Taking care of the planet means taking care of people as well as the environment – it’s all connected! Getting out of the car to walk or ride a bike improves air quality and your health. Eating organic food reduces your exposure to pesticides and keeps pollutants out of our air and water. Planting a garden of native plants or vegetables is good exercise for you and makes Austin greener. So looking after your health and well-being has benefits for the Earth too – it’s one of the best “win-win” scenarios!
Austin has a reputation for healthy living, but only 30% in our community eat five servings of fruits and vegetables a day. The obesity rate for Travis County is 20.5%, while diabetes hovers at 7% of the population. And we all know that we spend a lot of time sitting in traffic (which can never count as exercise). We can and should do better.
If you want to improve your health, Earth Month is the perfect time to start building better habits around eating and exercise.
Here are 7 easy ways to get started:
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1. Move your body. Find ways to increase your activity level – park in the spaces farthest from your destination, take the stairs instead of the elevator, have a walking meeting outside instead of in a conference room. Every step counts! |
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2. Track your progress. Wear a FitBit or start a food journal to set realistic goals for your health. Keeping a log of your eating habits and fitness progress can help identify where you can make changes or raise your game.
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7. Reduce exposure to toxins.Use environmentally-friendly products for all your spring cleaning. Using fewer chemicals does a body good. |
Looking for a printable version of the list above? Visit austintexas.gov/earthmonth.
Simple actions really add up when you make them a part of your regular routine! Deciding to take action means that you want to take care of yourself as well as this place we call home. Get healthy and make Austin greener at the same time – today and for many years to come!
Tell us your story at sustainability@austintexas.gov.
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