Valerie Kuppek

Practicing gratitude for my health, the support I have from my family, friends, and school networks, etc. has helped me see the positive sides of the current situation a lot of us are existing in. It has also helped me gain a broader perspective of a lot of the things that were present in my "normal" life, and that may not be present currently – for me, that gratitude has been hard-hitting and ever-present in my daily life during the Eco-Challenge. 

My perception of waste generation and overall consumption habits has been a constant source of personal reflection in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. While there are definite cons to the reality my family and I seem to be living right now – for example, that our waste generation may be higher than normal, and our means of living a sustainable lifestyle are restricted now more than ever. Despite this, this experience has definitely highlighted how important even the simple effort and thought process behind minimizing personal waste is, no matter what the accessible scale is in a time like a pandemic. Now more than ever, I realize having access to sustainable options is a privilege, and is one that will not be taken for granted (by me or my family) going forward. 

While I have been doing the 30-minute deductions from staying up late each night, there are still nights where I am getting less sleep than others. I would like to continue with this goal towards gaining a more consistent amount of sleep per week.

Within the parameters of social distancing and safety measures, I have incorporated time outdoors and in nature to my daily exercise routines. When appropriate, I have also incorporated walks with my parents, friends in my same neighborhood, and with my dog!