Ecochallenge.org

Drawdown Ecochallenge

Ashley Rodriguez

Mace MidWest

"Health is Wealth"

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
291 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

375

minutes

spent exercising
UP TO

392

minutes

being mindful
UP TO

27

more servings

of fruits and vegetables
UP TO

150

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

60

minutes

spent outdoors
UP TO

1.0

donation

made

Ashley's actions

Industry

Practice the 5 R's

Recycling

I will Practice the "5 Rs" — refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose, and recycle — to reduce my waste more than I can with just recycling alone.

COMPLETED 7
DAILY ACTIONS

Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks

Smart Seafood Choices

Ocean Farming

I will visit seafoodwatch.org or download the app and commit to making better seafood choices for a healthier ocean.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health and Education

Research Barriers to Participation and Representation

Health and Education

I will spend at least 60 minutes learning more about the barriers to women's equal participation and representation around the world.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Healing & Renewal

Explore My Area

Sometimes protecting nature requires feeling connected to nature. I will invest 120 minutes in exploring and appreciating a natural area in my region, whether a forest, wetland, coastal area, or somewhere else.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Smaller Portions

Reduced Food Waste

I will use smaller plates and/or serve smaller portions when dishing out food.

COMPLETED 6
DAILY ACTIONS

Health and Education

Fund Family Planning

Health and Education

I will donate to supply a community with reproductive health supplies.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Healing & Renewal

Go for a Daily Walk

Walkable Cities

I will take a walk for 45 minutes each day and take note of the infrastructure that makes walking more or less enjoyable, accessible, and possible.

COMPLETED 7
DAILY ACTIONS

Action Track: Healing & Renewal

Eat Mindfully

I will eat all of my meals without distractions, e.g., phone, computer, TV, or newspaper.

COMPLETED 7
DAILY ACTIONS

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

More Fruits And Veggies

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

COMPLETED 7
DAILY ACTIONS

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Support Women-Owned Businesses

Sustainable Intensification for Smallholders

I will shop from women-owned business(es) today.

COMPLETED 5
DAILY ACTIONS

Transportation

Test Drive an Electric Bike

Electric Bicycles

I will test drive an electric bike at a local distributor to see if it makes sense to use one in place of my car, or to extend the area I can cover by bike.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Explore Other Transportation Solutions

All Transportation Solutions

I will spend at least 60 minutes researching other Drawdown Transportation Solutions.

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
Industry Practice the 5 R's

What are some more "R's" you could add to your daily practice to reduce your waste?

Ashley Rodriguez 3/16/2021 5:42 PM

Honestly I've always questioned recycling, not the benefit of it, but the ability for people to do it correctly. I've seen many office recycling programs where people would put microwaveable meal trays, full Starbucks cups with liquid in them, or compostable containers in the recycling bin (none of these are recyclable). I do recycle the small bit of aluminum we produce, but other than that I try to just reduce the amount of plastic I buy (not using plastic produce bags at the store, bringing my cup at Starbucks, and using reusable containers to store meals). I think making an effort to avoid using extra materials goes a long way.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Transportation Test Drive an Electric Bike

Half of all trips made in the US are three miles or less; 72% of them are driven. Private vehicles account for 60% of trips of a mile or less. Do you often drive short distances instead of biking or walking? If so, how might incorporating an electric bike into your lifestyle help you make more climate-friendly choices?

Ashley Rodriguez 3/16/2021 5:37 PM

Real talk, the electric Divvy bikes in downtown Chicago ARE FAST. It cost me less than $3 to get from the lakefront to West Loop and it took under 15 minutes. Compared to how expensive Ubers have been at off-peak hours (over $20!) It's my new go-to...Just keep your hand on the brakes!

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Action Track: Healing & Renewal Eat Mindfully

Mindful eating is healthier for us than eating with distractions. How does your eating experience differ when practicing mindfulness?

Ashley Rodriguez 3/16/2021 5:34 PM

I find that I enjoy my food less when I'm eating in a rush. I've been trying to block out 45 minutes from 12-1PM to take a break from working and eat. I find this time also helps me recall things that might need following-up or questions I might have for my colleagues.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Action Track: Healing & Renewal Go for a Daily Walk

What have you noticed on your daily walks? What have you enjoyed? What infrastructure changes could make your walks more enjoyable or possible?

Ashley Rodriguez 3/16/2021 5:33 PM

I've started taking short videos of my daily walks and collecting them on my Instagram. It definitely lowers stress/anxiety levels to appreciate living in the city and get some activity in.

Read More