Lisa Yan

"I have been interested in sustainability from a young age, but sometimes lack the motivation to persist in sustainable practices due to the apathy I perceive from those around me. I hope to strengthen my persistence and continually recommit myself to being more sustainable in my daily habits and practices, starting with reducing plastic use, considering before purchasing, and planning ahead to reduce food waste "

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
219 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

20

minutes

being mindful
UP TO

10

minutes

spent learning

Lisa's actions

Transportation

Use Muscle Power

Multiple Transportation Solutions

I will cut my car trip mileage by only taking necessary trips, and I will only use muscle-powered transportation for all other trips.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

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 2
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 1
DAILY ACTION

Industry

Reduce Single-Use Disposables

Bioplastics

I will avoid buying and using 1 single-use plastics and instead replace them with durable options.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

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 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Industry

Learn About & Practice Sustainable Fashion

Multiple Industry Solutions

I will learn about sustainable fashion and begin trying to practice it in my own life.

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

What are some more "R's" you could add to your daily practice to reduce your waste?
Lisa Yan 2/04/2023 2:47 PM
While I think I have taken more strides to reduce my waste in the past few years, I think there is always more that I can do. Since becoming a college student, I have noticed that I eat out more and get take out more often than when I was at home. One thing that I frequently forget to note is to refuse utensils, especially for take out, because I have utensils at home. I also try to bring my own utensils to places that do not use reusable utensils, but I also have to remember to refuse the utensils! I could also do a better job of figuring out how to repurpose items. I know that there are many uses for glass jars, but sometimes I save them for a while and then end up throwing them away anyway because I learn that I do not actually know what to do with them. Repurposing these containers and giving them a second life can be both sustainable and a fun activity! Lastly, I hope to get better at repairing items. It is frequently easier to just throw things away and get a new one, but it could also be fun and useful to learn how to repair things.

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- Lambert Kong 2/12/2023 8:47 PM
  Hi Lisa, I completely agree with your thoughts on reducing waste and being more environmentally conscious. I also have noticed that I often eat out more and buy takeout food, which often leads to more waste. Refusing utensils and bringing our own to places without reusable ones is a great step in reducing waste. Also, repurposing items like glass jars and repairing things instead of replacing them is a wonderful idea to reduce waste and be sustainable. It's great to see that you are taking active steps towards reducing waste and being more environmentally conscious.
  
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- Seyi Adekoya 2/09/2023 5:16 PM
  Hi Lisa! One way that I started "reducing" in the past few years was by getting more reusable items around my home. My friend recently introduced me to reusable ziplock bags that I frequently use to store food in my fridge, which are awesome! They are honestly a little tedious to clean but they are very fun to grab out of the drawer. The other way I've reduced is by getting reusable grocery bags! When I lived in Phoenix last year I was grocery shopping a lot and I ended up with an enormous collection of plastic bags in a drawer in my kitchen. I didn't really know what to do with them but I decided that I very much needed to stop collecting these bags, so I bought the reusable ones. I'm very happy with them because they're very sturdy AND no more piles of plastic bags. I do sometimes forget my reusable bags when I go to the store, but I'll opt for paper or just bring them home without bags.
  
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- Sydney Wada 2/06/2023 4:17 PM
  Hi Lisa, I love the idea of repairing and repurposing old items, because I think it adds a level of creativity as well! I really like to keep every glass bottle or jar I can and put a plant in every one of them. Sometimes with soil and sometimes I will just propagate them which looks really nice as well. Old wood from furniture is also a good way to store all of these little jars, by making shelves or stands. Some of the coolest home decorations and furniture I have seen have all been upcycled or restored pieces, and I have a lot of respect for those who put the time and energy into doing that, since it does not lead to waste.
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Industry

How can you express your personality, creativity, and values in ways that don't require fast fashion or buying more clothes and accessories?
Lisa Yan 2/04/2023 2:34 PM
In the past, I feel that I was not a particularly avid consumer, and I frequently would tell my friends that I did not enjoy shopping. As such, I typically would just wear the same few t-shirts on rotation with a pair of leggings or jeans and a hoodie. It wasn't until I entered UCLA that I became more cognizant of my fashion sense, as I tried to figure out what was comfortable for me while still displaying my own unique sense of self. During the pandemic, I, like many others, turned more to sweatpants and leggings, clothing with stretchy material and waistbands to accommodate the "quarantine weight." I looked into more sustainable clothing brands, eventually stumbling across Girlfriend Collective, which aims to turn plastic bottles into leggings and other activewear. They had a smaller collection of clothing at the time, which aligned with their vision of reducing waste and creating clothing mindfully. Their clothes, however, were still on the more expensive side for a college student, so I still purchased clothing from fast fashion sources. Nevertheless, I still try to limit these purchases and deeply consider how often I will wear a piece of clothing before purchasing it, especially if it is from a fast fashion brand. In general, I think I try to carry these values and beliefs about fashion: purchasing from more sustainable brands when I can (when it is within my budget limits), ensuring that I know I will actually wear something before purchasing it (this is also the reason why I frequently stand in the store for 30-40 minutes before deciding to purchase an article of clothing), and choosing classic wardrobe staples that will mix and match with multiple items. Besides, having the creativity to create thoughtful outfits with the same articles of clothing is more fun than buying clothes that you can only wear once or with a specific article of clothing.

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- Reese Kubo 2/05/2023 12:04 AM
  Hi Lisa! I am like you in that I don't consider myself to be a big consumer. I have always been pretty conscientious about my spending, but it is great to put into perspective the wastefulness that exists outside of money for the consumer. I found it very relatable to hear about the struggle between a more expensive, sustainable clothing choice or a cheaper, fast-fashion choice. I would usually think, "I could probably find this exact piece of clothing somewhere else for much less" but I would not highly consider where or how the article of clothing was made. I have also been more stringent when it comes to deciding what clothing I want to buy. If I don't immediately love it (or picture it fitting in with more than just one outfit in my wardrobe) I usually decide to put it back. Because I am also a college student, buying from sustainable brands has usually not been within my budget for new clothing, but I want to try out and learn about environmentally and ethically-made clothing. I took a look at Girlfriend Collective and could totally see myself supporting this brand, not only for its mission and production but for how stylish the clothing looks!
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Action Track: Healing & Renewal

Mindful eating is healthier for us than eating with distractions. How does your eating experience differ when practicing mindfulness?
Lisa Yan 1/30/2023 11:48 PM
When practicing mindfulness while eating, I am able to enjoy eating more fully as opposed to just using it as a way to gain energy for the day or a way to pass the time when I am bored. While I have had difficulty in the past with just eating without my phone or a book, I try to take breaks and look out the window or up at the sky, especially when I am eating on campus between classes. This helps me to appreciate being in nature and give my eyes a rest for a little bit. It also helps to regulate how much I eat, as I will feel full earlier and eat less than I would if I had to scarf it all down in five minutes. Therefore, I will be less likely to overeat as well.

In a course I took last quarter, Life Skills for College Students, we did a mindful eating activity in the class, in which we were guided by a recording to feel the different textures and notice the different tastes and tones of the snack. I have tried to implement this as a eating habit, but it can be difficult when I have little time as a student. However, I do notice that I am more relaxed and less anxious after using this mindful eating technique.

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- Norah Gidanian 2/01/2023 11:17 AM
  Hi Lisa,
  
  I also practiced mindful eating a couple of days ago and it has completely changed the way I viewed my eating habits and allowed me to appreciate my food a lot more. Me and my roommates decided that at least twice a week we would all eat together and practice mindful eating by putting our phones away. We all realized that, like you said, we were more mindful of what we were eating and our eating habits actually slowed down. The meal was a lot more enjoyable and I was able to engage in meaningful conversations during dinner as well. It also calmed my nerves because I felt like it gave me a break from constantly doing something. My brain was able to just relax and think about random things instead of constantly being overstimulated. I am excited to continue mindful eating practices in the future.
  
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- HRIPSIME DUMANYAN 1/31/2023 8:32 AM
  While eating I always find myself distracted, not being able to focus on the moment. While practicing mindfulness I believe I am calmer and can focus on the moment rather than trying to find a show on Netflix to distract myself and entertain myself for the 20-30 minutes that I am eating. I am used to eating with other people and having a conversation at the same time, but practicing mindfulness helps me to be at peace with myself.
  
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Lisa Yan 1/21/2023 6:32 PM
I would consider myself to be more familiar with public transportation systems compared to others my own age, especially as I grew up with using public transportation from a young age. Due to a multitude of factors, including my mom disliking driving in general and my parents' disinterest in paying for car insurance for a teenager, many of my teenage years were spent using the bus, light rail, BART, or carpooling with friends. In high school, I remember being utterly frustrated by the lack of bus reliability, especially as I would have to stay after school for various extracurricular activities. I remember distinctly having band practice end at 5:30, but the last bus home arriving at 5:35, which frequently meant that I would be running to the bus stop, only to miss the last bus because it left early or we got out of practice late. When I moved to LA, I had little understanding of the public transportation here, although I was vaguely aware of the car-centric culture. Although I began navigating the Metro system in my freshman year, COVID ultimately cut most experiences short. When I returned last year, I began to depend more heavily on public transportation, whether that meant taking Metro to go to a coffee shop to study or the Big Blue Bus to volunteer in Santa Monica. I also took the commuter bus to volunteer in Downtown LA, which often took over an hour one way. Despite the annoyances, frustration, and sometimes feelings of being unsafe with public transportation, I still value, appreciate, and use it despite now having a car. Especially after a lieu of car troubles in the past few months, I am thankful that public transportation exists. This past week even, I only drove once to go to work (as I had a night shift); I opted to walk to the grocery store after class and chose to take the bus to a coffee shop (which also saves the hassle of having to figure out parking limitations). I have also chosen to take the stairs more often, which hopefully is helping me to get into better shape. Although I am grateful for the option of having a car for when I am in a quick bind or for when I have work, I hope to incorporate more sustainable practices into moving from one place to another.

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- Kiran Singh 1/22/2023 9:12 AM
  Wow, it is great that you have been immersed in the ways of public transportation at such an early age. I think that a lot of people will agree (including me) that the major cons of public transportation are reliability and time commitment. Taking public transportation regularly requires planning, but eventually people can develop a daily schedule and the hassle will disappear (this depends on availability, however). I think this is especially useful in bigger cities like LA, SF, or NYC. There are definitely benefits as you mentioned, like not having to deal with maintaining a car, parking, or worrying about your car getting damaged/stolen. I will say that smaller towns do not have the best public transportation (I grew up in a smaller town). Nonetheless, I learned about it at an early age as I remember taking a field trip using public transportation when I was in kindergarten. In addition, smaller towns are physically smaller usually and walking or biking to destinations is very doable (and good for your health). Overall, cars are helpful if there is a lack of planning involved or for potential safety reasons, but a switch to public transportation or walking/biking can occur after some planning to establish a routine.
  
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Lisa Yan 1/17/2023 8:36 AM
Although we collectively learn from a young age that recycling is a better method of disposal compared to simply throwing it in the trash, it is important to shift to thinking about preventing the production of excess things. When possible, I would refuse single use cutlery and straws in restaurants. I also think critically about what items to purchase (which often results in me standing in the store for 30 minutes thinking about if I will actually use/wear the item), as well as the quality of the item and whether it will last me a long time. Overall, I hope to start at the root of the source with reducing my waste instead of relying on disposal methods (which are notorious for being inefficient anyway).

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