Self-Care Is Earth Care: How Feeling Good Helps the Planet Thrive

By Karen Mitchell, Functional Nutrition Health Coach

What if healing your body was one of the most radical ways to love the Earth?

Each Earth Day, we’re invited to take action for the environment—to plant trees, reduce waste, or recycle. And all of that matters. But here’s a truth we don’t talk about enough: when you feel good—clear-headed, energized, and grounded—you want to care for the world around you. You have the capacity to give more, love more, and live more consciously.

Because when you’re thriving, the Earth feels it too.

Where It All Began: My Journey from Conservation to Holistic Health

In 1995, I moved from Long Island, New York, to Montana. Back then, I wanted to work in conservation. I loved the natural world, and I believed deeply in caring for it. As I pursued a degree in range management at Montana State and later worked with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, I spent time on ranches in the heart of Montana.

During this time, a realization began to take root in me: humans are the ones who choose to conserve. If we don’t feel well—if we’re exhausted, in pain, foggy, or overwhelmed—we’re far less likely to protect and care for the things we love, including the Earth.

That lightbulb moment changed my life. I realized that supporting people in healing their bodies, hearts, and minds was not separate from environmental care—it was environmental care.

My purpose became clear: I want to live in a world where people feel good, live fully, and care deeply. A world where we recognize the systems at play in both our personal health and planetary health—and take action to honor both.

When We Feel Good, We Care More Fully

Let’s talk about what this really looks like in practice.

Imagine this: you feel vibrant and grounded. You have the energy to make meals that nourish your family. You take a deep breath before reacting, and you find joy in the small moments. With this energy and clarity, you want to make choices that align with your values—like sourcing food locally, growing herbs, or reducing waste.

Because when you’re depleted, even small acts of care feel like too much. But when you’re nourished, kindness, patience, and connection flow more easily—not just to yourself and your loved ones, but to the Earth too.

How to Eat in a Way That Supports You and the Earth

So how do we begin to align personal wellness with planetary care? Let’s start with one of the most powerful places: our food.

Choose Local and Seasonal

When your nervous system is calm and your body feels supported, you have the bandwidth to think ahead—to visit farmers markets, choose seasonal produce, or plan nourishing meals.

For example, in winter, I often eat greens from Earthbound Farm in a box—grown in Carmel Valley, CA, about 1,400 miles away. But starting in April, I harvest greens from my backyard greenhouse. Those greens travel just 20 feet. The difference in impact, nutrients—and satisfaction—is profound.

Here in the Gallatin Valley of Montana, we’re lucky to have many passionate family-owned farms within 20 miles of Bozeman. But no matter where you live, consider what’s grown nearby—vegetables, fruits, meats, grains. Explore your local food shed (within 100 miles) and start with small changes in your food buying systems.

Grow Something—Anywhere

Whether you live in a house or apartment, you can grow something to connect with your food:

• No outdoor space? Try a kitchen counter setup with a grow light and heat mat for microgreens or herbs.
• Have a patio? Use pots and natural potting soil to grow herbs, tomatoes, or greens. Choose plants based on your sunlight (south = full sun lovers; east = cooler crops; west = drought-tolerant).
• Yard space? Even a small, raised bed can yield a bounty. Homegrown food reduces food miles, supports healthy soil, and reconnects us with nature’s cycles.

Conscious Food Choices Support Your Gut and the Planet

Choosing whole, less processed foods means:

• Less packaging (and less waste)
• Fewer transportation miles
• More nutrient-dense meals that support your digestion and overall energy
• Less reliance on chemical soil and plant additives like herbicides and pesticides

Let’s also talk about the plant-based myth. Are you following a plant-based diet for a gentler Earth footprint? That’s a beautiful intention—but here’s something radical: plant-based doesn’t automatically mean better for the environment.

While large-scale animal agriculture (like CAFOs—confined animal feeding operations) is incredibly damaging, locally raised, pasture-fed animal products often have a smaller footprint than ultra-processed plant-based options. For example, tofu made from soybeans grown thousands of miles away, then processed and packaged before being shipped to your local store, can carry a heavier environmental cost than meat from a regenerative ranch 10 miles down the road.

It’s not about labels—it’s about conscious sourcing, simplicity, and local connection.

When we nourish our gut microbiome with real food, we also nourish the Earth by reducing our dependence on industrial food systems that harm soil, water, and ecosystems.

Capacity to Care Comes from Feeling Well

Burnout, brain fog, and chronic fatigue make even the simplest tasks feel overwhelming. And that includes environmentally aligned ones—like composting, reducing toxins in your home, or tending to your garden.

That’s why investing in your health isn’t selfish—it’s essential. The more resilient and grounded you feel, the more energy you have to make thoughtful choices that support your home, your community, and the planet.

Live in Rhythm with the Earth’s Cycles

We are nature. And we do best when we honor nature’s rhythms.

• Winter: Time to slow down, rest, eat warm foods, and restore
• Spring: Time to grow, cleanse, eat fresh greens, and reawaken
• Summer: A season of abundance, light, adventure, and lighter foods like fresh produce
• Autumn: A time of harvest, reflection, grounding, and preparation for rest

When we align our habits, meals, and even our mindset with these rhythms, life feels less like friction—and more like flow. Like swimming with the current instead of against it.

We Are Not Separate from the Earth

"We are not separate from nature. The soil of our gut is as sacred as the soil beneath our feet."

Here’s the deeper truth: we are nature.

The soil in your gut is rich, complex, and alive—just like the soil beneath your feet. When we heal our inner terrain, we create ripples that extend outward. Just like a healthy ecosystem, a balanced human being radiates nourishment, connection, and care.

And when our nervous system is supported, we show up in the world with more patience, more presence, and more love—for others and for this beautiful planet.

Try These Gentle Earth-Aligned Practices This Week

-Eat one meal sourced entirely from within 100 miles of your home
-Take a barefoot walk in nature and listen to the birds
-Swap one packaged food for a whole ingredient
-Take a step toward a health concern—schedule labs, make that appointment with your doctor, or book a discovery call with me
-Plant one new thing: a pot of herbs, a tomato start, or some microgreens

Self-Care Is a Radical Act of Earth Stewardship

Caring for your body—through food, rest, movement, and emotional support—is a sacred act. It’s a choice to return to alignment with the Earth and with yourself. And it’s one that naturally spills out into everything you touch.

When you feel well, the Earth feels it too. Let’s start there.

Curious about how to take your next step toward more vibrant energy and aligned living? Book a free 15-minute call with me here—I'd love to hear your story and help you connect your wellness journey with what matters most.