What is Earth Hour?

This post first appeared in our weekly Make Waves Mondays email series on March 21, 2022.

What’s up, my friend?! Happy Spring!

We’ve had a few deep-dives the last few weeks, so I wanna keep today’s post short and sweet :)

So I have a question for you... Have you ever heard of Earth Hour?

It’s a pretty cool thing, and it’s coming up this Saturday (March 26).

What is Earth Hour?

Earth Hour was founded in 2007 as a call to awareness about our climate crisis.

It’s a simple, symbolic way we can all take a stand and make a difference.

To participate in Earth Hour, on March 26th, for one hour, beginning at 8:30pm your local time, turn out your lights.

That’s it. That’s Earth Hour. 😊

It may not seem like much, but the impacts of Earth Hour since its inception are truly incredible. Forests and protected spaces have been established across the globe, country leaders are upholding commitments, plastics have been banned, the list continues.

So this Saturday, I invite you to join me in celebrating Earth Hour.

How can I make the most of Earth Hour?

Of course, just turning off your lights and mindlessly watching Netflix may not be the most effective way to spend the hour, when the intention behind it is to spread awareness of climate change.

I mean, hey, no judgment if that’s how you wanna spend the hour. I love me a good Netflix night in the dark.

But in case you, like me, would like to be a bit more intentional with your time, here are a few ideas for ways to spend Earth Hour.

Talk about Earth Hour and climate change. Share about it on your social media accounts. Talk to coworkers about it. Spread the word and get the message out that our planet needs us all taking action - no matter how small.

Go for a walk. If you live in an area where it is safe to do so, go for a walk! What better way to honor our earth than to get out in nature for an hour. I’d even encourage you to leave the headphones at home and enjoy the evening sounds of nature around you. Really be present and appreciate the time outdoors.

Write to your elected officials. Use this time as an opportunity to sit down and write letters to your elected officials. Remember to include personal anecdotes; why is climate change mitigation important to you? How has it impacted you? What changes would you like to see? 

Cook a vegan meal. Just because Valentine’s Day is long passed doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy a cozy candlelight dinner. Check out our Meatless Monday Pinterest board for inspo!

Read a book. You may not get through the whole thing, but an hour is a great starting point! Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer feels like the perfect book for this kind of evening.

Practice yoga. This is how I plan to spend Earth Hour. In the words of our friends at Yoga Wild, I’ll be practicing self care for collective care. Candlelight yoga to recenter and refocus sounds like just what I need. At the recommendation of Yoga Wild co-owner Casey, I’ll be practicing this Spring Slow Flow.

Spend time with friends and family. Have a board game night, or invite them over for dinner. Or set up the time to reconnect with someone you haven’t seen in a while.

Have a dance party. I don’t need a special event for this one, but it’s always an option. Light a few candles, turn on your favorite music, and just let go for a bit.

So, my friend, will you join me in celebrating Earth Hour this Saturday? Comment below and let me know you’re in! I’d love to hear how you plan to spend the hour.