THE ENVIRONMENT
How My Phone Helps Alleviate Climate Anxiety
Mindfulness in the Anthropocene
My smartphone lights up, accompanied by a familiar droplet sound, alerting me to the latest news. Today, an article from The Guardian reports that a one-degree Celsius rise in global temperature could lead to a 12% decline in world gross domestic product. This message exemplifies the many profoundly worrying notifications I receive daily.
Humanity appears to be approaching a global environmental catastrophe, with news of deadly floods, early-season forest fires, and predictions of intense hurricanes becoming increasingly common. While I opted in for these notifications, it’s depressing to receive them.
In response to this avalanche of grim environmental news, I’ve found a simple yet effective way to counter the stress it causes: a photo widget on my phone’s home screen. It displays pleasant memories with friends and family, snapshots from my travels, and especially the many photos I’ve taken during nature hikes.
This morning, colorful pictures of nature reminded me of a walk I made last September in the province of…
