Margaret Marsalka

I will spend 10 minute(s) learning about constructive communication.

I will make 3 appointments to support my health and well-being (primary care provider, dental, vision, etc.)

I will help others in need and prevent useful items from going to landfill by donating 10 items.

I will promote equity and support my community by purchasing items at 2 diverse- and/or locally-owned businesses.

I will purchase produce and/or meat from a local farmers market or food co-op to make 3 locally-sourced meals.

I will spend at least 5 minutes learning about water and air quality issues in my area, how they are impacting human and environmental health, and how I can help.

I will plant 1 tree(s) in my community, public parks, or backyard. Check out resources for which tree species are best to plant in your area.

I will volunteer 2 hour(s) in my community during the challenge.

I will spend at least 10 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

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

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

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

I will replace 10 incandescent lightbulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

I will repair an item, such as clothing or an appliance, for myself, a friend, family member, or neighbor.

I will prevent water from being wasted by reporting one or more leaky faucets, toilets, or other water leaks to my organization's facilities team for repair.

I will schedule coffee breaks, lunches, and/or check-in meetings with 4 coworkers to promote connectivity in my workplace.

I will select a greener option when purchasing supplies, such as products that have environmental certifications, less packaging, or other environmental attributes, or come from local vendors.

I will work from home 30 day(s) to avoid my commute's carbon output.

I will keep 5 forks, spoons, and/or knives from entering the landfill by using reusable utensils when eating at work.

I will recycle 5 items at work and/or at home each day, making sure I review recycling program guidelines and only place accepted items that are clean, empty, and dry in the recycling bin.

Contamination prevents what is recyclable from being recycled. I will spend 5 minutes learning about which items are recyclable both at my workplace and at home since they may be different, and recycle only those items.

I will promote a positive environment and uplift others by performing 1 random act(s) of kindness.

I will keep 4 disposable cup(s) and/or bottle(s) from entering the waste stream by using a reusable water bottle, cup, or mug.

I will donate blood in my community to make sure there are adequate supplies for routine medical services and emergencies.

I will only use disinfectants where recommended and required by my organization's Infection Prevention and Control department.

I will recognize 4 colleague(s) for their sustainability efforts by thanking them on our team feed, in-person, by email, and/or through my organization's recognition platforms.

I will spend 10 minutes learning about the items my organization collects for medical device reprocessing and share this information with colleagues.

I will attend or watch a recording of a webinar 10 minutes long covering one or more healthcare sustainability issues.

I will spend 10 minutes learning about the ways climate change impacts health.

I will spend 10 minutes learning about the environmental footprint of the healthcare industry, how it impacts health, and ways I can help reduce it.