365 Sustainable Decisions Challenge

8 days into my 365 Clover Challenge:  On Day 271 of my 365 Sustainable Decisions Challenge, I shared that this Challenge is a project that involves many smaller projects. As I now also have additional projects building on this Challenge, such as the book (Day 268), which run parallel, I feel like a juggler trying to keep all balls in the air.

Looking back: 167 days into my 365 Sustainable Decisions Challenge: For the first time, my Challenge feels like a real challenge. As I am doing this project in my spare time, parallel to my full-time job, I have noticed that my energy is getting low. So I am currently looking at what I can do differently, so that I can keep it up.

7 days into my 365 Clover Challenge: Q&A: Where did you learn English?  I learned it in school and as a student, I lived in the UK for a while to improve my English. I'm happy I learned there for life, as it helps me to share my ideas the way I do now.

6 days into my 365 Clover Challenge:  Yesterday, I went for a walk with a friend in the forest and traveled there by train. Even when it takes me longer to get there, I prefer train over car: on a train I can spend my time better, for example by relaxing, working, enjoying the landscape, etc.

5 days into my 365 Clover Challenge:  A few years ago, I came across this quote and saw a video with a similar message: "Too many people need to earn a lot of money, to buy expensive things, to impress people they don’t like". As it is also more sustainable, I only buy things I really need. 

Looking back: 139 days into my 365 Sustainable Decisions Challenge: I am excited about reaching 10.000 followers on Twitter, as it shows me that I am making a positive difference. It also shows me that many are eager to act and learn how. So thanks for your continuous support with spreading the word so that many others can learn about it too!

4 days into my 365 Clover Challenge: I really have to get used to drawing every day and noticed thoughts that aren't helpful, such as "I can't draw this". These are called limiting beliefs. Finding and replacing them has allowed quantum leaps for me in the past, so I believe it will again.

3 days into my 365 Clover Challenge: Today, I mirrored a drawing. Mirroring is in human behavior similar to imitation, both being important to learning. That's also why I believe "a better world starts with myself": it's easier for you to copy than invent behavior when being asked to live more #sustainable.

2 days into my 365 Clover Challenge: During my first Challenge, I noticed that I'll never know what impact my work has exactly (🌱Day 212). However, I do believe it reaches further than I realize due to the ripple effect: when you feel inspired, you inspire others, and they will again other people, etc.

Looking back: 51 days into my 365 Sustainable Decisions Challenge:  Yesterday, I walked to town and picked up rubbish on the way. I passed a man who asked whether I’m an activist. I answered: I do this to do good for our environment. With a broad smile he said he really appreciates it. Such comments, likes and shares keep me going. Thanks!

1 day into my 365 Clover Challenge:  I've researched exercises when starting to learn how to draw, as it makes more sense to begin with easy drawings than with complex ones. When I started to live more sustainable a year ago, I also made small and easy changes first. That's why I practiced straight lines.

0 days into my 365 Clover Challenge:  On 🌱Day 284, an urge to draw inspired me for my next Challenge. As there are many links between drawing and sustainability (🌱Day 340) and I've wanted to improve my skills for years, I'm excited to take you on my 365 Clover Challenge: drawing another clover every day!

-1 days into my 365 .......... Challenge: As I experienced and learned a lot during my 365 Sustainable Decisions Challenge, which will help me during my next Challenge, I'll look back at these stories every two to three day by sharing them again. And if you have a question, let me know for the Q&A on Sunday.

-2 days into my 365 .......... Challenge: The first 365 ideas were all related to my daily life. As I don't have a dog (#366) and haven't done beekeeping yet (#367), the ideas from now on can also be things I'd like to do or how I would do it if relevant. In Dutch we would say: "What isn't yet can still come".

-3 days into my 365 .......... Challenge: Today I shared idea #1, as repetition is important when learning a new skill. So, from now on, I'll alternate between a new idea and one I shared before. Also, you'll find out soon that repetition is key to my next Challenge. I'll give you another hint: 🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀

-4 days into my 365 .......... Challenge:  Yesterday was amazing! Thank you so much for celebrating with me, it really made my day! 😁 And as promised on Day 284 of my 365 Sustainable Decisions Challenge, I'll keep going. However, before I set out on the next 365 journey on Day 1, I'll share with you what "keep going" involves.

Recently, I was interviewed for a podcast at work, which is now available (in German): https://spoti.fi/31r2lKh . Among other things, we talk about the similarities between penetration testing and sustainability and how I come up with my ideas to live more sustainable.

365 days into my 365 Sustainable Decisions Challenge:  Today, celebrating Day 365, I realized more than ever: setting the goal to make a huge, positive difference to our world has changed my life. And whilst finishing this Challenge is an important milestone, I feel there is a lot more for me to give. See you tomorrow!

364 days into my 365 Sustainable Decisions Challenge:  (Only one day left!) I have to admit: it hit me! I've been super excited all day, non-stop, as tomorrow is the day I've been working towards all year. It feels great, as if my heart is twice the size, being pleased about having made a big difference to our planet! ❤️

363 days into my 365 Sustainable Decisions Challenge:  (Only two days left!) Yesterday, I danced on the same song for a long time (in the end it turned my partner crazy 🤣). It had the perfect vibe for the huge gratefulness I felt about this year: the wonderful experiences, great conversations, the things I learned, etc.

362 days into my 365 Sustainable Decisions Challenge:  Today, I calculated whether I can reduce my hours at work: if I can't finance my daily life, I won't be able to keep my Challenge and related work up. The result: I can reduce a few hours and would have to find ways to close the rest of the gap. Does that make sense?

361 days into my 365 Sustainable Decisions Challenge: Apart from being excited about finishing in four days, I'm excited to enter soon what feels like a new era: I'll not only start a new journey, I'm also thinking of reducing my hours at work as my project is still growing and I want to work on e.g. the book ( Day 262 ).

360 days into my 365 Sustainable Decisions Challenge:  The countdown has started. Only five days left of my 365 Sustainable Decisions Challenge! I can hardly believe the year is almost over as it has been - and still is - so intense and mostly wonderful. I'm really looking forward to celebrating with you on Day 365!

359 days into my 365 Sustainable Decisions Challenge: Idea #160 was about shopping in a package free shop instead of supermarket. So when I saw this in a supermarket, it made me happy: it shows me that things are changing. And thanks again for being in this with me, as this helps when we as customers use such offers.

358 days into my 365 Sustainable Decisions Challenge:  I came across this quote and like it, because it fits my Challenge well: I can't change how I contributed to an unhealthy planet in the past. However, by doing my Challenge and living more sustainable, I do contribute to a hopefully healthier planet in the future.

357 days into my 365 Sustainable Decisions Challenge:  I'm impressed: you were right. The cocoons I found on Day 353 were indeed mud dauber wasps. I heard zooming and when I had a look, I saw exactly these wasps flying in a tiny hole in the shutters. And looking properly, I see where they land with their muddy feet.

356 days into my 365 Sustainable Decisions Challenge:  What will happen in ten days?  I understand that you're curious. I'll keep it a surprise for now though Smiling face with smiling eyes I'll explain my plan during the first few days after I finish my Challenge and start shortly afterwards.  Do you have a question too? Please let me know.

355 days into my 365 Sustainable Decisions Challenge:  With the glue I bought yesterday, I managed to fix my sunglasses! I put a drop of super glue at the broken spot, covered it with baking soda, repeated this, waited a few minutes and washed off excess soda. I could improve the look by filing, but I now know it works.

354 days into my 365 Sustainable Decisions Challenge:  Yesterday, I jogged to a hardware store to buy glue as I learned that combining super glue with baking soda is a powerful combination to repair broken plastic. I tried it, but it turned out to be the wrong glue. So today, I'll go for a walk to the store to try again.

353 days into my 365 Sustainable Decisions Challenge: Today, I was a bit shocked to find this in the collar of an old jacket. When I saw it, I at first thought it was dog poo. But it didn't smell. After investigating it further, I found it to be rock hard and a larva in it. Do you know what insects these are? Wasps?

352 days into my 365 Sustainable Decisions Challenge:  Today, we went climbing. As we started with easy routes, we were experienced by the time we got to the hard ones. And because of that, we made them too. Interestingly, I experienced the same during my Challenge: I now make changes that initially seemed too hard.

351 days into my 365 Sustainable Decisions Challenge: On our journey, we visited a friend. In her garden, I discovered this pear tree. Apart from loving this tree, the idea made my heart jump: it makes me feel that there is an infinite number of good ideas that we can put into practice to care well for your our planet.

How one woman is trailblazing with sustainability all year round! Check out our interview with Dr. Erlijn van Genuchten about her 365 Sustainable Decisions Challenge at https://impakter.com/sustainable-all-year-round-an-interview-with-dr-erlijn-van-genuchten/ .

350 days into my 365 Sustainable Decisions Challenge:  When I moved to Germany, I immediately started exploring the area and found out that I'm living in a beautiful country. This also made me realize that I don't have to fly to the other side of the globe to find a wonderful landscape such as this one.

349 days into my 365 Sustainable Decisions Challenge:  I'll probably never stop being impressed by the things I see when enjoying #nature. On yesterday's walk, this #caterpillar was moving forward slowly but steadily; just like me in my Challenge. Wow, I've never seen such a big one! 

348 days into my 365 Sustainable Decisions Challenge:  Yesterday, whilst looking for brown signs (see Q&A), we came across a "bee path" with panels providing information about bees and biodiversity (with a beautiful sunset behind us). I like it that both children and adults are informed about these important topics.