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Michele Stillinger's avatar

Michele Stillinger

University of St. Thomas DFC

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 397 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    1.0
    energy audit
    conducted
  • UP TO
    100
    gallons of water
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    15
    meatless or vegan meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    175
    minutes
    spent exercising
  • UP TO
    130
    minutes
    spent outdoors
  • UP TO
    125
    minutes
    not spent in front of a screen
  • UP TO
    8.8
    pounds of CO2
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    6.0
    more servings
    of fruits and vegetables

Michele's actions

Health

Happiness

I will write down three things every day that I am grateful for, or send one email every day thanking or praising someone.

COMPLETED 5
DAILY ACTIONS

Water

Educate Students on Water Issues

Educate my students on water resource issues, impacts of water use, groundwater resources, and things they can do to reduce their consumption.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Water

5-Minute Showers

I will save up to 20 gallons (75 L) of water each day by taking 5-minute showers.

COMPLETED 5
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Explore My Area

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

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Nature

Enjoy the Sunrise/Sunset

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

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Nature

Spend Time Outside

I will replace 15 minute(s) each day typically spent inside (computer time, watching television, etc.) with quality time outside.

COMPLETED 7
DAILY ACTIONS

Energy

Turn it off

I will keep lights, electronics, and appliances turned off when not using them.

COMPLETED 8
DAILY ACTIONS

Energy

Online Energy Audit

I will complete an online energy audit of my home, office, or dorm room and identify my next steps for saving energy.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Energy

Power Down the Computer

I will power down my computer and monitor when not using it for more than 2 hours, saving up to (1.1) lbs of CO2 each day that I do this.

COMPLETED 8
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

Joyful Movement

I will spend 30 minutes doing an activity where I'm both moving my body and enjoying myself.

COMPLETED 4
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

Exercise Daily

Exercise is a great stress blaster! I will exercise for 20 minute(s) each day.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY 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 4
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Reduce Animal Products

I will enjoy 1 meatless meal(s) and/or 1 vegan meal(s) each day this week.

COMPLETED 7
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Express My Support

I will find out who in my state makes decisions that impact the environment and express my support for more environmental actions.

UNCOMPLETED
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
    Energy Online Energy Audit
    What most interested or surprised you about your own energy footprint? What changes did you make or will you make?

    Michele Stillinger's avatar
    Michele Stillinger 4/23/2021 11:58 AM
    I loose a lot of heat through my attic and need to do a better insulation job.  I also need a new air conditioner, updated hot water heater, etc.  Yikes!  Going to be some big bills this summer!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Nature Explore My Area
    How might spending more time outdoors enhance your brainpower?

    Michele Stillinger's avatar
    Michele Stillinger 4/23/2021 11:55 AM
    Fresh air, sunshine, vitamin D, clearing the mind of negativity!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Nature Spend Time Outside
    Rachel Carson said that we need the beauty and mysteries of the natural world for our spiritual and emotional development. Does that ring true for you? What are the implications for a culture that spends most of its time indoors?

    Michele Stillinger's avatar
    Michele Stillinger 4/23/2021 11:54 AM
    Silent Spring.  Rachel's sad and hopeful reminder of this need for the beauty of the world.  We are so disconnected today.  GET OUTSIDE!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Nature Enjoy the Sunrise/Sunset
    Father Thomas Berry says, "... our primary purpose is celebration. Celebration of the dawn and the sunset and the different seasons of the year is a religious ritual, a way in which humans can establish their integral relationship with the universe, with the planet Earth." What is your response to Berry's assertion?

    Michele Stillinger's avatar
    Michele Stillinger 4/23/2021 11:53 AM
    We are so connected to the universe, we are stardust, and the sunrise and sunset is a reminder of the majesty and miracle that our planet and us exist!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Health Happiness
    How does/can practicing gratitude keep you centered and motivated to work for a better world?

    Michele Stillinger's avatar
    Michele Stillinger 4/23/2021 11:52 AM
    We are so inundated with negative news right now.  It can be overwhelming.  I am trying to remind myself of little daily moments of joy, a smile, a gratitude for friends and family, to keep myself strong and working towards a better world. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Health More Fruits and Veggies
    How does eating more fruits and vegetables and less meat positively affect yourself, other people, and our planet?

    Michele Stillinger's avatar
    Michele Stillinger 4/23/2021 11:50 AM
    I know eating more fruits and veg helps myself physically, my local farmers, and reduces the wasteful land use (and water use) for growing meat.  It also feels good to limit my meat purchases to humanely raised meat that is organically fed and grown not in cages.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Health Joyful Movement
    What's your favorite activity(ies) in which you experience joy while being active and moving?

    Michele Stillinger's avatar
    Michele Stillinger 4/23/2021 11:48 AM
    I love gardening.  I can't wait until it warms up and I can spend time outside.  I've been busy prepping by building garden boxes this year.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Health Exercise Daily
    How can you incorporate other personal values (like quality time with friends or spending time in nature) into your exercise routine?

    Michele Stillinger's avatar
    Michele Stillinger 4/23/2021 11:47 AM
    Okay, this has been the hardest to do.  I'm so exhausted from teaching that I just want to crash on the couch.  I'm looking forward to better weather and getting outside which will improve my exercise.  I'm starting by joining a dog training class, at least my dog will get a workout!

  • Michele Stillinger's avatar
    Michele Stillinger 4/23/2021 11:44 AM
    I'm so please some of my students got involved in the challenge this year.  It has been a rough semester for everyone with Covid and trying to learn (and teach) online, that this year's challenge kind of took a backseat.

  • Michele Stillinger's avatar
    Michele Stillinger 4/23/2021 11:43 AM
    I haven't been too good with all my goals this week.  I could do a lot more.  I need to tackle some of my larger action goals like contacting my legislators and energy company.