#EcoChallenge complete!  I’m thankful for being able to take some small steps towards a more mindful and sustainable lifestyle over the past 2 weeks, along with my awesome teammates. 🌎 👑 🌱

Some things I learned:

💦 Showering for less than 5 minutes is pretty easy and a good practice for only using as much water as you need (though it’s a bit harder when the water is warm and the air is cold, instead of visa versa -- I miss the tropics!)

💻 Turning off lights and electronics you're not using, including shutting down the computer (almost) every night, helps you staying focused and use them more efficiently (though I still have the bad habit of opening 20+ internet tabs at once)

🍴 Carrying reusable (and ideally non-plastic) containers, silverware, and/or cloth napkins is a really good habit to develop, both for bringing food AND for possibly taking extra food home when eating out

🚌 Despite Houston being a “driving city,” the public bus system is actually pretty extensive and a good way to get around. Getting a Metro card is completely free and you can preview possible bus routes easily just via Google Maps

The hardest goals to keep up with were spending time outside and writing down things I’m grateful for each day — both mostly because I didn’t prioritize spending time on those things. Some goals to focus on for the future 😊

I also hope to continue to learn more about local US environmental nonprofits (especially ones focused on zero waste and sustainability) and buying carbon offsets to neutralize negative carbon output from flights. If you have knowledge to share, please let me know! 🙏

MUAHAHA, I am barely beating you, mom

Horray! Ecochallenge was great - kept me mindful and focused :)

It has been a great 2 weeks, reminding me of being more conscious in shopping, meal prep, etc.  I did not get a chance to watch a documentary about food, but plan to do that in the near future.  Writing down 3 things I am grateful for each day has been a rewarding new habit I plan to keep up. 

I ate fresh salad at work and walked my entire shift delivering items. 

I hope we get another Eco Challenge soon!! I feel like I'm only just starting. ;)

Has anyone heard of or volunteered with "Plant It Forward"?  One of my #EcoChallenge goals was to research a local nonprofit and how to get involved. I was excited to find this Houston-based organization that trains refugees to be urban farmers -- sounds like more sustainably grown produce for Houstonians, and more meaningful opportunities for refugees in the greater Houston area, which resettles more refugees than any other city in the US.

Legit and meaningful change? What do you think? 🤔🌱

http://plant-it-forward.org/our-story/

Oh man... I got completely wiped out this past week. I ended up working 54 hours the first week and 52 hours the second. Got completely burnt out from my job and had to basically start everything from scratch. I'm getting enough sleep now, but I feel like I had to reset everything as far as routine goes. The only things I really managed to keep in tact were the toilet bank (I haven't noticed a difference thankfully, so that is easy) and not changing the thermostat.

#EcoChallenge Days 13-14: Even in the city, you can still watch the sunrise 🌞🙏  #goodmorningworld #littlejoysinlife

Happy Monday everybody! Can't believe there's only a couple days left of the EcoChallenge. My goal is to focus on eating meals without using the phone/computer, which I've gotten out of the habit of doing the past few days. 🙏

What is one thing you plan to focus on for these last 2 days? 🤔