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Welcome to 2018 People's Ecochallenge!

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You'll be an 2018 People's Ecochallenge expert in no time!

Ecochallenge.org
2018 People's Ecochallenge
October 3 - October 24, 2018
Jessica Holter's avatar

Jessica Holter

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota

Points Total

  • 0 Today
  • 0 This Week
  • 341 Total

Participant Impact

  • up to
    10
    pounds
    waste composted
  • up to
    390
    minutes
    spent exercising
  • up to
    360
    minutes
    of additional sleep
  • up to
    42
    people
    helped
  • up to
    3.0
    documentaries
    watched
  • up to
    1,215
    minutes
    spent outdoors
  • up to
    270
    minutes
    spent learning

Jessica's Actions

Transportation

Choose a Carbon Offset

If buying a plane ticket, I will also buy a carbon offset.

Uncompleted
One-Time Action

Nature

Explore My Area

I will explore at least one new hiking trail or nature walk in my area.

Completed
One-Time Action

Community

Help Others

I will offer to help 3 person(s) who are in need each day.

COMPLETED 14
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Practice Gratitude for Earth

I will spend 60 minute(s) each day outside, practicing gratitude (prayer, meditation, journaling, etc.) for Earth and the nature surrounding me.

COMPLETED 13
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Compost Food Waste

I will avoid sending up to .69 lbs (.31 kg) of food waste to the landfill each day by composting my food or learning how to.

COMPLETED 10
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Watch a Documentary about Food Sovereignty

I will watch 3 documentary(ies) about food sovereignty: the right of local peoples to control their own food systems including markets, ecological resources, food cultures and production methods.

Completed
One-Time Action

Health

Healthy Sleep

Effectively working for sustainability requires self care! I will commit to getting 30 more minute(s) of sleep each night to achieve at least 7 hours per night.

COMPLETED 12
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Plant an Herb Garden

I will plant an herb garden in my home, workplace, or dorm room.

Uncompleted
One-Time Action

Water

Collect Rain Water

I will create a rain garden or bioswale, or use rain barrels to collect water for outdoor watering needs.

Uncompleted
One-Time Action

Nature

Go for a Daily Walk

I will take a 30-minute walk outside each day.

COMPLETED 13
DAILY ACTIONS

Feed

  • Reflection Question
    Health Healthy Sleep
    Consider how many hours of sleep you get now. How would you like to shift your sleep patterns? What are you finding works for you to be successful in this action?
    Jessica Holter's avatar
    Jessica Holter 10/08/2018 10:32 AM
    This is completely unplanned, but I've been really sick this week, so my body has been demanding more sleep. I first fell ill after a night of combined stress and a lack of sleep, which should tell me that I need not combine the two. I've been feeling better, and a lot of that has been due to committing to more sleep. In the future, I'd like to continuously commit to more sleep on a regular basis so I can do and feel my best. 
    Some steps I take when I absolutely need to sleep include taking baths, having tea, listening to the "Sleep With Me" podcast, and focusing on each body part individually to clear my mind.
    Read More
  • Reflection Question
    Community Help Others
    In your opinion, how do social inequalities diminish a strong sense of community?
    Jessica Holter's avatar
    Jessica Holter 10/05/2018 12:46 PM
    Today I was able to successfully offer to help three people I was not required to help. In these experiences, I was worried that I would really have to go out of my way to try to help each individual. However, the more I did it, the easier it became. With the first person, I was actively looking for someone who looked like they needed something. It didn't take much time, I just offered some directions. 
    I feel like offering my help doesn't take much from me, and it made me feel more connected to others. I actively noticed others and helped . Perhaps this is just my perception, but I get this sense that many people are so exhausted with daily life that any extra effort just spreads them too thin. I feel this way too sometimes. However, today when I went out of my way, I noticed that it felt more draining to just attend to my own affairs and be "too busy" for others. 
    I think there's also a small feeling of guilt when it comes to asking for help, so many people go through their days alone, not quite knowing what to do. It feels much better to be offered help, and it's fulfilling to help others. Of course people on their own try their best, but when you help others, it feels like you are personally invested in aspects of the community and help it be its best.
    Read More
  • Reflection Question
    Waste Compost Food Waste
    New to composting? Be sure to check out the action resource links to learn tips and more about it. As you transition from throwing food away to composting, what do you notice about how much you are tossing? Do you know how your compost will be used and the benefits it has on the environment?
    Jessica Holter's avatar
    Jessica Holter 10/04/2018 8:11 AM
    Since for most of my adult life I have lived in an apartment-setting, I was under the impression that composting was impossible. Today I learned about how to set up a worm compost and balance the carbon and nitrogen, and also the bokashi method. I also learned that my community does offer a composting site if I decided to bring my organic waste off-site.
    Read More