Are your social media feeds filled with people telling you what products are bad for you, changes you need to make, what ingredients are hurting your health, herbal medicine techniques, statistics about waste…woah I got overwhelmed just writing that list. If your social media is filled with all of those things then I can imagine you are feeling overwhelmed with an abundance of information that you aren’t sure what to do with.
I’ve been there, and don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of great creators who share helpful information. However, the overabundance of information can make it hard to determine where to start.
That’s where I come in! I’m here to help make the process of making product and lifestyle changes less overwhelming for you!
Living intentionally is going to look a little different for everyone because we all have our own values and beliefs. It’s so easy to get caught up in comparing your life or what you’re doing to people you see on the internet. Just remember that none of our journeys are going to look the exact same and that’s ok!
Alright, let’s jump into talking about the best place to start when making lifestyle changes!
Declutter
A cluttered house creates a cluttered mind. We live in a consumeristic society that is always telling us that we need this and that when in reality it is the source of a lot of unnecessary stress.
Getting rid of any items that aren’t necessary can help you focus on what’s important and reduce your stress. This includes clothes you no longer wear, products you no longer use, kitchen utensils or tools you never grab, decorations you don’t enjoy anymore, and anything you have been hanging onto “just in case”.
Looking into the Marie Kondo method will help you with the decluttering process.
Prioritize
There are many areas of an eco-friendly and healthy lifestyle, making it hard to determine where to start. My advice is to pick which areas are most important to you based on your beliefs and lifestyle. If all areas are important to you, then determine which one is attainable to start today! Remember you aren’t limited to making changes in one area, it just helps to eliminate being overwhelmed. When you feel ready to make more changes then shift your focus to another area, building off of changes you have already made.
Examples of areas to focus on: quality water (for drinking, bathing, and washing dishes), nontoxic cooking supplies, seeking organic materials for clothing and bedding, reducing plastic waste, nontoxic skincare and other personal care products, nontoxic cleaning products, improving your diet (eliminating seed oils and eating whole foods), and herbal medicine.
My digital planner can help you organize your thoughts, track your habits, and make goals for your lifestyle change!
Research
Before making swaps for better options it is important to look into what brands you can trust. You may have heard the term greenwashing, this is when brands try to make their products seem nontoxic or eco-friendly, but they have hidden toxic ingredients. It is important to support brands that are transparent about the sourcing and quality of their ingredients.
This part of the process is ongoing as you find different products you want to try. It’s also a good idea to keep up to date with the brands you use because they may change their formulas or get bought out by larger companies.
Start slow
Look back at the priorities you determined earlier. Whatever is at the top of your list is where you should start making changes. If your top priority is switching to nontoxic products, then choose one area of your home to start switching to nontoxic products.
When you run out of a product, then purchase your nontoxic swap for that product. This allows for less overwhelm in choosing products and less upfront cost!
Let me know where you are going to start making swaps or if you have questions!