What are YOU doing this Saturday, March 23rd between 8.30 and 9.30pm local time? If the answers ‘anything that doesn’t involve electricity’, you’d be correct. Your tech might be on time-out, but that doesn’t mean you have to be as well. Going dark for an hour shouldn’t feel like a punishment, and we like to think of Earth Hour as more than a climate change initiative – it’s also a chance to unplug and just have some good ol’ fashioned fun…
Throw a party
Our favourite thing to do during Earth Hour is to turn the whole evening into a candlelit party. Now, your party can be 2 people or 20, but the whole point is that you’re all together contributing to one cause and having some fun with it. It’s a great excuse to get together under unconventional circumstances and turn the hour into a whole evening of shenanigans!
Party Ideas by Candlelight:
Indoor camping
Make a giant centerpiece with candles in the middle of the room, throw some pillows on the floor and pretend you’re outdoors. Plaid shirts and fort building are highly recommended. You can even try your hand at candle-marshmallow roasting (disclaimer: it’s a tricky science), and come prepared with the scariest stories you can find from the darkest corners of the internet.
Sing-along
It’s just like karaoke, but your backup track is the people around you. Or, just go acapella if you’re confident enough in your vocals.
Clothing swap
For this to work, everyone brings over clothes and accessories they don’t want anymore, and you set up an at-home store where you shop through each other’s closets. Anything that doesn’t get picked up can then be donated to charity, and you can do another good deed for the day.
Murder Mystery
A good game of ‘whodunnit’ is so much better in the dark.
Potluck
Have everyone bring their favourite appetizers/ desserts and pretend you’re at a feast in Westeros.
Game night
Because we love any excuse for some friendly competition.
Card games: Cards Against Humanity, Uno, Skip Bo, regular cards, Monopoly Deal, Bang
Board games: Monopoly, Jenga, Risk, Settlers of Catan, Candyland, Cranium, Headbandz
Other games: Never have I ever, Charades, Truth or Dare, Beer Pong, Flip Cup, Pie Face
Colour
Overpay for an adult colouring book, use a child’s version or just go free-hand.
If all else fails, just talk and drink
Have a wine/ beer/ spirit tasting, or just enjoy a glass or two with company. Trust us, time flies.
Or, Keep it low key
If you’re not in the party mood, you can still just have fun solo or with whomever you live with. Besides taking a quality nap, here’s what else you can do with your time:
Star gaze
If you live in the city, Earth Hour is probably your best chance to get a good view of the stars. Grab an astronomy book and do some constellation hunting if you’re feeling ambitious.
Work out
You know all those workout moves you want to nail but are too embarrassed to try in the gym? Now’s the perfect time to give them a go.
Read that book you’ve been neglecting
Candle positioning is key.
Take a bubble bath
Throw on a face mask too and treat yo’ self.
Puzzle it up
Sudoku, regular old table puzzles, crosswords, whatever floats your boat.
Let’s Eat!
A candlelit meal doesn’t have to be romantic. Prep your meal before Earth Hour and enjoy each other’s company.
Write something
A short story, poem, journal entry, to-do list, the next Rihanna single – you choose.
Or, just take the opportunity to talk to each other?
You’d be surprised how nice a convo can be without a smartphone or TV to distract you.
At the end of the day, regardless of what you’re doing, participating is all that really matters, and conserving energy and raising awareness for that one hour should just be where it starts.
Learn more about Earth Hour and what else you can do for the environment on the Earth Hour website.
