Three Simple Steps Towards a Toxin-Free Home

Creating a toxin free home is incredibly trendy right now. It can also feel incredibly overwhelming.

And it is worth so much more than just keeping up with the trends. Trends come and go, but the health benefits you and your family can enjoy when you cut out unnecessary toxins and chemicals can literally last you a lifetime.

Now before I go any farther, I need you to know that I am not a die-hard crunchy mom. There are currently marshmallows and candy canes in my pantry. Bleach and Shout are gracing my laundry room shelves. I am not a super radical person and I do things best in small steps. So, if you want to radically overhaul your house and lifestyle, you might want to find another blog. But if baby-steps are your gait and taking things one bit at a time fits your lifestyle, then stick with me, because we can be baby-step besties!

The first step...
If you want to start stripping your home of toxins and chemicals, you need to turn that want into a why. Why do you want to get rid of your harmful chemicals? What's making you try to decipher the ingredients on your baby's lotion? Everyone may have slightly different reasons, but it's important to know your own why, if you want to stick with it. You don't need to write it down or make a chart or anything. Just know it in your head. If you want to write it down on the cover of your planner though, go for it! Do what works for you.

For me, eating healthier and cutting out mainstream products isn't about always keeping the flu at bay, but about being proactive about my family's future health. If I can ditch the name brand baby powder and drastically reduce my daughter's risk of cancer, why wouldn't I?

The second step...
What is in your home that you would like to change? Most of us have a mental list of things we'd like to change. Does it bother you to use your microwave? Maybe you find it hard to use any of your baby products, because you just read an article that outlined some of the potential health risks. Maybe your child has eczema and you want to get rid of it. Or your cleaners give you a coughing fit every time you use them. 

Whatever you want to change, make a mental list or put your pen to the paper and write it down. Or type it out. Just figure out what you want to change. Talk about it with a friend or your spouse. Do some research and find some of the most harmful, risky-to-your-health products you use every day.

The third step...
Just take one step at a time. Your switch over doesn't have to be as dramatic as a landslide. You can make one simple switch a week or even a month and slowly change your lifestyle. 

Our tendency as humans is to go all or none. If we can't change everything at once, we throw our hands in the air and say "what's the use?" But I'm here to tell you that taking baby steps is the best way towards progress. 

Look or think over your list and pick one thing and go with it. Figure out which thing would fit in with your lifestyle the easiest.

​Is money an issue? Pick something that doesn't cost extra. Go a month without using the microwave. Cut sugar or white flour out of your diet or maybe stop using fabric softener. 

If money isn't the issue, start with the easiest thing on your list. It's pretty simple to throw away your aluminum filled deodorant and order a healthy alternative.

Maybe you're looking at a lifestyle change because of some health issues, so start with that. Find a chemical, toxin-free product that targets that particular issue. (i.e. ditch the Johnson baby lotion for one that doesn't disrupt hormones or irritate eczema.) If you need a diet change, start a pinterest board or order a cookbook and get started. 

The bottom line
It is so easy to slowly start living clean. You don't need to change everything at once, but neither will you see any benefits if you sit on your hands in sheer overwhelm. Pick one thing, the thing that makes the most sense with your why and your current lifestyle, and change it. After you get in the groove with that, pick another thing.

When we add healthy changes slowly and at a doable rate, the chances that we'll stick to them increase drastically. If you're a busy mom, the last thing you need is to add unneeded stress and pressure to your life. You don't need to be changing 5 things at a time (unless it's because of health reasons for yourself or a family member). You just need to pick one thing to change and focus on it until it fits into your life as naturally as the thing you replaced. Easy peasy, friends!

Have you made any health conscious changes the last while? Share in the comments - I'd love to hear what changes were important to you and your family!

If you liked these posts, you might like these:

When You're All Tuckered Out and Still Asked to Serve

100% Pure, toxin-free products

Becoming a Warrior-Hearted Mom