When did you first realize climate change was affecting the world or your community?
This was something we were taught in school from a young age, I would say it started sticking around middle or high school.
Have you ever felt overwhelmed, sad, or anxious about climate change? What brought on those feelings?
Every time I learn about a new species becoming endangered or extinct that makes me sad and stressed. Thinking about climate change in general feels very overwhelming because it does not feel like an issue that I can make a real impact on.
How do you cope with the emotions that come up when you think about the climate crisis?
Currently, when I am dealing with emotions related to the climate crisis I try to pivot and think of something else.
What gives you hope or keeps you going when climate work feels hard?
The best I can hope for is that there are people in the world who are smart, and technology is getting better and I lean on that idea to feel as though there is a real solution out there.
How have your thoughts or feelings about climate change changed over time?
When I was younger I didn’t think that this was something that would have major impacts in my lifetime, and now I worry about what life will look like even 10-15 years from now. It has impacted my ideas about whether I would want to have kids (that environmental impact as well as the uncertainty that they would face) and if we have hit a point of no return.
What are your self-care practices? Share how you are taking care of your well-being.
Three things I try to prioritize in taking care of myself are daily exercise and time outdoors, spending time with friends and family, and implementing a ‘healthy’ nighttime routine including reading and getting to bed early.
