50 Ways to Celebrate Earth Week While Social Distancing

Did you know that Earth Day 2020 marks the 50th anniversary of the global celebration of Earth Day? To honor this important anniversary, we’ve put together a list of 50 actions that you can take while practicing social distancing. We hope these actions will help you feel more connected with the environment and your community while we all do our part to "flatten the curve."

If you take an action on this list and want to share on social media, tag us @fsusustainable!

1. Go for a bike ride to get some fresh air and sunshine.

2. Take the CyclingSavvy Basics course for free on Canvas to become a better cyclist and driver!

3. Buy locally grown produce if your city or town is still holding farmer’s markets. If not, some places have switched to online farmer’s markets with delivery options!

4. Stay up to look at the moon and stars. Use a free astronomy app like SkyView Lite to learn about constellations.

5. Find yourself doing more online shopping? Use apps like Poshmark and Thred Up to buy and sell secondhand items rather than buying new from fast fashion sites. 

6. Try making a new vegan or vegetarian recipe. 

7. Start some seeds and grow your own food or flowers.

8. If you’re still in Tallahassee, order Krishna lunch for local delivery.

9. Miss hammocking on Landis Green? Set up your hammock in your backyard instead!

10. Watch an environmental documentary.

11. Replace your incandescent light bulbs with more efficient LEDs.

12. Set up a recycled container outside to collect rainwater to water your houseplants or new garden.

13. Disappointed that you’re not able to bring your favorite reusable mug to local coffee shops anymore? Continue to support local by buying coffee beans from your favorite coffee shops and brewing coffee at home instead.

14. Cut up your old t-shirts to use as dish rags and replace a roll of paper towels.

15. Watch a sewing tutorial on YouTube and mend that tear in your favorite jeans or sew the button back on that shirt you love. 

16. Freshen up on your bike maintenance knowledge. 

17. Read a Sustainable Campus blog post.

18. Continue to support local restaurants in Tallahassee or in your hometown by ordering takeout or delivery.

19. When you order takeout, request no plasticware or napkins.

20. Time your shower. Reducing your shower time by just four minutes a day can save 3,650 gallons of water per year on average. 

21. Turn off the lights when you leave a room. Getting in the habit will save energy and money on utility bills down the line. 

22. Hang your clothes up to dry. Not only does this conserve energy, but it will help your clothes live longer as well!

23. Go for a hike at a local open park - be sure to practice social distancing on the trail.

24. Complete some of Sustainable Campus’ ecodistancing challenges. Tag us @fsusustainable so we can see!

25. Still getting paper bills or bank statements delivered to your home? Take a few minutes to switch everything to electronic.

26. In a cleaning mood? Try making nontoxic, gentle cleaners with vinegar, castile soap, and baking soda. 

27. Read books, e-books, or listen to audiobooks related to sustainability, the environment, or climate change.

28. If you’re able, consider donating to an environmental charitable organization or the Food For Thought Pantry at FSU.

29. Attend an online course related to sustainability or the environment.

30. Look for environmental job and internship opportunities on Handshake. Connect with the Career Center virtually for support.

31. Meditate or practice yoga outdoors.

32. Take care of your mental health. Call a friend or family member or reach out to the University Counseling Center for Telemental Health services.

33. Do one of Campus Rec’s at-home workouts - bonus points for completing it in the great outdoors!

34. Do a Campus Rec outdoor challenge.

35. Brush up on recycling guidelines in your area.

36. Highlight a sustainable student org that you’re involved with or one that is doing awesome work.

37. Try making your own personal care products like deodorant and body lotion.

38. Make a zine about your favorite way to live sustainably.

39. Make a compost pile to turn your food scraps into fertilizer for plants.

40. Use the iNaturalist app to identify wildlife in your backyard.

41. Make a bird feeder and see who comes for a snack.

42. Virtually visit a National Park.

43. Find a new favorite sustainability-related YouTube channel.

44. Continue tracking your water intake and your reusable water bottle usage with the Fill It Forward app.

45. Studying for finals? Try taking notes electronically to save paper.

46. Switch from a paper calendar to an online option like iCal or Google Calendar.

47. Create Earth Day art - write a song or a poem, paint, sketch, photograph, or dance.

48. Watch Dr. Suess’s The Lorax.

49. Follow Sustainable Campus @fsusustainable on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

50. Continue staying home to flatten the curve and stay healthy and safe. Keep monitoring FSU covid-19 updates.