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Benjamin Jakabcsin's avatar

Benjamin Jakabcsin

Nature, God, and Social Justice 2023

Points Total

  • 0 Today
  • 0 This Week
  • 2,427 Total

Participant Impact

  • up to
    25
    meatless or vegan meals
    consumed
  • up to
    190
    pounds of CO2
    have been saved
  • up to
    265
    minutes
    being mindful
  • up to
    215
    minutes
    not spent in front of a screen
  • up to
    3.3
    pounds of paper
    have been saved
  • up to
    1,420
    gallons of water
    have been saved
  • up to
    140
    minutes
    spent exercising
  • up to
    12
    more servings
    of fruits and vegetables
  • up to
    30
    minutes
    spent outdoors
  • up to
    50
    minutes
    spent learning

Benjamin'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

Health

Support Pollution Reduction

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning about water and air quality issues in my area, how they are impacting human and environmental health, and how I can help.

Uncompleted
One-Time Action

Health

Go get a check up

I will make an appointment for my annual physical.

Uncompleted
One-Time Action

Health

Learn More about Food Apartheid

What can lack of access to nutritious food affect a community? How can having access to nutritious food help a community become more resilient?

Uncompleted
One-Time Action

Energy

Learn About Renewable Energy

I will spend 30 minutes learning more about renewable energy alternatives (i.e. solar, wind, biomass) in my region.

Uncompleted
One-Time Action

Energy

Switch to Cold Water

I will switch to washing my clothes in cold water, saving up to 133 lbs of CO2 a month and 1,600 lbs of CO2 over the course of the next year.

Completed
One-Time Action

Community

Research Restorative Justice

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

Uncompleted
One-Time Action

Community

SIGN UP TO VOTE

I will make sure I’m registered to vote. While I’m at it, I’ll sign up to help others register too!

Completed
One-Time Action

Simplicity

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

Health

Know My health

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

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

Food

Plant an Herb Garden

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

Completed
One-Time Action

Waste

Go Paperless

I will reduce the amount of paper mail that I receive by 0.11lbs (0.05kg) a day or 3.3lbs (1.6kg) a month by opting into paperless billing, ending unwanted subscriptions and opting out of junk mail.

Completed
One-Time Action

Waste

RESEARCH LOCAL WASTE SITES

I will spend 20 minutes finding out where landfills and/or toxic waste sites are situated in my region and which communities are most impacted by these sites.

Completed
One-Time Action

Transportation

Stay on the Ground

Instead of traveling by plane, I will find an alternative way to accomplish the goals of an upcoming trip (i.e. telepresence, vacation locally).

Completed
One-Time Action

Simplicity

Disconnect from Email

I will disconnect from my email when not at work or school, using my personal time for endeavors that help me live out my values.

COMPLETED 2
DAILY ACTIONS

Simplicity

Go For A Daily Walk Outside

I will take a walk outside for 15 minutes each day.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Simplicity

Meditate

I will meditate or create a moment of silence for 5 minute(s) each day to reflect on things important to me.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Health

Joyful Movement

I will spend 15 minutes doing an activity where I'm both moving my body and enjoying myself.

COMPLETED 3
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

More Fruits and Veggies

I will eat a heart healthy diet by adding 2 cup(s) of fruits and vegetables each day to achieve at least 4 cups per day.

COMPLETED 6
DAILY ACTIONS

Simplicity

Less Screen Time

I will replace 10 minute(s) of screen time each day with other activities.

COMPLETED 10
DAILY ACTIONS

Water

5-Minute Showers

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

COMPLETED 71
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Reduce Animal Products

I will enjoy 1 meatless meal(s) and/or 0 vegan meal(s) each day this week.

COMPLETED 19
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

Practice Loving-Kindness Meditation

I will spend 15 minutes practicing Loving-Kindness Meditation to nurture love and compassion for myself and others.

COMPLETED 16
DAILY ACTIONS

Feed

  • Reflection Question
    Nature Explore My Area
    How might spending more time outdoors enhance your brainpower?

    Benjamin Jakabcsin's avatar
    Benjamin Jakabcsin 5/01/2023 8:21 PM
    While I'm unsure about enhancing, the experience was very refreshing. It was a nice break from studying for finals.
  • Reflection Question
    Health Know My health
    How do you deal with the physical and emotional stress of the big problems we face? How can you help others cope?

    Benjamin Jakabcsin's avatar
    Benjamin Jakabcsin 4/26/2023 8:04 PM
    I usually go for runs, I've found them to be productive ways to think through stressful problems and while making sure I get in enough physical activity which can sometimes be tough because of the demands of school. I think I can help others cope by helping them talk through their problems and find things that work for them.

    • Jack Stocker's avatar
      Jack Stocker 4/27/2023 6:59 PM
      Totally get this - I always feel better after a run.

    • Lucas Guerra's avatar
      Lucas Guerra 4/27/2023 10:18 AM
      Runs are great, and I think that it is one of the best ways to increase your body's health
  • 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?

    Benjamin Jakabcsin's avatar
    Benjamin Jakabcsin 4/26/2023 7:55 PM
    I usually keep my garden at home, this is mostly because of space because back in my hometown in michigan there is lots of good soil and green space so you can pretty much grow anything anywhere.
  • Reflection Question
    Waste Go Paperless
    Reducing your paper mail can reduce mental clutter as well as physical waste -- by reducing what is coming in, you can reduce what is going into the recycling bin too. How does it make you feel? What is the next step you will take to reduce your waste?

    Benjamin Jakabcsin's avatar
    Benjamin Jakabcsin 4/26/2023 7:41 PM
    It makes me feel good, as this is a relatively simple ask that will reduce my carbon footprint significantly over time.
  • Reflection Question
    Waste RESEARCH LOCAL WASTE SITES
    In what neighborhoods or areas of your region are landfills or other waste sites located? Which communities are most affected by these locations?

    Benjamin Jakabcsin's avatar
    Benjamin Jakabcsin 4/26/2023 7:38 PM
    Most of the dump sites are clustered in Ward 5, a predominantly black ward.
  • Reflection Question
    Transportation Stay on the Ground
    What was your process like for restructuring your trip? How can you avoid more air travel in the future?

    Benjamin Jakabcsin's avatar
    Benjamin Jakabcsin 4/26/2023 7:32 PM
    I was able to travel by train, it was pretty easy when done in advance so thats something to consider for the future
  • Reflection Question
    Water 5-Minute Showers
    Name some of the human activities impacting the health of water systems, both locally (your watershed) and globally (freshwater and oceans). What can you do to improve the health of water systems?

    Benjamin Jakabcsin's avatar
    Benjamin Jakabcsin 4/13/2023 8:20 PM
    Some of the issues are plastic waste and people being wasteful with water used for things like brushing teeth and showers. We can improve on this by turning off the sink when you don't need it and using reusable water bottles
  • Reflection Question
    Simplicity Disconnect from Email
    Notice how much time you were spending checking email away from work and make note of that. Now that you have stepped away from it and have not been checking, what changes are you noticing in your thoughts, use of time, stress and energy levels?

    Benjamin Jakabcsin's avatar
    Benjamin Jakabcsin 4/12/2023 2:39 PM
    I think that I have felt much less stress as I'm not waiting and and anticipating emails back, it has also allowed me to use time for other things that I have been doing for the ecochallenge

    • Karina Adams's avatar
      Karina Adams 4/13/2023 10:08 AM
      I agree it's important to step away and clear your head. I get news update emails as well which can be stressful to look at when I'm trying to relax/disconnect.
  • Reflection Question
    Simplicity Meditate
    What would you like to invest more time in reflecting on?

    Benjamin Jakabcsin's avatar
    Benjamin Jakabcsin 4/12/2023 2:34 PM
    I personally would like to spend more time in reflection on how allocate my time as with finals coming up I feel that could e a valuable use of my time.

    • Nick Medeiros's avatar
      Nick Medeiros 4/13/2023 7:16 AM
      I totally agree, finals can be hard to organize without proper reflection and allocation of time. Putting time aside for this will be so beneficial.
  • Reflection Question
    Simplicity Go For A Daily Walk Outside
    Fresh air and movement are good for our entire being and can help us think more clearly and creatively. How does taking a walk each day affect yourself and/or your work?

    Benjamin Jakabcsin's avatar
    Benjamin Jakabcsin 4/12/2023 9:41 AM
    I think walking helps me work more productively because it gives me the opportunity to refocus and relax which helps relieve stress.