Emerson Manila

The hard, or rather awkward, part of this challenge was remembering to tell clerks or cashiers not to give me bags anymore and just put it in the tote bag I brought. This challenge helped me reduce both plastic and paper bag consumption.

I learned that mass producing certain food types like beef, tuna and imported processed foods necessitates destroying forests and oceans and also results in a lot of greenhouse gas emissions. I now support more of our local whole foods and research suppliers that utilize sustainable production.

Another Ecochallenge member shared about how difficult it was to get clean water in rural areas. I felt that using water wisely when bathing and washing dishes, reusing water, and also inspecting and fixing leaks are activities that I have naturally incorporated into my daily routine now.

I decided before Ecochallenge to reduce my daily intake but taking this as a task made me feel accountable to my teammates. The most challenging part is when I am in an environment or location that has a lot of sugary treats for sale. Knowing the consequence of eating too much sugar helps me stay away from them. So far my skin looks better and...

Sharing tips about food, rest, exercise, and mindfulness and also reading other people's tips made this a fun daily activity, and knowing other people are able to make small changes from the health tips they read makes it feel important.

Tip for better sleep: Establish a consistent sleep schedule. Try to go to bed and wake up around the same time every day, even on weekends. This helps regulate your body's natural sleep-wake cycle (circadian rhythm) and can make it easier to fall asleep and wake up feeling refreshed.

Staying cool and sustainable during hot weather involves minimizing energy consumption while keeping yourself and your home comfortable. This can be achieved by utilizing natural ventilation, shade, and energy-efficient cooling methods, as well as making conscious choices about clothing, food, and activities.

Food containers and packaging are the largest component of the municipal solid waste stream (80 million tons or 31.7 %).2 These items, together with plastic bags, also represent the largest component of marine debris (that is, barring items less than 5mm such as pre-production plastic pellets, fragments, and polystyrene pieces).3 Packaging and...

Seizing the day to reflect this Black Saturay. Reflecting on my excesses and what I need to work on. Today, I spent quality time with my daughter. Together, we cleaned and repurposed an old plant rack to make it a tiny home for her kittens. This is also a good time to declutter and see what can spark joy for others by donating some good but...

Connecting with nature gives me time to reconnect with myself. The rustling of the tree, birds/crickets chirping, the sound of a flowing stream drowns the loud and messy thoughts in my head. Today, i hiked and I feel physically and mentally better. A good kind of tired it is.