Have you ever wondered, what exactly is ‘natural living’? Or maybe you have been curious about living a more non-toxic lifestyle but weren’t sure where to start.

Sound familiar? Then you are in the right place!

Natural, non-toxic living, sounds so simple, clean, and idealistic.  However, it may also seem a little daunting trying to figure everything out. Let’s change that shall we. Welcome to your natural living guide! 

With a bit of information, organization and patience you will be on your way to a new, non-toxic you in no time 🙂 And keep in mind this is a way of life. It should not just be a trend. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. 

So, what is Natural Living?

This can be a hard question to address and you may find many versions of the answer. But, in a nutshell, natural living essentially means to live a non-toxic and sustainable lifestyle. Healthy for you and healthy for the planet.

Everyday we are surrounded by unwanted toxins. And, truly, we are far from where we started (ie. eating fruits and veggies that we grew ourselves and were free from harmful chemicals). So you may be thinking, how exactly am I to rid these unseen baddies from my life when they are everywhere I turn? There is really so much that can be done. Every little change will make a difference!

We Are Growing

As our society evolves, we are becoming more aware of how these toxins are harmful to our health and the environment (hello climate change) and are deciding to seek out non-toxic alternatives. Natural living is finally starting to get the attention it deserves, which is just a very exciting thing. 

So how do you start living naturally? Read on to find out! 10 changes you can start making in your life right now to begin your fresh, new, and fab natural living journey.

1) EMBRACE A NON-TOXIC KITCHEN

What’s in your kitchen?

Eating well is such a key factor to living naturally. A good general rule of thumb is if you can’t pronounce it, you probably shouldn’t be putting it into your body. The fewer items on the ingredient list, the better.

Take stock of your kitchen. See which items should not be put back on your grocery list when they run out. Stay committed to not buying them again.

Next time you head out shopping, focus on buying foods that are as close to their natural state as possible.

If you are a super market shop the permitter of the store first. The perimeter has all of your fresh foods, while the isles house mostly boxed and processed items. Hitting up natural stores and farmers markets are also solid options if you have access to them. Especially farmer’s markets! You’ll be getting the freshest quality as well as in season goodies. 

Lastly if going organic fits into your budget, I do highly recommend it. You can read my post about switching over to organic HERE if you would like more information.

Organic can mostly certainly be costly so shop around to find the places in your area with the best deals and watch out for sales. Be mindful too about which items you choose to get organic. Following the EWG Dirty Dozen list is always a good idea.

Or, if you have a green thumb, you can always purchase some seeds and start growing a few of your own deliciously toxin free fruits and veggies. 

Also, you can SUBSCRIBE to my newsletter and receive my Wholesome Kitchen Clean-up Guide for FREE, if you would like additional help and info on tackling this area.

2) DITCH THE COMMERCIAL BEAUTY PRODUCTS

Make-up, lotions, creams, soaps and shampoos are laden with chemicals you really don’t want anywhere near your skin or hair. Consider switching to natural brands. There are some amazing ones out there! 

Check out your local natural stores, buy from independent makers, or if you are a DIYer, learning to make your own is a fabulous option.  

My TOXINS TO TOSS post has a comprehensive list of the ones you will most want to avoid if you want to give it a read. 

3) SWITCH TO TOXIN FREE CLEANING PRODUCTS

Next time you run out of  all purpose or glass cleaner find a natural brand that you would like to try out. Same goes for your laundry products. Again check out your natural stores, and often your local supermarket will have a natural brand or two these days.

And again, there is always the DIY option. Check out my post on CLEANING NATURALLY (with recipes) on just how to go about it. 

4) NATURAL LIVING WITH PLANTS

Plants are great air purifiers and mood boosters! It is never a bad idea to have a few scattered about.

If you are new to being a plant mom, keep it simple and start with just one. Perhaps one that you can actually use, like herbs. Ones such as basil or parsley are pretty readily available already potted and ready to grow!

Growing plants you can use in other areas of your life will feel super satisfying. Try it! See how things go, and likely before you know it you’ll be adding a couple more 😉

5) SCOUT OUT YOUR LOCAL NATURAL STORES

This part is super fun! Go around your neighbourhood and see what wares, and pricing, your local shops have to offer. You can see which stores offer the best prices and see which products you might like to try out (when you need them of course).

I still always have a huge mental list when I hit up my favourite stores. If you are not in an area that has natural stores close by, there are definitely online options you can check out as well.

6) GET RID OF THE TOXIC AIR FRESHENERS & PARAFFIN CANDLES

Spray air freshers and paraffin candles are filled with things you do not want to be inhaling.

Invest in a diffuser and some essential oils instead. It will change your life! You can also pick up some natural incense and soy candles.

Super easy fixes! And the benefits of these are second to none. Check out my post on 10 must have ESSENTIAL OILS for some inspiration.

7) NATURAL LIVING = GREEN LIVING

Yes, this most definitely belongs on the list. A massive part of living a more natural lifestyle is also being kind to your environment. Like our bodies, we’re not going to get another planet, so we need to take care of this one!

Support sustainable, eco-friendly brands. There are more and more coming up all of the time. Be sure to compost and recycle (properly!). Google is your friend. Do a little research to make sure you are completing these processes in the right manner. It is super easy to make mistakes. I know I have! Some other quick green living ideas; avoid plastic, don’t waste water, turn off the lights, etc., etc.

Not to mention, and this is a big one, cut back on (or eliminate) meat & dairy. This is a huge component of sustainable living. 

There are really so many ways for you to take a little care and be a little kinder to mother earth. And yourself in the process.

8) SAY GOODBYE TO FAST FASHION

Now please don’t read this and then go throw all of your clothes in the trash! That is no exactly sustainable and kind of defeats the purpose of this post, no? Lol.

Instead go through your closet honestly. Donate items you no longer wear and only keep the things you truly can’t part with. 

And the next time you need to add pieces to your wardrobe buy from local designers, free trade shops, as well as stores that use organic and up-cycled materials.

And of course, there are always second hand shops! Even if the item originally came from a big name store at least you will be giving it another life and getting the most out of the item. And let’s be honest, vintage, is always on trend.

Commit to no longer shopping in mall and big box stores unless you’re sure their practices are ethical. Because, very sadly, they are most often not ethical or sustainable. 

If you are a shopaholic (and have a bit of cash to burn) you may actually want to tackle this one first lol 😉

9) GO NATURAL WITH YOUR MEDICINE CABINET

This one is tough but is a large part of non-toxic living. The goal here being, to end up with a cabinet full of wonderful herbal and natural remedies in place of the generic medications we are used to.

Doing this step will require knowledge of herb safety and traditional healing solutions before you take it on. Make sure to do your research! I can’t stress this enough. Perhaps even consult an herbalist for some extra guidance.

Bottom line, make sure you know enough to safely use some of these remedies on yourself and your family before proceeding. 

10) EMBRACE NATURE

Nature is a wonderful resource for feel those coveted feel good vibes! The cheapest form of therapy, free!

Even if you live in the city take an hour, go sit in the park or take a walk down pretty tree-lined streets. Breath in the fresh air and, if it’s sunny, get your daily dose of Vitamin D.

So, are you ready for the first day of your new non-toxic life?

Now, reading these ten natural living tips may not seem ‘easy’ at all but remember what I said in the beginning, this is a marathon, not a sprint. This is very much a lifestyle change which will take a transition period.

I have not completely nailed all 10 of these ideas yet either and I have been working on it for years (my closet and medicine cabinet still need work!).

Be patient with yourself and learn as much as you can about the toxic ingredients out there. Begin by choosing that one area of your life you really want to detoxify and just take that first step. You will not be toxin free in a day, but every change you make is one step closer.

What do you imagine your first step will be toward your new natural lifestyle? 

Everything worth doing will take a little time and effort to accomplish. I can guarantee every baby step you take will feel like a huge win and you will be that much closer to your goal of natural living.

Just taking the time to read this blog post and deciding to go non-toxic is huge. It may seem like nothing but it is one of the most important decisions you will ever make. I am so excited for you to start your new journey into natural living!

Share Your Ideas With Me!

Please leave a comment or follow me on socials and share some of your favourite natural living tips and ideas, I’d love to hear them!  

What is your favourite non toxic beauty brand? Are you new to natural living or a veteran? Do you have a favourite natural living tip that you live by?

Don’t forget, if you’d like even more info on starting your new and improved non-toxic lifestyle, SUBSCRIBE to my blog! I’ll send you my in depth Wholesome Kitchen Clean-up Guide, complete with Toxins to Toss checklist for FREE.

Blessed be pixies! xo

Krystle