Erik Smith

Dickinson Green Devils 2022

"Cheat code: if we overthrow global state capitalism during Ecochallenge, we all win instantly"

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
1,000 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

6.0

disposable cups

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

180

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

120

minutes

spent outdoors
UP TO

771

minutes

being mindful
UP TO

1,135

minutes

not spent in front of a screen

Erik's actions

Nature

Explore My Area

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Plant an Herb Garden

I will plant an herb garden in my home, workplace, or dorm room.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Simplicity

Meditate

I will meditate or create a moment of silence for 10 minute(s) each day to reflect on things important to me.

COMPLETED 5
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Find Local Recycling Depots

I will find out where to recycle the recyclable items that I can't put in recycling dumpsters or my curbside bin.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health

Reduce refined sugar

I will keep track and reduce my consumption of refined sugars, including sweetened beverages, candy, and processed foods.

COMPLETED 21
DAILY ACTIONS

Simplicity

Track my Purchases

I will spend 5 minutes each day maintaining a record of all my purchases and learning about my spending habits.

COMPLETED 21
DAILY ACTIONS

Simplicity

Limit Social Media

I will limit my social media use to once each day reducing my daily use by 60 minute(s)

COMPLETED 21
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Research Restorative Justice

I will spend 30 minutes learning about restorative justice and conflict resolution opportunities in my own community or state.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Simplicity

Eat Mindfully

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

COMPLETED 20
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Use a Reusable Mug

I will avoid sending 1 disposable cup(s) to the landfill each day by using a reusable mug.

COMPLETED 14
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?

Erik Smith 4/21/2022 12:12 PM

We made it! Congrats everyone, don't forget to check out the festivities in town for Earth Day tomorrow and Saturday!

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Erik Smith 4/20/2022 9:55 AM

Looking like I can break 1k points tomorrow if I'm doing my math right! >.>

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Erik Smith 4/18/2022 10:05 AM

It's been going by fast! I can't believe it's almost over, not sure if that reflects how well I've worked many of these tasks into my day, or just how stressed I've been the past few weeks...

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Simplicity Meditate

What would you like to invest more time in reflecting on?

Erik Smith 4/18/2022 10:03 AM

I used to meditate every morning, now I keep thinking "eh, I'll start doing it again eventually". I'm going to try fulfilling this task for the last 3 days of ecochallenge, hope I can hold myself to that!!!

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- Lindsey Lyons 4/19/2022 7:46 AM
  
  DO IT ERIK!
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Nature Explore My Area

How might spending more time outdoors enhance your brainpower?

Erik Smith 4/17/2022 10:50 AM

I thought this would be hard since I've already hiked lots of the areas around here, but somehow I missed a big system out north of Mechanicsburg and Camp Hill. Had a great hike on the Appalachian Trail connection to the Cumberland Valley Overlook, which is beautiful, along with Sophia. It's been a stressful few weeks academically and despite many hikes in the past, I'm still shocked at just how much it can help me get out of my head and relax while staying energetic!

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Erik Smith 4/15/2022 9:39 AM

Very tempted to start trash talking Michael since we're neck and neck, so for future reference if I post something here along those lines it's just for fun (and maybe some points). And it will definitely involve a bee pun or two

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- Neil Leary 4/15/2022 3:17 PM
  
  Bee gentle with your trash talk and lace it with honey.
  
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Erik Smith 4/13/2022 9:54 AM

As my senior capstones near completion, it's getting harder and harder to fulfill my daily goals, which makes me grateful for and more aware of those that I've already managed to, at least in part, work into my daily routine.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Community Research Restorative Justice

How can Restorative Justice help foster the well-being of both people and planet?

Erik Smith 4/12/2022 7:31 PM

Restorative justice supports communities by engaging all stakeholders in conflicts and wrongdoing. Punitive justice systems remove the offender from "civilized society's" few, casting them aside as carelessly as we do a plastic bag - out of sight, out of mind. In the end, this ruins trust and erodes communities, not to mention the horrible treatment inmates suffer. This idea is more widespread than I thought; PA has statewide programs for it, and it is an express focus of their juvenile justice system. I just wish we could admit that adults can be wrong too - about a lot more than just harming others. A little humility goes a long way in climate action, and the hierarchical, divisive relations of punitive justice do nothing to promote this; restorative justice shows us how our actions affect others and treat wrongs as an opportunity for learning and growth, not merely a reason to send someone out of sight.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Plant an Herb Garden

Consider the ways you can garden: a plot of land? a patio container? hanging basket? windowsill gardens? What would work best for your living situation and lifestyle?

Erik Smith 4/09/2022 12:41 PM

I just got a few herbs from the greenhouse plant sale for my windowsill. It also happened to be an awesome community exercise - I got the pots and some fungicidal bacteria from local gardeners through Buy Nothing, a gift economy run through Facebook groups, and the plants were gifted too because the greenhouse was trying to get rid of as many as they can! I'm saving resources in the future AND preventing waste now... Reducing consumption really doesn't have to be so hard :)

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Health Reduce refined sugar

Before you started this challenge, did you think you were 'addicted' to sugar? How do you feel now?

Erik Smith 4/08/2022 9:35 AM

I knew sugars could be addictive in a sense, and that I ate a lot of them, but I figured it wasn't a big deal with my metabolism and thought I could "stop anytime". It's just about impossible to totally cut out added/refined sugars at school since I don't always cook for myself, but I've definitely reduced them and it's helped with my energy levels more than lots of other interventions I've been trying lately. Looking at nutrition labels actually helps now, instead of just feeling like a guilt trip! I also realized a lot of my sugar intake came from cravings before bed, and that regardless of what I eat before bed, it keeps my system awake so I wake up even hungrier... So I've stopped eating snacks after 8, which has helped in lots of ways as well.

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