Tyler Dorn is participating in the Campus Ecochallenge!

Tyler's points

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
276 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

400

minutes

not spent in front of a screen
UP TO

285

minutes

spent exercising
UP TO

121

minutes

spent learning

Tyler's actions

Simplicity

Reflect on My Needs Versus Wants

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

COMPLETED 13
DAILY ACTIONS

Simplicity

Go for a Daily Walk

I will take a walk each day to clear my mind, get some fresh air, and support my physical and mental health as a student.

COMPLETED 13
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

Learn More about Food Apartheid

I will spend 30 minutes learning about food apartheid and find out how I can advocate for healthy and fresh food in my region.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health

Audit Toxic Products In My Living Space

Many common products contain harmful chemicals. I will spend 30 minutes researching chemicals found in products I use, and I will make a list of products I'd like to replace with safer options.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health

Support Pollution Reduction in My Area

I will spend 60 minutes learning 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

Health

Learn About Local Environmental Justice Concerns

Environmental issues often impact marginalized communities the most. I will spend 60 minutes researching environmental justice concerns in my region, who is affected by them, and local initiatives to address these concerns.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Simplicity

Think About My Core Values

We may find more meaning and joy in life when our actions are aligned with our personal values. I will determine what my top 3-5 core values are so that I can better align my actions with them.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Simplicity

Track My Purchases and Spending Habits

I will spend 20 minutes each day maintaining a record of all my purchases and learning about my spending habits.

COMPLETED 13
DAILY ACTIONS

Simplicity

Limit Social Media Use and Reflect About My Experience

I will limit my social media use to once per day and share the impact I see and reflections I have on the feed.

COMPLETED 13
DAILY ACTIONS

Simplicity

Find or Join a Local Sharing Economy

I will research tool libraries and other sharing economy organizations in my area and rent or borrow instead of buy next time I need something they offer.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Participant Feed

Tyler Dorn 4/28/2026 9:52 AM

Participating in the Eco Challenge activities was honestly more challenging than I expected it to be because it made me be consistently mindful of habits I usually don’t think twice about. Reflecting on needs vs. wants was especially new for me, since I tend to make quick decisions without questioning whether something is truly necessary. Limiting social media also felt difficult at first because it’s such a normal part of my daily routine. Even going on a daily walk, wich sounds simple, became a challenge on days that are busy or I am just unmotivated, forcing me to be more intentional with my time.
Through these activities, I learned a couple of important things. First, I realized how often my spending is driven by impulse rather than actual need, especially when I started tracking my purchases more closely. This made me more aware of how small, seemingly little purchases can add up over time. Second, I leared that reducing social media use can significantly improve my focus and overall mood. I noticed that when I spent less time scrolling, I was more mentally present and productive throughout the day.

One specific time I discovered how much I actually value time outdoors. During my daily walks, I started to appreciate small details like the weather, sounds, and surroundings that I normally ignore. It became less of a task and more of a break that I looked forward to. I also discovered patterns in my spending, like buying snacks and energy drinks or unnecessary items out of boredom rather than hunger or need.

I also had a few conversations with others about these changes. I talked with friends about cuttind down on social media, and some of them told me that they felt the same way but hadn’t cut down on their time yet. I also discussed my spending habits with my parents, which led to conversations about budgeting and being more intentional with my money. These discussions helped me realized that everything I was learning was important and made the experience feel more meaningful.

Read More