As you probably know, all around the world people this past week celebrated Earth Day. To mark the international day to honor the planet that has been so kind to us, people took the day to show planet Earth appreciation. We're talking a day packed with hikes, recycling, and tons of posts on Facebook about the great outdoors.
There's a key error in our ways, however. Rather than having one day to honor the Earth, we should remember to do this every day. After all, we want Earth to be good to us for years to come, so we should be good to it. Here's a few ways to make every day, Earth Day.
1. Go On A Hike
We do a lot of activities to exercise that hurt the Earth, whether we know it or not. So ditch the treadmill (a power hogging machine) and explore the great outdoors. No matter where you are, there are beautiful things to see. All you have to do is go for a walk, run, or hike, and open your eyes to appreciate the beauty of nature around you.
2. Walk or Bike, Don't Drive
We all can be guilty of laziness every now and again. But we can do ourselves and our planet a big favor by walking or biking instead of driving. It isn't always the most convenient or efficient method of transportation, but it does make a big difference to our planet. Go ahead and google 'car pollution'. You'll be shocked by how much damage our excessive car use can cause the planet.
3. Take Shorter Showers
I know a nice long, hot shower can really hit the spot sometimes. But while you're using your shower time to ponder the problems of the world or performing the best concert that no one will every hear, think about all that water you're using up. And all that energy it takes to heat that water. Try and take a shorter shower, or if that's asking too much, try turning off the water while you lather up, and give the Earth (and your gas bill) a break.
4. Grow a Garden 
We've killed so many of Earth's plants to build roads and homes and shopping malls. So lets give back some of what we've taken. Plants also emit tons of oxygen and other healthy molecules into air, so by gardening a bit or even keeping one little plant alive, we help all of Earth's animals. I don't have the greenest thumb in the world, but I'm proud of my little cactus plant that brightens up my kitchen windowsill. And as I said, every little bit helps.
5. Use a Reusable Water Bottle
You know what they say... Out of sight, out of mind. It's easy to ignore how much plastic you're using when you're constantly throwing away water bottles. Do the world a favor, though, and spend a few bucks on a reusable water bottle. Even if you're one of those picky water drinkers (like me) who sometimes can't stand the taste of tap water, you'll actually save money by buying a tap purifier instead of consistently buying throw away bottles. And if you're reading this and telling yourself that you're okay, you recycle your plastic water bottles; think about how much energy it takes to transport those bottles, clean them, melt them, and then find another purpose for them.
In Conclusion: We're not perfect. We have a lot to learn, especially when it comes to being kind to our planet. And Earth Day is definitely a step in the right direction. But there's a lot more that we could be doing that doesn't take too much effort. Most things we'd do to help our planet actually helps us in some way, shape, or form. So open your eyes and appreciate the beauty around you, and then think to yourself, "How can I help keep this beauty around for as long as possible?'
