Switch off to switch on
You might think that social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook keep you socially connected, but often the opposite is true. (Just how many online friends do you know? Exactly.) So, Earth Hour is the perfect time to get together with friends and switch off all computers, laptops and cell phones, so that you can connect with each other in real time! Send out e-vites on Facebook to spread the word of your Earth Hour get-together that could become a regular way to connect and be green.
Take it outside
We’re so used to staying indoors at night, watching our favourite TV programs or checking up on emails that we forget about the beauty that’s outside our door – literally. Now that you don’t have any distractions in the form of modern living, take your kids out into the garden and look at the stars. Or have a fun camping hour where you set up camp in the garden and enjoy the night sounds. This is far more relaxing after a busy day than staring at a TV screen.
Live simply
Earth Hour is not just about showing love for the planet; it can also be about realising how little you need to be happy. Often all the energy we use in the form of technology gets in the way of the pure pleasures in life. So take the time to do something fun with your family: play board games, share funny stories or take a walk down memory lane. This is a great way to show your kids how much fun a night without Nintendo can be.
Rock your world
Your schedules might not always be in sync, so take Earth Hour to have some romance with your partner. Enjoy love bites in the form of raw foods that don’t require cooking, light some organic candles, and enjoy some time together just for the two of you. See where the night takes you, and who knows? You might not even want to put the power back on when sixty minutes are up.
Green your hours!
Earth Hour can be just the beginning of a more eco-conscious lifestyle. Use this hour to think about ways in which you can enhance your green living. Perhaps you can have a green hour once a week in which you don’t use any electricity so that you cut down on your power costs; choose an hour a week in which you don’t use your car but walk to nearby places or to fetch your kids from school; or take an hour every few days to tend to the vegetable garden. Those minutes might not seem like much, but they add up fast!
