Tonight I’m really looking forward to my first WWF Earth Hour experience. This year, the global annual event will see hundreds of millions of people switch off their lights, for one hour, to demonstrate their love of our wonderful planet. I love the idea that for just a short amount of time, millions across the globe are partaking in something so simple but symbolic; in a bid to raise awareness for environmental and conservation issues.

So between 8.30 and 9.30pm, I’ll be switching off all my lights, TV and music; and showing my love to the Earth!

But an hour with no electricity can actually be very long and boring if you’re not prepared, so I thought I’d share some of my green ideas for entertaining yourself during Earth Hour:

Raw candlelit dinner

There is nothing more romantic, or enchanting, about eating by candlelit with friends and loved ones. But why not add a healthy twist to your earth Hour dinner and prepare a raw feast? Get everyone to muck in with prepping beforehand (remember to use any electrical kitchen equipment before 8:30pm!) and then sit down to a nutritious meal together. I’ve collected a few raw recipe ideas on a pinterest to get you started. 

Go night-walking

Whether you live in a bustling city or a rural village; you can really see things from a different perspective at night. Why not try walking around some of your city’s green spaces, or a country road you haven’t ventured down before? You might spot some nocturnal wildlife, bright stars  or even find a great pub you never knew about before! Just remember to be safe and take a few friends with you.

Set new energy intentions

Enjoying just an hour without electricity is a great inspiration for setting future intentions. how about using Earth Hour as a blank slate, where you can attempt to use less energy once the hour is up? Checking your house for drafts, or empty plug sockets left on, helps you to create an inventory of where your household energy is going. You could even spend the hour writing a physical checklist of areas you wish you improve on; such as setting a curfew for watching TV!

Meditate

How often can you say that you have a full hour to yourself to switch off from the outside world? I’m personally planning to use Earth Hour as a chance to relax and mediate for as long as I can. Having no distractions to the senses, it’s the perfect opportunity to center your mind and give yourself some quality you time.

Get involved tonight

In the UK alone, we’re consuming three times our fair share of the planet’s natural resources, and we’re facing the biggest environmental challenge our generation has ever seen – climate change.

Get involved in Earth Hour tonight and show that you care. Simply pop your details in to the Earth Hour sign up form and switch off tonight between 8:30 and 9:30pm. Let me know what you get up to!