No Impact Challenge: Giving Back and The Eco-Sabbath

Photo Credit: Flickr/merwing little dear

Whether you have committed to the No Impact Challenge, or you have merely been observing from the sidelines, you may be thinking that this challenge seems very . . . challenging.  But while we may be living lean for this week, there is also much to gain from participating in this exercise. While you are shaping your days to be kinder to the earth, take some time to examine how you feel about the changes you are making and see what things you can incorporate into your normal routine that actually improve your life.

The last two days of the challenge are all about finding and sharing the good of what you are doing.  We wrap up the challenge on Saturday and Sunday with “Giving Back” and “the Eco-Sabbath.”  These days are designed to share your experience with your community, become active in your community and reflect on what you have learned about yourself during No Impact Week. 

Journal about your experience.  Whether you like to put pen to paper or type on your computer, keep notes throughout the week on how the challenge is going for you.  Express your gratitude (if only to yourself) for what you have and the things you are learning.  Taking time to acknowledge the things you are grateful for will help to foster good feelings about what you are doing.

Volunteer with an environmental group.  Get out there and get your hands dirty!  Connect with people who are doing great things for our communities by supporting them.  There are countless opportunities to help in ways that you are good at.  Like to garden?  Join a restoration project.  Love computers?  Help out with data entry.  You can help by making phone calls or manning a booth at a community event.  Whatever you are able to do, you are going to feel great about it!

Engage with your community.  Talk about what you are doing with people at work or your local produce vendor.  Talking about what you love about the challenge will encourage others to act.  Talking about what you are struggling with can lead to solutions that you may not have thought of before.

Donate!  There are so many great organizations that do great work for the planet and our communities. Many don’t have any other income stream other than charitable donations.  Help them continue their great work by giving them some cash. 

Observe the Eco-Sabbath.  Take a day or whatever you can spare and just be with yourself, or with friends and family, without the normal distractions.  I think of it as a meditation time.  Really it is just time set aside to be kind to yourself.  Most of us think that we don’t have time for this but if we aren’t kind to ourselves, what good are we to others?

Eco Home Consultations provides green living consultation services in the Seattle area, focusing on practical ways to integrate green living into your household.  Learn more at www.ecohomeconsults.com or email questions about this blog or other green living issues to Melissa@ecohomeconsults.com.