Embrace a healthy life: How to start clean living today!

Have you ever wondered how you could start clean living? Well, good news: It’s not as daunting as it seems. You don’t need to completely overhaul your life to start living clean. There are small steps you can take to implement changes little by little. Over time, these tiny changes will make a big difference in your overall health and well-being.

What is clean living?

couple using clean living products at home

A clean lifestyle focuses on a healthy and eco-friendly way of living. This can refer to adopting many kinds of new habits and behaviors, such as eating organic foods, using natural cleaning products, choosing green transportation options, and investing in renewable energy.

For some, clean living is about incremental everyday changes to their lives and routines that will positively impact both their health and the environment. For others, it’s a complete lifestyle overhaul. Whatever approach to clean living you decide on, the goal is always the same: to live a healthier, happier life in harmony with our planet.

Benefits of clean living

There are many benefits to living a clean lifestyle, although it’s important to note that the benefits you experience are relative to how you live now and what changes you decide to make. The more aspects of your life where you apply clean-living principles, the more benefits you’re likely to discover.

Those who started down the clean-living path have anecdotally associated the following benefits with the changes they’ve embraced:

• Improved mental clarity and focus
• Increased physical energy
• Improved digestion
• Reduced risk of disease
• Improved sleep quality
• Reduced stress levels
• Improved skin health
• Increased libido
• Improved sense of smell
• Increased sense of taste

Making changes to start clean living

It’s like taking baby steps. Making small changes in our lives can wind up paying off later in terms of overall health. One of the first ways to start living is by taking the reins on how you treat your body—the input of healthy foods and sleep and the output of energy through effective exercise. By eating healthy, exercising, and getting enough sleep, we can start living cleaner lives that lead to improved physical, mental, and emotional health.

• Establishing a healthy diet
• Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables.
• Include lean protein with every meal.
• Include healthy fats in your diet.
• Limit your intake of processed and sugary foods.

Creating a fitness plan

Fitness goals—like any good goals—should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. In other words, don’t set a goal like “lose weight.” Dig down and get more specific. A more effective goal would be something like “lose 10 pounds in 3 months.” Sometimes it’s easy to forget the basics, like warming up before working out. Remember to stretch and warm up before your workout routine, and then cool down afterward. A proper warmup helps prevent injuries, and a cooldown aids your muscles’ recovery.

Avoiding toxic chemicals in food and your home

We live in a modern era when there are so many chemicals in our food and homes that can be harmful to our health. To live a healthier lifestyle, reduce your exposure to these toxins. The key to this is finding suitable replacements for those products that come with long lists of harsh ingredients and chemicals.

One way to avoid toxic chemicals in our food is to eat organic. Organic food is labeled “organic” when it’s grown without synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers. It’s also not genetically modified. Eating organic food can help reduce your exposure to harmful chemicals.

Cleaning is another way chemicals get into the home. You can also avoid harsh chemicals in your home by ditching the usual chemical-laden cleaners and switching to cleaning products with naturally derived ingredients. Many conventional cleaning products contain harmful chemicals that get released into the air whenever you use them. You can inhale these chemicals or absorb them through your skin. Choose natural cleaning products with ingredients that are safe for you and the environment.

Clean-living practices to try

• Filter your water: You are what you eat—and what you drink even more so! Another way to reduce your exposure to toxins is to filter your water. This removes harmful chemicals and impurities, making it safer to drink.
• Avoid plastic: Plastic is one of the most common sources of toxins in our environment. Avoid using plastic as much as possible and look for alternatives made from glass, metal, or other sustainable materials.
• Detox Your home: Many of the products we use in our homes come loaded with harsh chemicals. To create a more detoxified home, switch to natural cleaning products and personal care items. Many great brands offer non-toxic yet effective alternatives to conventional household products.
• Get some plants: Not only do plants beautify your home, but they also help purify the air.

Find your best way into getting started with clean living

When looking at lifestyle changes, they can be overwhelming at first. Usually, it’s not a bad thing to look at the big picture, but in this case, it might be. Stop looking at the big picture. Look at the little swaps and changes that will make a small yet significant impact on your diet, exercise, cleaning, and lifestyle. Start by simply substituting food and cooking at home more often. Take a little walk each day—a little something for both the body and mind.