This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Tom’s of Maine. All opinions are 100% mine.
Chemicals are abundant in today’s fast-paced society, and while it’s impossible to get away from them completely, there are things you can do to live a more healthy, natural lifestyle.
A lifestyle change can be hard, but I’m trying to take small steps and implementing little changes in my life that will add up to a more natural lifestyle for me and my family.
Here are some of my favorite tried and true tips for a healthier life…
6 Easy Ways to Create a Natural Lifestyle
#1 Get outside and enjoy nature
There’s something almost therapeutic about going outside and enjoying the crashing waves of the ocean or breathing in the cool mountain air.
It’s good for the body and the soul to be outside, and it’s a great way to recharge and get away from the daily grind. This shot comes from my Instagram (@makelifelovely) when we were exploring the cliffs by the beach.
#2 Cook from scratch using real, natural food
It can be so tempting to skip making dinner these days. With so many fast food options and so much to do, it’s very tempting to order a pizza or get take-out on those busy nights. That food is filled with msg and fat to make it taste better, which isn’t the best option for your body.
Plan ahead so that you can cook a healthy meal from scratch using real and natural food. Fruits, vegetable, whole grains, lean protein like fish, chicken, and pork are all great for incorporating into your meals. Grilled Greek chicken shish kabobs with homemade grilled rosemary pita bread are so easy and are one my favorite meals. With a little planning, they don’t have to be time consuming either!
I get most of my fresh food from Sprouts. They recently remodeled my local Sprouts store and it’s HUGE with so many healthy options! I love shopping on Wednesdays since it’s double ad day, and the ads from the previous week and the week to come are both active. 😉
Even with all the parties I throw, there are always healthier options that can be served, like this healthy football party with a watermelon fruit salad helmet I put together for the big football game this year.
#3 Use organic health and beauty products
Replace chemical-laden toothpaste, soaps, lotions, and hair products for healthier, more natural options. This is a great way to reduce the toxins and chemicals that are going onto and into your body.
I recently starting buying Tom’s of Maine toothpaste for my youngest child. He doesn’t like the mint flavors of the other toothpastes out there. Despite my best efforts, he swallows more toothpaste than he spits out, so I wanted to make sure his toothpaste was as natural as possible.
Tom’s of Maine toothpaste has no artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, or fragrances. Love this! It also does not contain animal ingredients, nor does it test products on animals. My son loves his Silly Strawberry toothpaste and I love that he’s not putting harmful chemicals into his body!
I was curious to try Tom’s toothpaste too, so I bought a few tubes for the rest of the family. We all love the flavor and how natural the toothpaste is. Visit Toms of Maine’s website for more information.
#4 Use essential oils
I’ve been using high quality essential oils the last few years. I use them in a diffuser, for cleaning, to help with aches and pains, bug bites, and so much more. There are so many wonderful uses for them. A simple Google search will tell you the benefits of each oil and give you lots of natural ideas to try. Essential oils have been a very effective way for me to live a more natural lifestyle.
#5 Take better care of yourself
While this sounds like a no-brainer, any busy mom knows that it’s not always easy to care for yourself when you have a house full of family that needs you. But how can we take care of others if we’re not taking care of ourselves?
Try to get enough sleep so you can accomplish everything on your giant to-do list. Make sure to stop working for a few minutes so you can eat a healthy meal. This berry smoothie or simple granola recipe are the perfect breakfasts for those busy mornings! You can even indulge with this natural coconut hot chocolate when it’s cold outside.
Take the time to exercise. Walking around the park, going to the gym, going on a hike, or running on the beach are all great ways to get your body moving. I’ve also found that when I exercise, I’m less likely to indulge in sweets and fatty foods. Double bonus!
#6 Grow your food
My husband and I have been busy planting an orchard of trees in our backyard. It’s true! I’ve always dreamed of having an orchard like my grandparents did. We have planted apples, peaches, plums, nectarines, kiwi, oranges, blood oranges, grapefruit, lemons, limes, avocados, cherries, pecans, almonds, and bay trees.
It’s given me such an appreciation for the food that I eat. It’s so exciting to watch each tree. Who knew one could get so excited about new leaves on a tree, or the joy of watching tiny buds grow into sweet fruit?
Our trees are still young and have only produced a small amount of fruit so far, so I still go to Sprouts for most of my fruits and veggies. I can’t wait to supplement our diets with the healthy food we are growing. Find a Sprouts near you! You can also download the Sprouts App in the Apple Store and the Sprouts App in the Google Play Store.
Hopefully I’ve shown you that it doesn’t take a drastic lifestyle change to start living a more healthy lifestyle. Small, gradual changes will lead to a healthier, more natural life, and can pave the way for bigger changes down the road. I’m not perfect at it by any means, but I’m taking purposeful, small steps towards life a natural lifestyle, and wanted to share with you what’s been working for me.
What are your favorite tips for a natural lifestyle?
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