This post is all about natural living!
If your eyes have recently been opened to all the toxic junk the world puts into just about every product on the market (which is going directly into our bodies), and you're ready to make a change, then you're in the right place!
Personally, I decided to begin living a more natural lifestyle when my first baby was born with eczema and I couldn't figure out how to stop her flare-ups... I was already using the natural goat milk soap that we make on my family's farm. However, her doctor told me that I needed to make the switch to (a certain name brand) "gentle" laundry detergent....
I proceeded to buy what her doctor had recommended and used it for several weeks with no results... That's when I looked at the ingredients list and saw that it looked like complete gibberish. I could not even pronounce what I was using to clean her clothes.
Knowing that these ingredients were rubbing into her skin and probably making the irritation worse, I became determined to make everything in my life (within my control) simple and pronounceable. I was overwhelmed by everything I needed to do and change... But, I did it! And so can you!
If you start with just the 5 natural living ideas in this post, you will feel a true difference!
This post is going to make living a natural lifestyle less complicated for you, while showing you how it can be done on a tight budget. A natural way of living does not have to break the bank. In fact, one of my tips costs nothing and is found right in your own backyard! You can start wherever you are.
In this post, I will give you some natural living examples that do not require a garden, chickens, or a farm!
We hope you're encouraged by this post about natural living!
The Beginner's Guide to Natural Living
What is the Meaning of Natural Living?
Natural living means taking a deeper look at what we do on a daily basis that is either helping or harming us. Every single day our lives are made up of decisions about what we put into or onto our bodies. These small decisions we make every day add up and can really have an impact on not only our longevity of life but also the quality of our life. Healthy and natural living means discovering how far we've come from the way we were originally intended to live, eat, work, bathe, and function in this world... And making small changes to get us back there.What Are the Benefits of Living a Natural Life?
There are countless benefits to healthy and natural living. You will find that you have:- More energy
- Fewer mood swings
- Balanced hormones
- Less stress
- Better focus
- Reduced illness
- Overall better quality of life
- And more!
How Do You Live a Natural Lifestyle?
Natural Living Step 1: Eat whole foods
Most grocery stores are set up in the same basic way: Whole foods (fruits, vegetables, meats, dairy) along the outside walls, and the processed foods up and down the multiple aisles of the rest the store. Shopping for whole foods (meats, veggies, fruit, dairy, grains) will not only simplify your life and budget, but can also have an enormously positive impact on your health.
There's a saying going around that "food is medicine." -- The more you choose to fill your body with the vitamins, minerals, healthy fats, protein, etc. that it needs, the less medicine you will have to take (which, in the end, only temporarily bandages the real problem.)
Natural Living Step 2: Switch your body and skincare products
Your skin is the largest organ in your body! Skin is so porous that it will absorb almost anything you put on it. So, switching to natural products for your skincare (like switching to natural deodorant) can make a really big impact. Even switching to natural lip butter has huge benefits.
With that being said, we should probably take a look at what we put on our skin on a day-to-day basis when trying to live a more natural life. In my story at the top of this post about making the switch to a more natural lifestyle, I explained that I needed to find a more natural laundry soap for my daughter. Since our skin is almost always in contact with our clothes, I knew we needed to have whole and clean ingredients in our detergent.
You can learn more on the truth about why natural detergent is better than typical store-bought brands, and all the toxins in laundry detergent. I couldn't find a natural laundry soap I loved, so I decided I would just have to make one myself!
I used the goat milk soap that we already make in our business and shredded it with a few other simple ingredients to make our, now best-selling, natural laundry soap!
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We also offer many other natural skincare products such as goat milk soap, lotion bars, lip balms, milk bath, deodorant, and more! None of our products contain any parabens, phthalates or dyes, making it that much easier for you to switch your skincare to fit into a natural lifestyle!
Another thing you can do to live more naturally is use natural remedies for rashes and other skin issues, instead of always going straight to pharmaceuticals right away.
Natural Living Step 3: Shop locally farm-to-table
As I stated earlier in this blog, shopping locally benefits not only you, but also those around you in a positive way. If you're not yet ready to grow your own garden, check out your local farmers market!
Knowing where your food comes from and eating seasonally from local farmers in your area is a huge step in taking charge of living a more healthy and natural lifestyle! This enables you to be sure you are eating high-quality meat, dairy, fruit, and vegetables by having a relationship with the people who actually take the time to grow it!
When buying food at the grocery store, there's no way of knowing how long it's even been sitting on the shelf, when it was shipped in, or where it came from.
Natural Living Step 4: Change your cookware
Go ahead and get rid of all the toxic aluminum-based pots and pans in your home, along with anything that has a "non-stick" surface (especially if it is scratched!)
This can be a more pricey step when aiming to live a more natural lifestyle, but it doesn't have to be... Start by throwing away your most used pot or pan and then slowly start replacing the rest from there. Make the switch to stainless steel or cast iron (this will also naturally add some iron to your diet, which is great!) You can even shop for these at thrift stores for a better deal!
Natural Living Step 5: Get outside
This is the tip we have all been waiting for! A tip for living a more natural life that will cost you nothing! It sounds so simple, but the easiest and best way to begin living a more natural lifestyle is to get out into nature itself!
First: Start each day with opening your blinds so the natural sunlight can get in. -- This will help to adjust your body to what time of day it is which, in turn, helps you feel more awake, energetic, happy and will even aid in helping you fall asleep better at night! Modern lighting is great, but it has really done a disservice to our sleep patterns, anxiousness, and stress.
Allowing your body to get that first morning sunlight is so simple, yet so profound for a more natural life. Also, strive to get more sun in general throughout the day. Vitamin D is such an important part in boosting our mood, energy, and even immunity!
Next: You may have heard of a new movement called 1,000 hours. As stated on their website, "The entire purpose of 1,000 Hours Outside is to attempt to match nature time with screen time. If kids can consume media through screens 1,200 hours a year on average then the time is there and at least some of it can and should be shifted towards a more productive and healthy outcome!"
It is not only screen time they are attempting to lessen, it is also indoor time overall. They even have fun printouts and resources to help you keep track of your time outdoors!
Last, but not least: A natural living idea you may or may not have heard of so far in your search for living a more natural life that is insanely simple is taking your shoes off and walking in the grass!
It's called grounding or earthing. Our bodies are electrical in nature and there have been many clinical studies that show that grounding helps to make the body's systems improve and work more efficiently.
How Can I Live More Organically?
You may wonder what the difference is between an organic life and a natural life. They are pretty similar, but there is still a difference. Living a more organic life may be a little more costly in the end, but the health benefits may just be worth it.
According to healthychildren.org, "Organic foods are grown without artificial pesticides, fertilizers, or herbicides. Organic meat, eggs, and dairy products are obtained from animals that are fed natural feed and not given hormones or antibiotics. Natural foods are free of synthetic or artificial ingredients or additives."
Regardless of which path you choose, it is always good to be informed about the choices we make daily and continue the journey to living a more natural life!
This post was all about natural living!