A few weeks ago, I went to New York to visit some college friends. When I opened their trash can, it was full of cans and plastic jugs. As probably the second-biggest recycling stickler in Park City (close behind the woman who trained me), I had to ask why there were cans in the trash can when there was a perfectly good curbside recycling bin sitting outside the front door. They gave excuses—recycling doesn’t work, it’s a hassle—but later, over a glass of wine, the real reason came out: with so many heavy issues in the world, it just didn’t seem important.

I get it. In many similar conversations with my friends, we eventually get to a point of someone–often, myself–saying “it’s too much”. Too many crises, too many injustices, all piling on until the only response left is frustration or dread. Most days, I turn off KPCW when NPR comes on because I just don’t have the capacity to hear the bad news. And when we’re already stretched thin, it’s hard to hold space for environmental issues on top of everything else.

With so much tragedy in the world, our focus is pulled in a million directions. Climate change, by comparison, feels disregarded or left out, its impacts slow-moving, scattered, and often invisible in the moment. Why pay attention to a slightly warmer summer when the news is full of families being torn apart? I’m not asking anyone to change what they care about—it’s all important. But I do think we need to keep environmental issues in the background, because the background of every other issue is, ultimately, the environment.

If we let the environment slip too far, it becomes harder to deal with other urgent issues because everything depends on a livable planet. You don’t stop changing the oil just because you’re busy with other repairs. If you do, the whole car breaks down.

I think right now, we should all be aiming for maintenance-level engagement when we can. Don’t feel guilty about not doing everything, but don’t give up on everything either. Keep it simple: recycle when you can, pick up trash when you can, eat less meat when you can. Try to find ways to weave the environment into your thoughts or conversations on other topics–there’s always a connection. There’s no social justice without environmental justice.

By Chelsea Hafer