Healthy Living 102!

You've cleaned up the inside, now what?

Once you are underway with cleaning up and detoxing your internal self, making positive changes to your food & diet, practicing the arts of Yoga & Meditation, you are well on your journey to healthy living. But is that all? Well, no. Because there is still the matter of your external world that bears affect on you each and every day. So, what can we do to live healthy in our homes? Simple! I will break it down for you in easy bullet points again but note that some of the information repeats itself so you may have read it already from other areas which is the beauty of Living Simple.....it all connects and is interwoven to ensure it comes full circle! Let's begin!

1. Get Rid of Chemicals! Everywhere and in everything you possibly can, opt for chemical free, organically made, non-toxic everything. This can range from your makeup (yuck, don't wear it, your gorgeous, don't need it, don't buy into it, save your resources you smart beautiful soul!!) to your bed sheets, to your cleaning products. READ LABELS and google the junk that is allowed in our products. It is frightening! Our government and regulators deem certain amounts of toxins to be "safe" but what no one is taking into account is the accumulation affect these are having on us! Women put on an average of 5,000 chemicals every day and then use more chemicals to take it all off! It costs a fortune too, so to save yourself and your wallet use natural products (my blog recipes has a lot of good natural ideas) or buy chemical free in safe plastic or glass recyclable containers.

2. Chemical Free: Cleaners! Household cleaners can be chemical free now a days so opt for those instead of the harsh toxic chemicals that are sold in your local stores. Opt instead for products such as essential oils, vinegar, baking soda, lemons or hydrogen peroxide since these alternatives kill most germs and bacteria without harming you or the environment or leaving all that chemical residue behind. It simply doesn't make any sense not to use them in place of the toxic chemical cleaners.

3. Chemical Free: Household Items: Opting for toxin free bed sheets, clothing, paper products, fabrics, cushions, fillings, fibers, paint, furniture, rugs and all other household items is also a great idea for living a toxin-free healthy lifestyle! This may take more time and admittedly more searching and more money, but it is worth it! The gas-off from these items can be just as toxic and is under-regulated so be wise about that favorite mattress or comfy blanket. A lot of makers now have "no VOC" options including paint (Lowes Valspar Simplicity---yeah, I know, ironic!), carpet made from recycled products (Mohawk EverStrand), furniture make from sustainable wood (bamboo) with chemical free paints or dyes, paper products that are chemical free and sustainably resourced, organic clothing and fabrics (Target, Amazon)

4. Chemical Free: Cars: Don't forget cars! That new car smell is the VOC gassing off and is highly toxic especially in such a small enclosed space. Add a little bit of the sun's heat to bake it out and our yummy new car smell is really a red flag for toxins! Consider opting for 2-3 years gently used so as to avoid the gas off. Yep, it takes 2-3 years for a new car to release enough of its toxins to be safe!

5. Chemical Free: Air Fresheners: Don't forget all the stuff we add, such as candles, spray scents, plug in scents, oils, incense, burners, etc. Most are just chemicals burning so either make your own natural sprays or just opt for soy candles or chemical free incense. You certainly don't want to be breathing in chemicals and toxins directly to your lungs!

6. Clean Your Space! This is a huge deal and I talk about cleaning and organizing your space in other areas but it needs mentioned here too. Cleaning and de-cluttering and organizing your space makes it a much much healthier place for your body, mind and soul. Creating a space that is free of junk & garbage, free from the extra stuff literally collecting dust, organized, simple, peaceful & calm, where items are easy to find and get to, and of course, beautifully designed is an absolute MUST for healthy living! In fact, we know the internal and external are inextricably tied, so for us to be truly living healthy lives, we must clean up and detox both the internal (your body & mind & soul) and the external (your house, car, office, physical spaces). It matters. So we might as well handle both!

7. Beautify Your Space! Take the time to create personal space that is calm, refreshing, serene, peaceful, beautiful, that is reflective of you and makes you smile and exhale every time you enter! This is essential to living healthy as it replenishes, revitalizes, and balances us all allowing us to live to our fullest healthy potential.