This Earth Day, Be Selfish (Really.)

Earth Day is usually framed as an act of selflessness. The planet is in crisis. Think of the children. The bees are dying. Do it for the polar bears. All these things are true and important. 

But this year, I want to propose something a little different for April 22nd. 

This Earth Day, I want you to be selfish. I want you to do it for you.  I want you to do what makes you happy. 

Pick up litter—not for some noble cause, but because it’s your neighborhood, and you’d rather not see a chip wrapper on your morning walk. Clean up your local park so you can enjoy a nice picnic without sitting on a coffee cup lid. Plant pollinator-friendly flowers because you like honey in your tea and you want the bees to keep buzzing. 

You see where I’m going with this, right?  

It turns out that caring for your community is one of the best things you can do for your own health and happiness. Studies show that volunteering can lower stress, improve your mood, and even help you live longer. (Free wellness plan—no subscription required!) 

Need more convincing? Fresh air, physical activity, and sunlight are good for your mental health. And planting flowers? Surprisingly satisfying. Pulling weeds? Weirdly therapeutic. And let’s be honest: Few things beat the feeling of finishing a cleanup and thinking, “I did that. I made this place better.” 

At Keep America Beautiful, we’re in the middle of the Greatest American Cleanup—our nationwide campaign to pick up 25 billion pieces of litter and help 25,000 communities shine in time for America’s 250th birthday. But really, it’s a movement about taking pride in where you live. 

And if pride sounds too noble, think of it this way: This is your space. Make it look good. Beautify it for your own peace of mind. Be selfish—for your street, your local trail, your favorite bench, your happiness when you eat lunch under the shade of a beautiful tree. 

Because here’s the secret: When we “selfishly” take care of the places we love, we actually make things better for everyone around us, too. That’s the magic. The more we invest in our communities—for ourselves—the more connected, welcoming, and resilient those places become for others. 

So, this Earth Day, treat yourself, be selfish and do something beautiful just for you. 

Pick up a piece of litter. Plant some flowers. Take a walk in a cleaner, greener neighborhood and enjoy the view.  

You’ll feel better, your community will look better, and—yes—the bees will thank you (and so will your body!).  

Jennifer Lawson is president and CEO of Keep America Beautiful. (www.kab.org) 

About Keep America Beautiful®:

Keep America Beautiful, the nation’s leading community improvement nonprofit organization, inspires and educates people to take action every day to improve and beautify their community environment. Established in 1953, Keep America Beautiful strives to end littering, improve recycling, and beautify America’s communities. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Donate and take action at kab.org.

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