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Olivia Cervantez's avatar

Olivia Cervantez

SMU 2021 EcoChallenge

"To make every day about something bigger than myself. "

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 581 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    1.0
    community event
    hosted or attended
  • UP TO
    1.0
    hour
    volunteered
  • UP TO
    330
    minutes
    spent exercising
  • UP TO
    6.0
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    940
    minutes
    spent outdoors
  • UP TO
    25
    minutes
    being mindful
  • UP TO
    860
    minutes
    not spent in front of a screen
  • UP TO
    49
    plastic bottles
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    2.0
    plastic containers
    not sent to the landfill

Olivia's actions

Waste

Use Reusable Bags

If at all possible, I will not accept any disposable bags when making purchases.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Use a Reusable Water Bottle

I will keep 5 disposable plastic bottle(s) from entering the waste stream by using a reusable water bottle.

COMPLETED 9
DAILY ACTIONS

Simplicity

Limit Social Media

I will limit my social media use to once each day reducing my daily use by 10 minute(s)

COMPLETED 3
DAILY ACTIONS

Simplicity

Less Screen Time

I will replace 15 minute(s) of screen time each day with other activities.

COMPLETED 5
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Planting Saplings

My goal is to help my University plant 400 saplings by the end of April.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Nature

Keep a Nature Journal

I will journal each day about my experiences in nature.

COMPLETED 3
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Join An Outdoor Project

I will join an outdoor restoration project in my community while observing best practices in my region for not spreading COVID-19.

COMPLETED
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

Nature

Enjoy the Sunrise/Sunset

I will enjoy the sunrise and/or sunset each day.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Nature

Leave No Trace

I will practice the seven principles of Leave No Trace when doing nature activities alone or with family and friends.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Nature

Spend Time Outside

I will replace 30 minute(s) each day typically spent inside (computer time, watching television, etc.) with quality time outside.

COMPLETED 6
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Practice Gratitude for Earth

I will spend 60 minute(s) per day outside, practicing gratitude (prayer, meditation, journaling, etc.) for Earth and my natural surroundings.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Nature

Go for a Daily Walk

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

COMPLETED 4
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Support Local Pollinators

At least 30% of crops and 90% of flowering plants rely on pollinators to produce fruit. I will spend 10 minutes researching which plants support local native pollinators and plant some in my yard or local community garden.

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 Limit Social Media
    Social media can keep us connected with loved ones, make us laugh, and help us to learn new things. It can also create echo chambers and take more time than we realize or intend to give. After completing this action for a few days, how do you feel? What do you notice?

    Olivia Cervantez's avatar
    Olivia Cervantez 4/23/2021 10:11 AM
    It really is easy to fall down a rabbit hole when on social media. I noticed it was hard to limit my time at first, but now I have other things I can focus on. I have also noticed there really is no need to spend hours on social media. 

  • Olivia Cervantez's avatar
    Olivia Cervantez 4/23/2021 10:00 AM
    I am sad the Eco-Challenge event is coming to an end. It was a lot of fun! Seeing what daily actions can make a difference. I think it really opened my eyes to how much of an impact one person can make. Thanks for making the Eco-Challenge happen. I hope we do it next year too!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Simplicity Less Screen Time
    What did you notice in implementing this challenge? Was it hard to choose other activities over screen time? How did you decide to spend your time?

    Olivia Cervantez's avatar
    Olivia Cervantez 4/21/2021 3:34 PM
    I didn't find it hard to do other things because the weather is so nice. When the weather starts to get bad again and I spend more time inside I think it will be difficult to fill my time with other things. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Waste Use a Reusable Water Bottle
    While water bottles are needed for health and safety in certain places, we can do more to reduce the unnecessary use of them. What are the barriers to you using reusable bottles and tap water instead of bottled water? How could you make this a permanent habit?

    Olivia Cervantez's avatar
    Olivia Cervantez 4/20/2021 12:20 PM
    Often times when water is not filtered I do not want to drink it, especially if it smells like chlorine. However, this is an easy fix, water bottle filling stations have filters, this helps a lot. I personally think it is a hassle to have one-use bottles laying around all the time, so I avoid using them. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Nature Explore My Area
    How might spending more time outdoors enhance your brainpower?

    Olivia Cervantez's avatar
    Olivia Cervantez 4/20/2021 12:15 PM
    The time I spent outdoors today was in an outdoor lab. This enhanced my knowledge of my surroundings. Spending time outside also gives one a break from the boring screen we look at all day. 

  • Olivia Cervantez's avatar
    Olivia Cervantez 4/17/2021 7:50 PM
    Today was beautiful. It's nice to enjoy the warm air before it starts to rain again.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Nature Support Local Pollinators
    Why is it important to take care of pollinators?

    Olivia Cervantez's avatar
    Olivia Cervantez 4/14/2021 2:28 PM
    They are the reason why we are here today and they will be the reason why we are here tomorrow. Without pollinators we are nothing. We will lose everything.

  • Olivia Cervantez's avatar
    Olivia Cervantez 4/14/2021 2:26 PM
    I was able to go on a 30-minute walk, out in the sun today. While I was outside I really came to appreciate the breeze and smell of the earth. I did not know I would miss something like this so much until now. 

  • Olivia Cervantez's avatar
    Olivia Cervantez 4/07/2021 1:57 PM
    Yesterday was a lot of fun. It was great seeing so many people outside enjoying the sun!

  • Olivia Cervantez's avatar
    Olivia Cervantez 4/07/2021 1:57 PM
    Yesterday was a lot of fun. It was great seeing so many people outside enjoying the sun!