Katie O'Shea

"Too often, my environmentalism is stifled by my laziness. My mission with eco-challenge is to hold myself more accountable and take on the tasks I have been putting off in order to do my part to make my life greener."

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
121 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

3.0

plastic straws

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

3.0

disposable cups

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

4.0

meatless or vegan meals

consumed

Katie's actions

Water

5-Minute Showers

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

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Use a Reusable Mug

I will avoid sending 3 disposable cup(s) to the landfill each day by using a reusable mug.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Skip the Straw

Plastic bags and small plastic pieces like straws are most likely to get swept into our waterways. I will keep 3 plastic straw(s) out of the landfill and ocean each day by refusing straws or using my own glass/metal straw.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Compost Food Waste

I will avoid sending up to .69 lbs (.31 kg) of food waste to the landfill each day by composting my food or learning how to.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Reduce Animal Products

I will enjoy 2 meatless meal(s) and/or 2 vegan meal(s) each day this week.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

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
Waste Skip the Straw

How could you incorporate other "R's" -- reduce, reuse, refuse, repair, repurpose, etc. -- into your lifestyle?

Katie O'Shea 10/16/2019 8:41 AM

Well lately I've been keeping my cardboard, paper, plastic, cloth scraps, etc. and putting it in my craft bin for later usage. I've already used this cardboard and extra paper to make booklets for journaling and have made a few scrunchies out of old sweaters that were unwearable. I think I need to do a bit more refusing with my R's though, so this straw challenge was a good step towards being more aware of what I'm consuming in the first place.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Waste Use a Reusable Mug

Maybe you've heard how good it is to switch from a single use coffee cup to a reusable one, but it's just hard to make the switch. What stands in your way of making this a habit? By identifying the challenges, you can begin to work through them to have better success in taking this action. Knowing the difference you are making, how does it make you feel?

Katie O'Shea 10/16/2019 8:38 AM

I think the only thing that stood in the way of making this a habit was going out and buying a reusable mug. Once I did that it feels kind of nice to go to Starbucks and already have a cup thats mine, also it doesn't hurt that I'll usually get more drink than I pay for when I bring in my own cup.

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- James Sadler 10/16/2019 9:15 AM
  
  As a Starbucks barista, I can personally verify this. When people like you come in with their own mug, I am honestly so much nicer to them in general, and will either just charge for a refill (only $.55!) or charge for the smallest size regardless of how much they want in their mug. (Disclaimer: I am never mean to a customer who forgets their mug, I just like to encourage this sort of action in the long-term through small rewards to my customers who are cognizant of their role in cutting down on waste).
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Reduce Animal Products

Why do people in richer countries eat more meat than people in other places? How does eating more meat affect our planet and other people?

Katie O'Shea 10/16/2019 8:36 AM

I think meat is more readily accessible for people in richer countries, which leads to a disconnect with where the meat is coming from. We eat more and know less about the effort that goes into procuring meat.

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- Olivia Gagnon 10/16/2019 10:46 AM
  
  I agree, Katie! I think we see a complete disconnect from production to consumption in this country. It is really discouraging, not only to be frustrated with a society like this, but also knowing how it affects others around the world.
  
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Katie O'Shea 10/14/2019 5:27 PM

I've been lazy with my straw usage! I should be acting better so I'm challenging myself to forgo the straw from now on no matter how convenient they might be. I am looking into a portable, reusable straw as I type!

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- Lydia Connolly 10/14/2019 7:08 PM
  
  Hi Katie, I agree with you and I have been trying to cut down on my single-use plastic as well! I'm finding it hard especially when I'm on-the-go, but I'm trying to start using reusable cups and straws too!
  
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