On day 13, however, I came face-to-face with my enemy: deadlines.
We won! The "Whaley Awesome" team swam in from behind and swiped first place for week two of our staff 30×30 Challenge! I'd like to think it's because of my insistent (and demanding) encouragement, but it was our beautiful nature that drew them in. I couldn't be more thrilled. In your face, "Bush Babies"!
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As a whole, Foundation staff and volunteers stepped up their game! At least five teams now have scores higher than 90 per cent participation for getting outside in nature each day. Below are the current standings. (Some teams claim they "forgot" to report their time in nature, so their actual results should be higher. We'll see if they improve by next week. Competition is fierce!)
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30×30 Staff Challenge — Week 2 |
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| #1 | Whaley Awesome | 99.2% |
| #2 | The Crash | 99.0% |
| #3 | Roller Polar Bears | 97.1% |
| #4 | Heroes-in-a half shell — turtle power! | 95.2% |
| #5 | Horton's Whoteam | 94.2% |
| #6 | Wal 'R Us | 85.6% |
| #7 | Bush Babies | 82.7% |
| #8 | Stealthy Night Warriors | 71.2% |
| #9 | Tigers | 69.2% |
| #10 | Groovy Gorillas | 59.6% |
My own 30×30 challenge, however, has been, for a lack of other words, a bit more challenging. I was on a great roll, going outside consecutively for the first 12 days. I went for hikes, planted vegetables in the garden and even went for a brief swim in the ocean. (Boy was it cold!)
Jane is the winner of Week 2′s photo contest: Nature at my workplace.
On day 13, however, I came face-to-face with my enemy: deadlines. I was consulting on a project about the active role of gnomes in fighting climate change. It's a "hot" topic but one that required a lot more of my time than I initially intended. I ended up working into the wee hours of morning, completely forgetting to get my 30 minutes of nature.
Lacking nature, I noticed that my stress levels jumped. I was more anxious, unable to focus and had an overall drop in productivity. In retrospect, it would've been better if I had taken a break outside. I guess I didn't realize the tangible benefits of being in nature and getting fresh air. It really should be a requirement!
As I reach the mid-point of the 30×30 Challenge, I'm beginning to understand why nature is so vital. It helps lift spirits, keeps us calm and reminds us about our place on the planet. I'm not going to be too hard on myself for missing one day; instead, I'll use it for motivation and learning. I now plan ahead to make sure I get at least 30 minutes. I go for a walk every lunch hour. No excuses.
Runners up Kristi and Janice.
If you're having similar challenges at work, maybe this week's "Nature in My Workplace" photos will inspire you. And you can pay it forward by sharing your own photos, helping to inspire each other to reconnect with nature.
Signing off from my cubicle,
Dave the Gnome
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