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?

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
  • Improved sense of smell
  • Increased sense of taste

 

Making changes to start clean living

With clean living, one of the most important steps you can take is to establish a healthy diet. This means eating nutritious foods that help your body function at its best. Often, it’s difficult to figure out what foods are right for you, but here are some general guidelines you can follow.

  1. Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables
    If eating were a sport, fruits and vegetables would be home runs and touchdowns. Packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, they’re essential to good, long-term health and nutrition. The best way to achieve your healthy dietary goals is to aim to eat a rainbow of colors to get the most benefit.
  2. Include lean protein with every meal
    Your body can’t build protein on its own. Plus, protein helps you feel fuller for longer while also providing your body with the building blocks it needs to maintain proper function.
  3. Include healthy fats in your diet
    Healthy fats are important to give you that full feeling, along with supporting hormone production and balance. Sometimes it can be hard to know what’s healthy fat versus bad fat. Good sources of healthy fats include olive oil, avocados, nuts, and seeds.
  4. Limit your intake of processed and sugary foods
    In the diet game, these are penalties, lost yardage, and strikeouts, so keep them to a minimum so you stay in the game! Processed and sugary foods provide empty calories, which can lead to weight gain and other health problems along the way. So, if you have a sweet tooth, you’ll have to work hard to keep it in check.

 

Creating a fitness plan

Everyone knows that regular exercise is good for you. The problem is finding the time or motivation to do it. Does this sound familiar? If you’re stuck in a fitness rut like so many others, maybe it’s time to create a fitness plan that will work for you.

The best way to start your fitness plan is to find an activity that you enjoy doing and then stick with it. If you hate running, don’t force yourself to run just because it’s exercise. It may be good for you, but it might not be right for you. There are plenty of other options to choose from out there, so find something that you’ll look forward to! Once you’ve nailed that “fun” factor, then it’s time to set goals.

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.”

Now that you have your goal, it’s time to put together your plan. Start by finding a time when you can exercise regularly. Just make sure you schedule it into your week like you would any other appointment. If you need help finding time, think about ways to fit in mini-workouts throughout the day. For example, you could do a 20-minute workout in the morning before work and a 30-minute workout in the evening after dinner.

Finally, if you’re tight on time, 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.

Follow these tips, and you’ll be on your way to creating a fitness plan that works for you. Before you know it, you’ll be feeling fitter and healthier than ever.

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. Look for food that’s certified organic and free of pesticides, herbicides, and other chemicals. When possible, buy locally-grown organic produce. This way, it not only contributes to healthier living, but it also supports sustainable farming practices.

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

  1. 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. If you look, you’ll find there are a variety of water filters available on the market. It won’t be hard to find one that fits your needs.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Get some plants
    Not only do plants beautify your home, but they also help purify the air. Certain plants are especially effective at filtering out toxins and improving indoor air quality. Some of our favorites include bamboo, aloe vera, and snake plants.
  5. Exercise outdoors
    Spending time outdoors is great for your mental and physical health. However, it’s important to stay aware of the air quality in your area before exercising outdoors. If the air quality is poor, opt for indoor activities instead.
  6. Wear natural fibers
    Many clothing items are crafted from synthetic materials that can release toxins into the air. To avoid this, opt for clothing fashioned from natural fibers like cotton, wool, or linen.

Find your best way into getting started with clean living

When looking at lifestyle changes, they can be overwhelming at first. You can start by looking 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.

As you become more comfortable with these little clean-living tweaks to your lifestyle, future changes become that much more doable. Build up to the big changes, like switching to all-organic products or cutting out processed foods completely, and you’ll see how capable you are and how simple clean living can be.

Stay tuned to Young Livingchallenge announcement early next month, join us and take your first step in making a change!

This post is also available in: Chinese (Traditional)