How do you feel about the future of our planet?
Overwhelmed
Merriam-Webster "Completely overcome or overpowered by a thought or feeling."
Overwhelm often shows up when we feel stressed about something and we can’t see a way to change it. It is a completely normal response to climate change because not only is there so much that needs to be done, but we also have to convince our leaders that things need to be done and calmly breathe when they propose things like putting a cap on renewable energy and using nuclear power instead.
This is the perfect recipe for overwhelm. The challenge with overwhelm is that it can make you feel helpless, which can make us want to crawl into a hole. And honestly this is a perfectly reasonable response. But you are not helpless. Your brain just hasn’t had the chance to see each problem for what it is and process the issues one by one. Here are some ways that you can give your brain the space it needs to move through the overwhelm.
For when your overwhelm is overwhelming and you just need to reserve those last bars of energy.
Need to calm down fast? Why not try box breathing? Box breathing is a simple breathing technique where you inhale, hold, exhale, and hold again for equal counts. It helps calm the nervous system, reduce stress, and improve focus, making it a great tool for managing climate anxiety.
Switch off your phone, log out of your apps. It is okay to take a break from the climate news cycle to recharge.
Spending time in nature is proven to improve your mood, lower stress and reduce negative climate emotions.
When you are ready to process those feelings and recharge your emotional battery, here are some helpful tips.
Climate Cafés are informal, supportive gatherings where people can openly discuss their feelings and thoughts about climate change in a safe and understanding environment. Psychology for a Safe Climate holds virtual climate cafés once a month for anyone wanting. Or check out the Good Grief Network and connect with their international community.
Got a lot of feelings and thoughts about the future of our planet? Why not get them out of your head and out on paper? Research shows that journaling can reduce anxiety and stress levels.
Why not organise an art workshop? This Art and Lived Experience Workshop can be done solo or in a group and is a great way to use drawing and storytelling to explore, represent and share your experiences of mental health and climate change.
When your battery is fully charged and you are ready to turn those climate emotions into climate action.
Whether it is using a keep cup, shopping from local markets, op shopping or having a conversation with someone about climate, every action, even small, is a climate action.
Stop the doom scrolling by following and sharing some hopeful climate content. We love @imagine5 for good news stories on planet-positive actions, @projectplanet as your ‘gateway drug to climate action’, and @climatewords to expand your climate vocabulary.
There is no better way to turn those feelings of overwhelm into action through volunteering in nature. Find a local project through the Citizen Science Project Finder or plant trees with LandCare Australia.
Motivated
“The willingness to do something, or something that causes such willingness” - Cambridge Dictionary
Hell yes to feeling motivated! Motivation is a powerful emotion. It is what drives us, and it can feel amazing. Motivation can come from many different places: maybe you got inspired by a climate march, took a nature walk and felt inspired to protect it, or saw someone at work with a keep cup and thought, "Yes, change is happening!"
Wherever it comes from, motivation is a powerful change agent. But just like those tougher emotions like anxiety and overwhelm, we need to treat our motivation with care to avoid burnout. Here are some tips to help you do that!
For when your overwhelm is overwhelming and you just need to reserve those last bars of energy.
A great breathing exercise to energise yourself is "Kapalabhati" or Skull Shining Breath from yoga. Here's how it works:
1. Sit comfortably with your spine straight.
2. Inhale deeply through your nose.
3. Exhale forcefully through your nose while pulling your belly in towards your spine with each exhale.
4. Continue with rapid, powerful exhales for 20-30 seconds, then take a deep breath and relax.
This breathing technique stimulates the mind, increases oxygen supply, and boosts energy levels, making it perfect when you need an energising boost.
Manage your energy levels by taking regular breaks. It may seem counterintuitive but researchers have found that taking regular breaks helps your brain to not only be more productive for longer but also helps to foster more creativity.
Break everything down into smaller tasks and write them down. Ticking off each item one by one can help you feel like you’re making progress, and will allow your brain to switch off when you’ve finished for the day, knowing that it’s all written down.
When you are ready to process those feelings and recharge your emotional battery, here are some helpful tips.
Climate Cafés are informal, supportive gatherings where people can openly discuss their feelings and thoughts about climate change in a safe and understanding environment. Psychology for a Safe Climate holds virtual climate cafés once a month for anyone wanting
We love Force of Nature, a UK-based not-for-profit, mobilising youth voices for climate action. By becoming part of the Force of Nature community, you can access speaking and leadership training to empower you to share your voice.
Find like-minded people to share your motivation. Flock provides a directory of creative and for-purpose communities all over the world. One community we particularly love is Humans for Good, a slack-channel of people who care about people and planet, and meet to enjoy regular potlucks all over Aus.
When your battery is fully charged and you are ready to turn those climate emotions into climate action.
Why not start your own climate cafe so your community has a safe space to talk about their climate emotions. Psychology for a Safe Climate provides climate facilitator training to help you get started.
Got a lot to say about climate? Then why don’t you say it straight to your local MP and write them a letter expressing your views on Australia’s climate policy. Even better, why not do it with others? Sydney-based, Climate Writers, who meet once a month to write letters to politicians, with each letter signed off with a gong!
Join a youth-led climate action organisation, such as Australian Youth Climate Coalition (AYCC), which empowers young Aussies to take action on climate change through advocacy, education, and grassroots campaigns. Or attend the next School Strike 4 Climate in November!
Frustrated
‘The feeling of being annoyed or less confident because you cannot achieve what you want to achieve’ - Cambridge Dictionary
Frustration hits hard when politicians drag their feet on climate action. Our heart races, muscles tense, and we feel like screaming. It’s a normal reaction to seeing inaction on something so urgent.
This frustration, mixed with anger and disappointment, can be exhausting if we don't process it. Before anything else, follow these tips to help you navigate your frustration.
For when your overwhelm is overwhelming and you just need to reserve those last bars of energy.
Need to ease that frustration? Why not try box breathing? Box breathing is a simple breathing technique where you inhale, hold, exhale, and hold again for equal counts. It helps calm the nervous system, reduce stress, and improve focus, making it a great tool for managing climate anxiety.
Whether it's a walk, boogie or playing sport, boost your endorphins by moving your body. Trust us, it’ll help your body process all that tension and leave you feeling more energised.
Spending time in nature is proven to improve your mood, lower stress and reduce negative climate emotions.
When you are ready to process those feelings and recharge your emotional battery, here are some helpful tips.
Climate Cafés are informal, supportive gatherings where people can openly discuss their feelings and thoughts about climate change in a safe and understanding environment. Psychology for a Safe Climate holds virtual climate cafés once a month for anyone wanting
We love Force of Nature, a UK-based not-for-profit, mobilising youth voices for climate action. By becoming part of the Force of Nature community, you can access speaking and leadership training to empower you to share your voice.
Find like-minded people to share your motivation. Flock provides a directory of creative and for-purpose communities all over the world. One community we particularly love is Humans for Good, a slack-channel of people who care about people and planet, and meet to enjoy regular potlucks all over Aus.
When your battery is fully charged and you are ready to turn those climate emotions into climate action.
It doesn’t take long but signing a petition can have a big impact, especially when thousands of others do the same. Check out Change.org for the latest climate petition. Or even better, sign the Duty of Care campaign’s petition to try and convince the Australian Government that we need a Duty of Care to safeguard young Australians’ future.
Climate action and activism is not all picket signs and protests. It is about using your skills, hobbies and interests towards the cause. Maybe you are a surfer, and want to join Surfers for Climate, or you are a creative and want to lend your skills through Creatives for Climate. Whatever you skillset or interests, there is type of climate action for you!
Join a youth-led climate action organisation, such as Australian Youth Climate Coalition (AYCC), which empowers young Aussies to take action on climate change through advocacy, education, and grassroots campaigns. Or attend the next School Strike 4 Climate in November!
Desparing
Merriam-Webster - "to lose hope or confidence"
Eco-despair sinks in when it feels like the fight against climate change is hopeless. When we’re experiencing hotter summers and more bushfire seasons, being inundated with bad climate news and seeing inaction, it can make us feel really heavy. When eco-despair hits, our energy drops, our mood plummets, and it feels like the weight of the world is on our shoulders.
It's a normal response to the overwhelming challenges we face, but it can be paralysing if we don’t find ways to cope. The best antidote to despair is finding the glimmers of hope out there. Use the tips below to help you find it!
For when your overwhelm is overwhelming and you just need to reserve those last bars of energy.
A great breathing exercise to energise yourself is "Kapalabhati" or Skull Shining Breath from yoga. Here's how it works:
1. Sit comfortably with your spine straight.
2. Inhale deeply through your nose.
3. Exhale forcefully through your nose while pulling your belly in towards your spine with each exhale.
4. Continue with rapid, powerful exhales for 20-30 seconds, then take a deep breath and relax.
This breathing technique stimulates the mind, increases oxygen supply, and boosts energy levels, making it perfect when you need an energising boost.
Switch off your phone, log out of your apps. It is okay to take a break from the climate news cycle to recharge. When you’re ready look for good climate news accounts like @imagine5 and @thehappinessnewspaper.
Despair can leave us feeling quite isolated and weighed down. So reach out to your friends and do something fun together. It’s okay to step away and raise your spirits. In fact it’s an important ingredient for clearing the mist of despair and finding hope.
When you are ready to process those feelings and recharge your emotional battery, here are some helpful tips.
Climate Cafés are informal, supportive gatherings where people can openly discuss their feelings and thoughts about climate change in a safe and understanding environment. Psychology for a Safe Climate holds virtual climate cafés once a month for anyone wanting
Being around like-minded humans can help cure despair. Flock provides a directory of creative and for-purpose communities all over the world. One community we particularly love is Humans for Good, a slack-channel of people who care about people and planet, and meet to enjoy regular potlucks all over Aus.
Got a lot of feelings and thoughts about the future of our planet? Why not get them out of your head and out on paper? Research shows that journaling can reduce anxiety and stress levels.
When your battery is fully charged and you are ready to turn those climate emotions into climate action.
Stop the doom scrolling by following and sharing some hopeful climate content. We love @imagine5 for good news stories on planet-positive actions, @projectplanet as your ‘gateway drug to climate action’, and @climatewords to expand your climate vocabulary.
Why not start your own climate cafe so your community has a safe space to talk about their climate emotions. Psychology for a Safe Climate provides climate facilitator training to help you get started.
Some say the antidote to despair is action! Tread lightly and turn that despair into climate action through volunteering at a local project through the Citizen Science Project Finder or plant trees with LandCare Australia.
