Our homes are where we go to find comfort, relax, care for ourselves, and our families. With more than 80,000 different chemicals being used, many which have not been tested for the harmful impact they have on our health, it is more important than ever to make sure our homes are filled with products that create the best possible atmosphere to thrive and live our lives.
Not only do we need to be concerned about the impact we are leaving on our heath, it is also important to make sure our lifestyle is leaving a positive impact on the world around us. Learning about the myriad of toxic chemicals existing can be overwhelming, however the good news is that learning about organic, non-toxic, sustainable, alternatives to create a healthier space can also be inspiring!
It is important to keep in mind that “Rome wasn’t built in a day” … Take baby steps, you don’t have to make every change over-night. If you try to do too much too fast chances are you will feel overwhelmed and flustered. Pick one area you want to improve, stick to it and once you have it under decent control, you can confidently move on.
Begin by thinking about your daily routine, the food you consume, the products you use, the waste you produce, how much time you spend outside… this will help you decide which area is most important to you and start there!
To help you on this journey, we have put together an easy to follow guide on creating an organic home.
“You are what you eat”
One of the most important ways to improve your health, both physically and mentally is through healthy eating habits. Try to stay away from processed foods and instead eat plenty of fresh vegetables, fruits, grains, nuts, beans and minimally processed foods like seafood, meat and dairy. To avoid eating junk food you can start by only shopping the outer isles of a market, where the healthy options are located.
Shopping farmers markets will also help you limit the amount of processed foods you are bringing into your home and this is also a great way to buy locally sourced, organic goods, while buying items that are in season, when they are the most affordable! Foodie Zoolee has created this easy to read guide on what produce is in season each month. Eating organic can be more expensive however, being educated on what you can eat that is non-organic will help you get started. Some non-organic items have little to no trace of pesticides making them safe for consumption. Learn about the Clean 15 and the Dirty Dozen here with Nested Blissfully.
Cleanliness, air quality and hygiene
Studies have shown that the air quality inside our homes have chemical contamination levels 2 to 5 times greater than outdoor air. The two largest contributors of harmful air pollutions come from cleaning products and air fresheners. The best swap you can make when it comes to cleaning products is to make your own using a base of castile soap. Not only is castile soap non-toxic, it is also vegan and completely biodegradable. Plus, it will clean almost anything from your head to your toes, to your bathroom and greasy kitchen appliances. Savy Brown shares a few ways we can incorporate this magic wonder into our everyday lives. You can learn more about naturally replacing synthetic fragrances with essential oils from Healthy House on the Block, then check out these BPA free diffusers to make your home smell delicious and inviting, with-out worrying about breathing in toxic fumes. Toxins can be absorbed through the pores on our skin, making sure you are using top quality, organic, nontoxic items is extremely important.
As mentioned above, castile soap can replace a lot of different products, including hygiene! Add a few drops of grape seed oil or essential oils and you can clear off that cluttered bathroom counter with a much healthier alternative. Byrdie has listed 7 Genius ways to us castile soap in your beauty routine. If you prefer something you can purchase ready for use, we recommend checking out The Everyone for Everybody, all products are made with organic and sustainably farmed ingredients.
The benefits of meditation
The popularity of meditation is rapidly increasing as more people learn about its many potential benefits. Though the definition of meditation are many and broad, for now we can refer to it as the process of training your mind to focus and realign your thoughts to a more stable centre. Meditation is used to increase the awareness of yourself and your surroundings, reduce stress levels and also help develop concentration to help you live more directly.
Other health benefits include a increased general sense of wellbeing, a more positive attitude, healthier sleep patterns, reduced anxiety and boosted mental discipline. Meditation does not really require any special equipment, though there are many of them, or a specific space, though it could be a good idea to create such a space. The magic of meditation is that the practice can start manifesting many potential benefits rather quickly, just through a few minutes of daily practice, which is making it easy for everyone to practice. By taking a few minutes in the morning or in the evening you are giving yourself an amazing gift, organically. If you need help getting started, Health Line has listed The Best Meditation Apps of 2019 so you can practice whenever, wherever.
Creating a meditation corner is not really required but could be helpful for most beginners
Meditation space
Though we mentioned that meditation requires few if any external objects or settings, we’ve found that for most beginners and practitioners, taking the time to create a corner in your home, a meditation space if you will, can be incredibly beneficial for helping you develop a more meditative, balanced and organic lifestyle.
How does this relate to the cultivation of an organic home?
The answer is that by simply becoming meditatively aware of yourself and the world around you, you most often and quite naturally develop a heightened state of sensitivity towards how nature works and the “good stuff”.
Limit waste
Another huge way to create an organic home is by drastically limiting the amount of waste we produce. Plastic waste is the largest contributor of pollution in our landfills and our bodies. BPA (Bisphenol A) and Phthalates are commonly found in plastic products and packaging, both are linked to health problems such as infertility, immune system impairments and cancer. Eliminating the amount of processed food, you consume will help you cut down on how much plastic is coming into your home and help you eat a healthier diet.
With so many options for reusable utensils, water bottles and food storage containers, there is no way to justify the continuous use of plastic, even outside of your home. These reusable UpTrust utensil sets come with a convenient case that fit perfectly in your bag so you can have it close by all the time. Say “Good Bye” to single use plastic produce bags with these organic cotton bags from All Cotton and Linen. It’s also important to start using reusable shopping totes, Stardust Sustainable have created a one of a kind 100% organic jute and cotton blend that is 100% compostable, so if it ends up as litter, it will disintegrate with in 3-6 months, but it has a shelf life of 10 years!
Keep the outside fresh
The outside of your home is just as important as the inside. Maintain your yard without chemical’s only using organic lawn care practices. If you’re able to build an organic garden, only use organic fertilizers and gardening methods to grow your plants. Consider building a compost pile or look into what options your local trash services offer. Some cities will provide a small compost bin as well as pick up the compost for a small monthly price. Depending on how much space you have you might be able to raise chickens for eggs and/or meat or keep bees not only for their delicious honey but also for their impact on the planet. If the bees disappear, plants will not grow, our food sources will disappear.
Final thoughts
We know that humans are the main contribution to climate change, even if we completely stopped emitting greenhouse gases today, global warming would continue to happen for at least several more decades. The good news is that people, communities, cities, businesses, schools and other organizations are taking action. By influencing your friends and the people in your life, you can help improve the health of our planet and stabilize climate change.
One last piece of advice that helps, live by the motto “Less is more” … Less soda, more water. Less alcohol, more tea. Less sugar, more fruits. Less meat, more vegetables. Less driving, more walking. Less worry, more sleep. Less anger, more laughter. Less words, more action.
Our main goal is to share insights and knowledge that help infuse your life with joy and relaxation. In other words, TrueRelaxations is a digital magazine dedicated to your supreme wellbeing.