As days grow shorter and leaves fall off trees many people start to get depressed. The official explanation is that this seasonality-triggered funk is related to a lack of sunlight. But some see correlations with our societal spending habits, too.
In the article Does Consumerism Make Us Crazy? at Scientific American,
Distancing ourselves from nature, Roszak maintains, has negative psychological consequences for people and also leads to ecological devastation at the hands of a society that, as a result, lacks empathy for nature.
Our spending habits reveal what’s important to us, and many of us do not spend money thinking about our natural world.
Here are three free and one cheap way to get in touch with nature — before Spring, and without getting too dirty.
1. Volunteer – it’s free. People don’t stop littering, developing raw land, or polluting rivers when it gets cold. Join groups that work in areas like environmental restoration or advocacy work. Wallet Gain: You will build your social contacts and your professional skills by being a volunteer. It looks good on a resume and can lead to better job opportunities in the future.
2. Go for a walk – it’s free. Going outside, even when it’s cold, will improve your mood. Wallet Gain: Regular walks increase your health and can contribute to smaller health-related bills.
3. Plant Trees – it’s cheap. You can derive a lot of pleasure planting a tree. Your efforts help make your environment healthier and improve your view outside. You can plant most trees so long as the ground isn’t completely frozen. Join the Arbor Day Foundation for a small fee. You’ll get discounts on plants and may qualify for ten free trees. Wallet Gain: People pay more for houses with landscaped yards.
