Whether it is your family, friends, or colleagues, it is always easier to practice good health with a close support system. In honor of World Health Day (April 7th), why not try something new together…something that supports better health for both you and our planet. This year’s World Health Day theme is “Our Planet, Our Health”; what a perfect opportunity to explore ways to get healthier while also taking care of the earth and our communities.
Walk and Pick Up
Walking is one of the most tried-and-true exercises out there. It is good for your heart, your core, and your legs, plus it can help build stamina. You can walk almost anywhere—the beach, the park, along a lake, or along walking trails, but if you want to double-up on your health and the planet’s health, try cleaning up the area you are walking. Incorporate stretching and functional movements into your walk by leaning over, up, or to the side to pick up trash and, even better, reduce waste by recycling your old plastic grocery bags to contain what you find. Do this to feed good vibes to your body and soul.
Garden
Note: Remember when you garden to not harm any bees that you encounter. Bees are some of our most important pollinators and they have been dying off at an unsustainable rate. Avoid pesticides that harm bees and, if you are worried about stings, be mindful of your surroundings, wear light-colored clothing, and don’t wear perfume while you garden.
Basic gardening can be quite relaxing for some, but when you break it down, it can involve quite a bit of heavy lifting. You can go from doing squats and/or lunges, lowering and lifting your own body weight, to lugging around a heavy bag of potting soil, and/or pushing a wheelbarrow. Taking care of the greenspace around your home like this is also another great workout for your heart and lungs. Of course, you will also be helping the planet by maintaining and adding more oxygen-producing plants to the ecosystem. Keep in mind that you can help the ecosystem even further by planting pollinator-friendly plants and flowers. And if that wasn’t enough, you can also help the planet by reducing food waste when you compost your kitchen scraps and use the nutrient-rich compost to fertilize your soil.
Spring Clean and Give Back
As the weather starts warming up, people often get the drive to start that good ‘ole “spring cleaning”. Put on some music and just get lost in the beats as you clear the clutter and move your body. You may find many items that you would not use anymore, so consider what you might be able to share with your community. Avoid waste by donating to local resources such as food banks, homeless shelters, and/or Goodwill®. For those items that cannot be donated, check if they can be recycled instead of thrown into the trash.
Race for a Cause
While this idea may not directly promote the health of the planet, it will help you support a cause that helps humankind along with your own health. Races of various distances are held throughout the year all around the world. Some even allow you to participate virtually from your own location. Look for a race that supports a good cause, such as the St. Jude Walk/Run (September 2022), the Race to Cure Sarcoma (July 2022 virtual event)*, or the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure (April/October 2022 in NC).
*To find an in-person Race to Cure Sarcoma, held on various dates throughout the US, visit https://www.curesarcoma.org/race/.
Habitat for Humanity
Just like running a 5K, this idea is less directed at impacting the planet than it is about helping the people that inhabit it. Volunteering for this organization is sure to give your body a workout and uplift your soul, along with the spirits of those in need. Find a local Habitat for Humanity® here and get started volunteering.
Is there anything we missed? Let us know how you and your family plan to join the “Our Planet, Our Health” initiative… but not just on World Health Day. Consider making it a “World Health” year and honor your and the planet’s health throughout 2022.
For more information, see the below resources:
https://www.paho.org/en/campaigns/world-health-day-2022
https://fundraising.stjude.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=walk_run_home&s_src=paidsearch&s_subsrc=google-032&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIj-_nn_H99gIVhoTICh0X3w7XEAAYASAAEgIVMPD_BwE
https://p2p.onecause.com/nationalvirtual
https://www.curesarcoma.org/race/
https://www.komen.org/how-to-help/attend-events/race-for-the-cure/
https://www.habitat.org/volunteer/near-you/find-your-local-habitat
https://environmentamerica.org/feature/ame/save-bees