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October 14 - October 28, 2016
Isaac Frank's avatar

Isaac Frank

Boly:Welch Be:Well

"To calm, focus, be more intentional, become more aware, and to reach out and help."

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 1,401 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    2.9
    pounds of paper
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    1,560
    minutes
    spent outdoors
  • UP TO
    10
    miles
    traveled by bike
  • UP TO
    2.0
    conversations
    with people
  • UP TO
    16
    pounds of CO2
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    21
    people
    helped
  • UP TO
    3.0
    lightbulbs
    replaced
  • UP TO
    5.0
    hours
    volunteered
  • UP TO
    75
    miles
    traveled by foot
  • UP TO
    7.0
    neighbors
    met
  • UP TO
    14
    disposable cups
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    900
    minutes
    not spent in front of a screen
  • UP TO
    42
    zero-waste meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    10
    pounds
    waste composted
  • UP TO
    10
    outdoor meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    20
    organic meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    900
    minutes
    spent exercising
  • UP TO
    600
    gallons of water
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    30
    miles
    traveled by bus
  • UP TO
    30
    meatless or vegan meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    420
    minutes
    of additional sleep
  • UP TO
    150
    plastic bottles
    not sent to the landfill

Isaac's actions

Nature

Practice Gratitude for Earth

I will spend 30 minute(s) per day outside, practicing gratitude (prayer, meditation, journaling, etc.) for Earth and the nature surrounding me.

COMPLETED 9
DAILY ACTIONS

Water

Conserve Toilet Water

I will save up to 12 gallons (45 L) of water a day by flushing only when necessary.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

Exercise Daily

I will exercise daily for 60 minute(s) per day for two weeks.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

Eliminate Toxic Plastics

I will avoid buying toxic plastics, including polycarbonate, polystyrene and polyvinyl.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

Healthy Sleep

I will commit to getting 30 more minute(s) of sleep each night to achieve at least 7 hours per night.

COMPLETED 14
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

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 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

Happiness

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

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Water

5-Minute Showers

I will save up to 20 gallons (75 L) of water each day.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

Audit Toxic Products In My Home

I will research toxic chemicals found in cleaning supplies and personal care products and remove them from my home.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health

Know My Health

I will get my Core Four Biometrics tests (blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and BMI).

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health

Avoid Refined Sugar

I will adopt a diet free of refined sugars, which eliminates sweetened beverages, candy, and processed foods.

COMPLETED 14
DAILY ACTIONS

Water

Install a Low-Flow Showerhead

I will save up to 15 gallons (56 L) of water a day.

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

Nature

Leave No Trace

I will practice the seven principles of leave no trace when doing nature activities alone or with family and friends.

COMPLETED 4
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Share my Actions

I will make my environmental actions visible with a lawn sign or bumper sticker, or by posting to my social media networks.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Waste

Needs vs. Wants

I will adopt a "Needs Vs. Wants" approach and only buy things I need.

COMPLETED 11
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Eat Meals Outside

I will eat 1 meal(s) outside each day.

COMPLETED 10
DAILY ACTIONS

Simplicity

Track my Purchases

I will maintain a record of all my purchases.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Choose Two-Sided Printing

I will save up to .21 lbs (.09 kg) of paper per day by switching from one-sided printing to two-sided at work.

COMPLETED 14
DAILY ACTIONS

Transportation

Car Share

I will sign up for a car-sharing service, or organize car sharing with my neighbors, to cut down on the number of vehicles on the road.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Waste

Personal Waste Audit

I will collect all of my unrecyclable, non-compostable trash with me to raise my awareness of how much I send to the landfill.

COMPLETED 13
DAILY ACTIONS

Energy

Adjust the Thermostat

I will adjust my thermostat down 2 degrees from usual when I use the heat, and up 2 degrees when I use air conditioning.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Recycle all Recyclable Materials

I will recycle all materials that are accepted by local haulers or drop stations in my community.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Explore my Area

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Waste

Use a Reusable Mug

I will avoid sending 1 disposable cup(s) to the landfill per day.

COMPLETED 14
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Volunteer in my Community

I will volunteer 5 hour(s) in my community.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Simplicity

Less Screen Time

I will replace 60 minute(s) of screen time per day with other activities.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Simplicity

Go for a Daily Walk

I will take a walk each day.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Use Reusable Containers

I will only use reusable containers for my lunches at work or school.

COMPLETED 14
DAILY ACTIONS

Transportation

Use Public Transit

I will use public transit 2 mile(s) per day and avoid sending up to 0.0 lbs of CO2 into Earth's atmosphere.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Simplicity

De-Clutter my Home

I will de-clutter, clean, and donate or recycle unneeded items in my home.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Weekly Meal Planning

I will reduce food waste and save money by planning a weekly menu, only buying the ingredients I need.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Go Paperless

I will reduce the amount of paper mail that I receive by opting into paperless billing and/or unsubscribing from catalogs.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Zero-Waste Cooking

I will cook 3 meal(s) with zero waste each day.

COMPLETED 14
DAILY ACTIONS

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 per day that I do this.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Energy

Heat and Cool Naturally

I will naturally heat and cool my house, office, or dorm room by opening or closing my windows, curtains, and blinds, and by using fans.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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

Simplicity

Buy Only What I Need

I will not buy anything except items required for health and safety.

COMPLETED 13
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Use a Reusable Water Bottle

I will keep 5 disposable plastic bottle(s) from entering the waste stream.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Write Letters

I will write 1 letter(s) per day to a public official or company to advocate for planet-friendly policies or something else I believe in.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Enjoy the Sunrise/Sunset

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

COMPLETED 14
DAILY ACTIONS

Energy

Choose Clean/Renewable Energy

I will sign up for my utility company's clean/renewable energy option.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Waste

Compost Food Waste

I will avoid sending .69 lbs (.31 kg) of food waste to the landfill per day.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Eat Meatless Meals

I will enjoy 2 meatless meal(s) per day.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Transportation

Just Drive Less

I will cut my car trip mileage by only taking necessary trips.

COMPLETED 14
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Buy in Bulk

I will only purchase bulk food items and avoid all single-package items.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Whole Food Diet

I will enjoy 3 meal(s) per day free of processed foods.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Energy

Disable Screen Savers

I will disable screen savers and will put the computer to sleep instead, saving up to 28% % more energy.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Nature

Go for a Daily Walk

I will take a 40-minute walk outside each day.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Avoid Disposables

I will not use any disposable plates, cups, or cutlery.

COMPLETED 14
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Smart Seafood Choices

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Buy from a Farmers Market

I will purchase produce and meat from a local farmers market or food co-op.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Choose Organic Ingredients

I will enjoy 2 meal(s) cooked with organic ingredients per day.

COMPLETED 10
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Meet my Neighbors

I will meet 1 new neighbor(s) per day.

COMPLETED 7
DAILY ACTIONS

Transportation

Use Muscle Power

I will only use muscle-powered transportation.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Transportation

Advocate for Greener Vehicles

I will assess the vehicles used by my company or college and advocate for a purchasing policy focused on fuel-efficient vehicles.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Waste

Find Local Recycling Depots

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Visit a Local Farm

I will visit a nearby farm to pick my own fruits and veggies.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health

Support Pollution Reduction

I will learn about water and air quality issues in my area, how they are impacting human and environmental health, and how I can help.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Nature

Have Meetings Outside

I will schedule 30 minute(s) of work meetings or phone calls outside each day.

COMPLETED 5
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Buy Food and Water Only

I will not purchase anything but food and water.

COMPLETED 6
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Cook New Recipes

I will cook a new recipe every day that features organic and/or local ingredients.

COMPLETED 8
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Say No to Seafood

I will not eat seafood.

COMPLETED 11
DAILY ACTIONS

Simplicity

Disconnect from Email

I will disconnect from my email when not at work.

COMPLETED 12
DAILY ACTIONS

Simplicity

Have a Garage Sale

I will have a group garage sale with friends, family, and/or neighbors.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Energy

Consider Switching to an Electric Vehicle

Research or test drive an electric car or bike.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Try a New Way to Prep

I will try a new method of food preparation, such as canning, pickling, or baking bread.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Help Others

I will offer to help 3 person(s) who are in need each day.

COMPLETED 7
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Spend Time Outside

I will replace 60 minute(s) per day typically spent inside (computer time, watching television, etc.) with quality time outside.

COMPLETED 9
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

Go Get a Check Up

I will make an appointment for my annual physical.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Simplicity

Work-Life Balance

I will not work more than 8 hour days each day.

COMPLETED 12
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Talk to my Friends

I will decide which social or environmental issue in my community is most important to me and tell 1 friends per day about the issue.

COMPLETED 2
DAILY ACTIONS

Simplicity

Eat Mindfully

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

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Create Your Own Action

Meditation

I will take 30 minutes in the morning to sit in silence and contemplate my day, my goals, my impact on the planet and those around me.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

Take Control

Develop a plan with my medical professionals to achieve my best health and live my life to the fullest.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Water

Use Reusable Bottles

I will use a reusable bottle and stop purchasing bottled water, saving 5 disposable plastic bottle(s) a day.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Water

Brush My Teeth Without Running Water

I will save up to 8 gallons (30 L) of water each day by turning it off while brushing my teeth.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Transportation

Walk Instead

I will walk 5 mile(s) per day instead of driving and avoid sending up to 0.0 lbs of CO2 into Earth's atmosphere.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Energy

Turn it off

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

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Sign a Petition

I will sign a petition in support of an environmental or social initiative in my state.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Waste

Become a Master Recyler/Composter

I will sign up for a Master Recycler/Composter program in my area.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Energy

Choose LED Bulbs

I will replace 3 incandescent lightbulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Go by Bike

I will commute by bike 2 mile(s) per day and avoid sending up to 0.0 lbs of CO2 into Earth's atmosphere.

COMPLETED 5
DAILY ACTIONS

Energy

Switch to Cold Water

I will switch to washing my clothes in cold water, saving up to 1,600 lbs of C02 over the course of the next year.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Simplicity

Limit Social Media

I will limit my social media use to once per day.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Use Reusable Bags

I will not accept any disposable bags when making purchases.

COMPLETED 15
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?


  • Isaac Frank's avatar
    Isaac Frank 10/28/2016 11:53 AM
    actually really impressed with myself, my office, and the EcoChallenge overall. It's truly an incredible thing to take two weeks and make all of these changes. Small, consistent change really has a massive impact when put together. 

  • Isaac Frank's avatar
    Isaac Frank 10/27/2016 3:56 PM
    It get's easier! The better aware you become of how you treat your body, the more aware you can be about your surroundings and consequences of your actions.

  • Isaac Frank's avatar
    Isaac Frank 10/26/2016 10:13 AM
    This has been a pretty intense two weeks. It started with sleep. I used a new part of the iPhone that helps plan out your sleep and reminds you when you said you were going to go to bed. So I went to bed earlier. And was able to get get up earlier. And then I found a morning routine that allowed me some time to contemplate my day. I began writing down some thoughts, struggles, gratefulness... and drink a cup of tea. But after that, I realized the time I didn't waste laying in bed scrolling through Facebook and Instram left me with oodles of extra time. The first day I went for a 5 mile run. Something I haven't done since a big race in August. The next day I downloaded an app that helped me focus in the gym. I realized that if I didn't waste my morning routine or have my phone in my bedroom, so many other healthy opportunities presented themselves. I deleted the social media apps on my phone and deactivated my FB. It was like a big sigh of relief. I've successfully used almost every morning to focus on breathing and focus on a small positive idea for my day. I stopped drinking coffee because I'm getting enough sleep, go for a walk in the afternoon, and prepare my meals after my workout. I'm trying to figure out how to keep this up, but it does seem so fantastic that so many pieces have fallen into place. 

  • Isaac Frank's avatar
    Isaac Frank 10/19/2016 11:23 AM
    Today marks 6 days of this challenge. And WHOA, talk about changes. Even my chiropractor asked me what I've been doing different because my joints were so less stressed. A bit more purposeful with sleep, a focused routine in the morning including meditating, preparing my meals for the day, eating healthier, spending more time reading and less time on my phone... I wish I could do more! I'm loving this opportunity to not only make beneficial changes in my life, but changes in how I interact with my world!