Some people only think about an eco lifestyle on Earth Day, April 22. However, a little research showed me that every month has a few unique and earth-friendly holidays that can be cause for celebration. Pick whichever ones appeal to you, then get out there and celebrate!

January is National Blood Donor Month — Honor a life, save a life, find a blood drive near you. Afraid to give blood? So was I. Read about my first blood donation, which was a bucket list item for my 40^th birthday.

January is also Creativity Month, Hot Tea Month, National Soup Month and Be Kind to Food Servers Month.

January’s Celebrations by Date

January 1 – Commitment Day
First celebrated in 1960 as an extension of New Year’s resolutions, this day is more about committing to someone else: making a vow, keeping a promise, spending more time. It’s also a great day to make one small commitment to the earth. What will yours be this year?
January 5 – National Bird Day
Educating the public about the world’s 9,800 bird species (12% of which are approaching extinction) is the purpose of this day. You can participate in Bird Day by playing games, sharing posters, donating or hosting an educational display. Learn more here.
January 7 – Old Rock Day
Use this day to honor all things old and stony. (I love to admire rambling stone walls, for instance.) Go out and collect rocks, paint rocks or build a rock garden — some towns around the world even hold contests for the best decorated rock garden. Sounds fun!
January 10 – Houseplant Appreciation Day
They beautify our homes, provide us with oxygen and remove toxins from our air … yet how much do we know about our houseplants? Well, here’s a day to learn more about the greenery inside your home, buy a new houseplant or, at the very least, water the neglected ones you already have.
January 13 – Poetry at Work Day
It’s all about finding the beauty in your job and putting a creative spin on it. Or make your inbox happy by subscribing to Every Day Poems. This Poetry at Work Day infographic highlights the need for creativity in the workplace.
January 17 – Kid Inventors’ Day
This day has a long legacy beginning with Ben Franklin who invented swim flippers when he was just 12 years old. Kids have a different way of thinking and problem-solving — one that often results in amazing creations. Encourage your kids to put pen to paper today and write down their craziest invention ideas. You never know what might come from it. From banana peel bioplastics to a urine-powered energy generator, these 10 eco-friendly inventions came from the minds of teens.
January 20 – Cheese Lovers Day
Yum! Although cheese gets a bad rap for generating greenhouse gases, here are a few tips for greening your cheese (in a good way).
January 21 – Hugging Day
Apparently the practice of hugging is increasing on a global scale, especially among younger people. This is good because hugging is beneficial to your health. Check out this site for types of hugs and Hugging Day products.
January 31 – National Seed Swap Day
Host a winter garden party and have your friends bring their best fruit and vegetable seeds from the previous year’s garden. Seed swaps are a great way to share resources, save money, learn what grows best in your region and improve plant biodiversity.