Earth Hour – Slowing Down and Enjoying ‘Me’ Time


We live in a rat race.  We are always on the go and we are always wired up – texting, emailing, listening to the latest over the wire – surrounded by a constant buzz.  Powering off may be a good stand for the environment during Earth Hour, but it is as equally a good stand for human health.  We need to take time to just be, to enjoy time to ourselves and relish in the serenity of non-electronic peace and quiet.  And yes, you can do this with a friend, but time to yourself is important too.  No, it’s not just important, it is a necessity and many of us forget that.

Relishing in 'Me' Time

My Point?  Don’t be afraid of using Earth Hour as an excuse for some ‘me’ time tonight. A few ideas on how you can pass the time for an hour, all alone without any electronics:

  1. Give yourself a relaxing pedicure (and yes gentlemen, you can do this too – you’d be surprised at just how relaxing this is).
  2. Wallowing in a steaming hot bubble bath with candles and your favourite beverage.
  3. Decorate your living room in candles and curl up with a good book.
  4. Write or draw in an actual, physical journal under candle light (you’d be shocked at just how therapeutic this is).
  5. If you have a fireplace, light a fire and watch the flames dance.
  6. Hunker down with some knitting or something else crafty that you can do by candlelight.
  7. Solving a puzzle by candlelight or playing solitaire.
  8. Sitting out on the deck with your favorite bevie and a blankey to listen to sounds of the night and enjoy the night sky.

Remember Earth Hour is from 8:30 – 9:30 pm tonight (March 27, 2010), so power down and enjoy a bit of peace and quiet.  And don’t be afraid to find excuses to do this on a more regular basis, even if it isn’t Earth Hour.  It’s healthy.

Earth Hour – Forgetting the Enviro Crap and Focussing on Romance

We live in a day and age where we spend too much time communicating on electronic devices and not enough time just enjoying each others company in real time. Aside from all the do gooder, environmental crap of turning off the power for an hour tonight, the truly powerful part of Earth Hour is taking the time to remember what it is like to spend quality time together minus the distractions of the tv, texting, phone calls, tweeting …etc. And just think of the romance that can unfold when your full and undivided attention is focused on that special person in your life.

Photo by James Mockett

Just to fire up your imagination as to what could be possible, here are a few Earth Hour suggestions to the couples out there, whether it’s a first or second date or the person that you have been living with for 20+ years:

  1. Enjoy a candle lit dinner for two (remember to turn off the oven by 8:30 pm).
  2. Go for a starlit walk.
  3. Run a bubble bath for your loved one and read to them by candlelight.
  4. Cuddle up to a campfire under the stars (just don’t forget to get the fire permit).
  5. If you are blessed with musical abilities, enjoy an hour serenading your partner (and if this is the case, yet you’re single, my number is ….).
  6. Curl up under a blanket outdoors and do a little stargazing together.
  7. Candle lit scrabble (best of all, no one can cheat by using their iphone or blackberry).
  8. An hour long massage by candlelight, or better yet, two hours – one hour each.

Remember Earth Hour is between 8:30 – 9:30 pm tonight (March 27th, 2010), so power down. Oh and there is absolutely no reason why you and your lover can’t make your own Earth Hours on a regular basis throughout the year.

Special thanks to @ClareSaxon, @nugglemama, @lizzieh84, @airdrie, and @EatsShootsEdits, who shared their Earth Hour romance ideas with me on twitter.  Would love to hear more ideas on how to generate a little romance into your Earth Hour tonight in the comments below.