Ecochallenge.org

2018 People's Ecochallenge

October 3 - October 24, 2018

Shyla Keays-Goodman

PAE and the Lumatics

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
437 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

90

miles

not traveled by car
UP TO

90

miles

traveled by bike
UP TO

35

minutes

being mindful
UP TO

24

plastic straws

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

92

pounds of CO2

have been saved
UP TO

12

more servings

of fruits and vegetables

Shyla's actions

Transportation

Choose a Carbon Offset

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

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Waste

Skip the Straw

Plastic bags and small plastic pieces like straws are most likely to get swept into our waterways. I will keep 2 plastic straw(s) out of the landfill and ocean each day by refusing straws or using my own glass/metal straw.

COMPLETED 12
DAILY ACTIONS

Water

Install a Low-Flow Showerhead

I will save up to 15 gallons (56 L) of water a day by installing a low-flow showerhead.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Waste

Go Paperless

I will reduce the amount of paper mail that I receive by opting into paperless billing and ending unwanted subscriptions.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Water

Install a Toilet Tank Bank

I will reduce the amount of water flushed and save up to 11 gallons (41 L) of water each day by installing a toilet tank bank.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Energy

Choose LED Bulbs

I will replace 8 incandescent lightbulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Water

Insulate Water Pipes and Water Heater

I will avoid wasting water while waiting for the shower or sink to heat up.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Join my Neighborhood Association

I will join my neighborhood association or another local group.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Go by Bike

I will commute by bike 18 mile(s) each day and avoid sending up to 18.47 lbs of CO2 into Earth's atmosphere.

COMPLETED 5
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

Avoid refined sugar

I will adopt a diet free of refined sugars, which eliminates sweetened beverages, candy, and processed foods.

COMPLETED 12
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

Go get a check up

I will make an appointment for my annual physical.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health

More Fruits and Veggies

I will eat a heart healthy diet by adding 2 cup(s) of fruits and vegetables each day to achieve at least 4 cups per day.

COMPLETED 6
DAILY ACTIONS

Simplicity

Meditate

I will meditate or create a moment of silence for 5 minute(s) each day to reflect on things important to me.

COMPLETED 7
DAILY ACTIONS

Participant Feed

Reflection, encouragement, and relationship building are all important aspects of getting a new habit to stick.
Share thoughts, encourage others, and reinforce positive new habits on the Feed.

To get started, share “your why.” Why did you join the challenge and choose the actions you did?

REFLECTION QUESTION
Water Install a Low-Flow Showerhead

How can your region/household prepare for changing water situations in order to become more resilient?

Shyla Keays-Goodman 10/14/2018 10:15 PM

Household - getting everyone on the same page with things like how to most efficiently load the dishwasher or limiting time in the shower and turning off the faucet while brushing could go a long way. I'm honestly really excited about all of the water conservation goals there are in this challenge!

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Transportation Go by Bike

How do your transportation choices affect your engagement in your community? Does your experience differ while walking, riding transit, biking or driving?

Shyla Keays-Goodman 10/14/2018 10:13 PM

I've found that consistent biking has lead me to find cool routes that I get to share with others :)

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Community Join my Neighborhood Association

How can your community support inclusive decision making?

Shyla Keays-Goodman 10/12/2018 7:36 AM

By scheduling meetings during times when most people are available, and in locations that are easily accessible to all.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Energy Choose LED Bulbs

Changing lightbulbs is an excellent first step toward energy efficiency! In what other ways can you exercise your civic duty to protect the environment and reduce carbon emissions?

Shyla Keays-Goodman 10/12/2018 7:35 AM

I've been riding my bike to/from work, and I'd like to start composting food waste!

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Health Go get a check up

How do you practice self care?

Shyla Keays-Goodman 10/04/2018 5:59 AM

I've honestly been HORRIBLE about this for the last little while. Ideally I'd operate on a schedule, wake up early, meditate, exercise, work, unplug and spend dedicated time with family, follow a before-sleep ritual, then get a restful night's sleep. It's in the works.

Right now, I prioritize eating veggies, mindful breathing, walking often. I brush and floss every day. I dive deep into my work projects. I pour love over my family. I've been working on decluttering the house. I preplan the week's meals every weekend and make sure we have what we need to make that happen. Pretty bare bones, but I try to hit what counts.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Health More Fruits and Veggies

What do you think contributes to people in North America eating more meat than any other places, and what does this say about North American values and ways of living? How can we start shifting from a meat-focused food culture to a more plant-based one?

Shyla Keays-Goodman 10/03/2018 12:27 PM

I think the greatest challenge is the familiarity of the meat-based diet. It looks and feels normal because it's what I've grown up around.

I watched a documentary not too long ago that revealed that the cause of Type II diabetes is not linked so much to sugar/carb intake but rather a buildup of fat in our veins and arteries, primarily from fatty meats. That was enough for me to understand that plant-based was the way to go.

For my husband, it's been a different story. He still associates "good food" with meat. It's what he enjoys cooking and eating. One way I've introduced more plant-based meals is by skipping "equivalent" meals altogether. What I mean is that, instead of saying spaghetti squash is replacing the pasta in a dish, or calling any other meal "meatless", I communicate that it's a different dish altogether. It's too confusing to try to introduce something new if you're always comparing it to an old way of doing things. A fresh start is the best start.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Health Avoid refined sugar

Before you started this challenge, did you think you were 'addicted' to sugar? How do you feel now?

Shyla Keays-Goodman 10/03/2018 12:18 PM

Oh, absolutely. I still am, haha. I've been without sugar before, though, and I'm looking forward to experiencing those benefits again.

Read More