Here are my easy tips to become a toxin free family without stressing out about it. Reduce toxic chemicals in your home and begin to learn new healthy habits for a “green” lifestyle.
I’ve always been a fairly “green” person,I try to be eco-friendly, I try to eat well, following a plant based diet, and have always avoided obvious toxic cleaners and chemicals. But there are still areas I need to improve in and learn more about.
If I’m honest, one of the hardest things for me about going toxin free is finding a balance between educating myself on the dangers we are surrounded by while not freaking out or becoming overly paranoid.
Accepting that I don’t live on a “non-toxic island” and can only do the best I can do, while continuing to make small steps towards improvements seems to be the best strategy for me.
PIN BECOMING A TOXIN FREE FAMILY
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Although I am not even close to making all of the changes in my life that I want to, I feel like I have made a lot of progress and continue to do so! As I research and learn more, I will post about what I have learned here on my blog, so be sure to subscribe to stay updated.
3 EASY TIPS TO BECOMING A TOXIN FREE FAMILY
DON’T GET OVERWHELMED. TAKE SMALL STEPS
I’ll say this over and over: ONE STEP AT A TIME. While it might be tempting to jump in and try to do it all overnight, you’ll soon find yourself too overwhelmed with information and all of the changes that need to be made. It’s too much to tackle in one go around, so pace yourself and remember that it’s a marathon, not a sprint.
Pick one new thing to focus on a week (or month) and just focus on that.
One you feel comfortable with that change, and have developed a solid new habit, then add something else.
For example, I focused on first replacing any chemical cleaning products I had with more natural options, like making my own homemade laundry detergent. I have a free ebook about non-toxic cleaning using essential oils if you would like to download it here:
After that I upped my game with organic foods. Though I’ve always eaten largely organic, getting more organized with my meal planning and budget has helped me to be able to afford even more organic produce and even packaged foods. I also have a free ebook that you can download called EATING ORGANIC ON A BUDGET that contains some helpful resources, including the Dirty Dozen List. You can snag it here:
I also have invested in a quality water filter to focus the chlorine and other chemicals from our family’s drinking and cooking water.
Whatever you decide is the highest priority for you and your family is where you should start. Just remember that it’s a process and to enjoy the journey!
USE ONLINE RESOURCES TO HELP
There are a handful of really helpful resources that you can use as you learn more. Here are some of the best:
Environmental Working Group:
I’ve found The Environmental Working Group consumer guides to be a helpful resource. Be sure to check out their Skin Deep guide and Guide to Healthy Cleaning.
You can use this resource to find ratings on almost any baby, kid or adult products. So if you’re going to buy something, look it up here first. You want to use products that are close to a “ZERO” rating, or an “A”. These are the products that contain the least chemicals and are the least harmful.
Other resources:
Some other great sites are:: Safe Mama, EcoLife and Think Dirty. Also check out healthystuff.org for ratings on toys, car seats baby items and healthychild.org for baby and household products.
Don’t hesitate to contact a company directly and ask for more information about their products. Research, research and research!
DON’T GET FANATICAL. IT’S ABOUT BALANCE
Do your best to keep away from all the toxins out there, but don’t stress it. It’s basically impossible to avoid ALL of the bad stuff out there these days, so do your best and then let it go.
Do what you can, but don’t be afraid to trust your body. Remember that your body is an INCREDIBLE machine and can take care of you in ways you never even imagined. Besides, I think getting too stressed about it is probably a bigger hit on our health in the long run.
Life is about finding BALANCE, and you will eventually find the balance that works best for you and your family. There is no right and wrong, and you’ll find your needs and priorities will change over time. And that’s ok.
Give yourself the space and time to figure out what works for you.
Just remember, you CAN do this, but it’s better to take baby steps than no steps at all.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out! I’ll do my best to help you on your journey!
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