cuddle your pets<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 If you\u2019re a pet owner, spend more time cuddling with your furry friends. Studies show that bonding with pets boosts oxytocin levels. Oxytocin is known as the “bonding hormone” or “cuddle chemical” \u2014 and it provides the body with many health benefits, from decreasing blood pressure and heart rate to boosting immune function and raising tolerance for pain. And it lowers stress, anger and depression. So take your dog for an extra walk or just cuddle with your cat on the couch.<\/p>\n 11. Take small actions in your own life<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 and give yourself credit for the actions you\u2019re taking. We can\u2019t solve big global crises like climate change or the coronavirus on our own \u2014 but we can be proactive and give ourselves pats on the back for being engaged on a very personal level. Small changes add up.<\/p>\n What\u2019s not on our list? Share your tips in the comments section below.<\/p>\n Finally, from all of us here at EDF, we want to make sure you stay safe and follow the best guidelines from the\u00a0Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/a>\u00a0(or your country equivalent) and\u00a0World Health Organization<\/a>\u00a0for protecting yourself from exposure.<\/p>\n