April 22 is Earth Day, a day when majority of countries in the world would go the extra mile to promote awareness of environment conservation, from planting trees to organising mass clean-ups to holding contests. If only these actions could be carried out on a more frequent basis!
In fact, when you care for the Earth, you're caring for your health, and this isn't just about cleaning up the environment for fresher air and more sanitary living. Going green can have immediate effects on the individual.'
Ecotherapy, also known as "green therapy", has been proven to be good for one's overall well-being. Spending time with nature reduces depression, anxiety and other mental illnesses. Green plants produce oxygen in the day time. Inhaling deeply when among the greenery improves the circulation of oxygen in your body, and this energises your body and enables you to focus better throughout the day. If you reduce time spent on your electronic devices or shopping in the malls, activities known to directly or indirectly harm the Earth, you'd be enjoying health benefits, cost savings and perhaps even social benefits when you organise a walk or exercise sessions with family and friends in the park.
If you don't live too far off from your work place, bike instead of drive. Wake up earlier, tone your quadriceps, hamstrings and buttocks and develop lower body strength while contributing to the reduction of carbon emission and saving gasoline expenses. According to the British Journal of Sports Medicine, cycling has also been found to reduce anxiety levels, which is certainly a good way to start a day of school or work. However, make sure you follow all the safety guidelines and only use an LTA-approved power-assisted bicycle on the road. Alternatively, instead of taking the feeder bus, you can bike to the nearest MRT station to take the train to work or school. Some MRT stations have places in the vicinity to park bikes and even bicycles racks. You can find out which stations provide the relevant amenities here.
If there is a community garden within your estate or GRC, lucky you! Gardening is an activity that not only benefits the ecosystem, it also helps to improve strength and aerobic health, exposure to Vitamin D which is crucial for absorption of calcium, and is a great opportunity to meet old neighbour and make new friends. If your garden produces a harvest, it will not only be rewarding, but healthier and fresher. Just be sure to put on ample sun block and a sun hat to block out harmful UV rays, and drink sufficient water to stay hydrated.
Use eco-friendly cleaning products. Many cleaning products contain harsh chemicals that are damaging to health and harm aquatic ecosystems. In fact, professional cleaners are known to be affected by chronic health problems like asthma due to frequent exposure to cleaning products. Unfortunately, in Singapore, there is no known curating system for level of eco-friendliness in cleaning products. However, some eco-warriors have taken it upon themselves to bring in eco-friendly cleaning products for sale, and you can buy them online or some stores dedicated to green products. Greenstore is a website made up of individuals who "curate,
review and rate green, eco, sustainable, organic, and ethical products
and services that benefit you, the environment and the community."
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