I was talking to a co-worker about how harsh perfumes bother me the other day. I explained that since I stopped using most perfumes and cheap room fragrances, I was more sensitive to the "chemically" smells that most of them gave off. She said that she wanted to live a more natural life, but that it seemed so hard! Learning about all the toxins and unhealthy things around us today can be very overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be hard. Here is some advice I have to share from my journey.
1. What's most important? For me, it was going vegetarian. I was concerned about the quality of the meat I was eating and frustrated at the cost of quality, humanely-raised and hormone-free meat. Do some thinking and discover what's most important to you. It could be the cleaning products in your home, the bath and beauty products that you use, your food, your transportation, how much waste you produce, among others. Try writing down those areas that are important to you, then focus in on one at a time.
2. Replace things as you run out, unless you can afford to buy green products you want to use all at once; most of us can't, and that's okay! I still have some bath and cleaning products that I'd rather not use, but I opt replace them as I run out so I don't stress myself and my bank account out. Say you run out of surface cleaner, hop on the internet and see if you can make one yourself. There are a ton of great beauty and cleaning DIY instructions out there. It's fun and it'll prevent you from getting too overwhelmed.
3. Don't fall for the "well everything is bad for me, so why try" argument. It just isn't true. Yes, it's nearly impossible to remove every cancer-causing hormone-disrupting free radical nastiness from your life, but you can make a difference in your own well-being! For instance, I can't currently help the fact that I live in a big city that has pollution, but I can make sure that I eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables to give my body the strength it needs to stay healthy as long as possible.
4. Make a goal list. This goes hand-in-hand with number 1. After you've decided what things are most important to you, make a goal list and divide it into three columns:
- Short-Term Goals
- Mid-Term Goals
- Long-Term Goals
The length of time for each is completely up to you. I have my goal list hanging on the wall and I cross out things as I accomplish them. It's a great reminder of how far you've come!
Bonus: If you don't live alone, try making a goal list with those that you share a home with. It's a lot of fun and a great way to get to know your room mate, significant other, or family member better!
5. Lastly, here are some of the easy things I did to be more green that you can do, too!
- Replace your paper towels with wash cloths. We got ours from the dollar store. I fold them in half, roll them up, then store them on the kitchen counter in a cute basket I got at the thrift store. Perfect!
- For company, have a nice set of linen napkins on hand.
- Stop buying water bottles. Our investment in a water cooler paid for itself in a short time and helps the environment. If you can afford to install a water filtration system, even better!
- If something is in walking distance, walk! It's great for your body, mind, and the environment. Every little bit counts!
- Those reusable bags you bought? Use them. Some stores even offer discounts for using reusable bags.
- Start growing your own food, even if it's just one tomato plant. You won't regret it.
- Shop local.
- Plant flowers that bees love; they'll love you for it!
Do you have any tips or tricks? Please share them below! :)
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