Renee Loveland

"One part of my goal is to do a handful of one-time actions that I know I wouldn't otherwise make time for, that I believe will have a really meaningful impact. I'm proud that I already do a lot of what is offered as daily challenges. While I played it a little safer than I might normally with the daily challenges, my goal is to improve over the three-week period to where I'm doing them all every day by the end, if not sooner. The real part of my goal - to encourage others in the office and with friends and family to participate and have fun with it! It's all about becoming a better you!"

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
677 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

314

pounds of CO2

have been saved
UP TO

660

minutes

of additional sleep
UP TO

22

whole food meals

consumed
UP TO

15

plastic bottles

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

195

minutes

being mindful
UP TO

60

minutes

spent outdoors

Renee's actions

Simplicity

Meditate

I will meditate or create a moment of silence for 15 minute(s) each day to reflect on things important to me.

COMPLETED 13
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

Avoid refined sugar

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

COMPLETED 5
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Whole Foods Diet

I will enjoy 2 meal(s) each day free of processed foods.

COMPLETED 11
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Explore My Area

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Waste

Use a Reusable Water Bottle

I will keep 1 disposable plastic bottle(s) from entering the waste stream by using a reusable water bottle.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

Healthy Sleep

Effectively working for sustainability requires self care! I will commit to getting 60 more minute(s) of sleep each night to achieve at least 7 hours per night.

COMPLETED 11
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Advocate for More Food Options

I will advocate for local and/or organic food options at work or on campus.

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

Transportation

Choose a Carbon Offset

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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
Simplicity Meditate

What would you like to invest more time in reflecting on?

Renee Loveland 10/24/2018 9:15 AM

I think I need to spend more time thinking about where I'm going in my life, and if I'm using my time the way I really want to. I need a lot of socialization in my life so I can't cut that back too much, but I need to remember to recharge and just sit still with my thoughts more. Practicing gratitude is one way for me to slow down.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Nature Explore My Area

How can spending more time outdoors enhance your sense of place?

Renee Loveland 10/24/2018 9:14 AM

Oregon is such a beautiful place and there is so much to explore! I think the discovery that comes with finding new trails or campgrounds etc. does increase a person's sense of belonging to the place. It makes you feel more connected, and with that hopefully comes a greater respect for the nature around you, which makes us better environmental stewards.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Transportation Choose a Carbon Offset

A round-trip flight from New York City to Los Angeles emits just over 1.5 tons of CO2—per person. That’s a lot of carbon! What can you do to reduce the number of flights you take per year?

Renee Loveland 10/24/2018 9:12 AM

I have to travel some for work, like many of my colleagues, so this is a tricky one. We do a lot of conference calls already but you cannot substitute in person meetings with a call all of the time. Personal relationships require face to face meetings.

I try to stick to only those conferences that are really worth attending. And our company offsets the carbon emissions associated with our annual travel each year; I think that's the first place to start.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Waste Go Paperless

Reducing your paper mail can be such a freeing action to take -- by reducing what is coming in, you can reduce what is going into the recycling bin too. How does it make you feel? What is the next step you will take to reduce your waste?

Renee Loveland 10/24/2018 9:06 AM

I am so overwhelmed with junk mail, both email and actual mail so I am trying to find time to deal with it. I need to be better about managing my junk email - just deleting it right away. I haven't found the time to sit down and unsubscribe from junk mail lists so I haven't fulfilled this challenge in time to earn the points, but I intend to still take care of this! What really gets me are the beautiful catalogues from like REI, Athletica, etc. that simply go straight to the recycling bin...

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Health Avoid refined sugar

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

Renee Loveland 10/24/2018 9:03 AM

No, I don't think I would consider myself addicted to sugar but definitely enjoy a taste of something sweet after dinner or sometimes just to indulge. I find that if I focus on avoiding sugar, it's really not that hard. There are so many other ways to curb cravings - fruit, flavored soda water and decaf coffee and good alternatives for me.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Advocate for More Food Options

Given the impact of pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers on both the natural world and our food systems, what do you think about the use of these products in agriculture?

Renee Loveland 10/24/2018 9:00 AM

I understand why pesticides etc. came to be and why they "help", but the negative impacts far outweigh the benefits. We should find a way to make organic farming, where the soil is cared for and nutrients are re-introduced regularly, scale the same way as we have the more intense farming practices that are widespread today.

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Renee Loveland 10/24/2018 8:58 AM

Loved checking out Oaks Bottom with my husband and the dogs this weekend!

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Whole Foods Diet

Michael Pollan states that "it is better to pay the grocer (our edit: or the farmer!) than the doctor." What are your thoughts on this?

Renee Loveland 10/24/2018 8:56 AM

I feel so much better when I stay true to a whole foods diet. I would say I do this naturally half the time, but it's the appetizers with wine, etc. that get me. I've started a Whole30 program which I've done a handful of times in the past and am excited to get the "tiger blood" going again.

I think our society could be so much healthier if we paid closer attention to where our food comes from and how it's prepared, and made better choices. Yes, I would much rather support the livelihood of a local farmer and fuel myself with healthy options than pay a doctor to fix me!

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Renee Loveland 10/15/2018 3:21 PM

I attended the Oregon Environmental Council's annual fundraiser recently and saw these awesome teens in person - so uplifting to see the next generation take the lead! Check them out here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVzHSFOaokM&org=1515&lvl=100&ite=365&lea=139098&ctr=0&par=1&trk=a2V1W00000L58AHUAZ

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Renee Loveland 10/12/2018 4:12 PM

Used my reusable water bottle like a good EcoChallenger!

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