Living Holistically: Natural Remedies for Everyday Life

If you have been wanting to live a more natural lifestyle, it doesn’t start with the big 
chances, but the small ones. Those things you decide to incorporate into your daily 
routine, from trying to live more sustainable, to using essential oils.

Keep reading to learn more about different natural remedies and ways to live more 
holistically in your daily life.


1. Intro to Holistic Living


What it Means to Live Holistically 

When we talk about living more holistically, it means to live more naturally. You are 
connecting your mind, body, and spirit, reducing waste, encouraging natural remedies, 
and improving your overall wellness. There are so many different ways to incorporate 
holistic living into your life, but here are some things to understand about this lifestyle.


Benefits of Living More Holistically

Not sure why you should live a more natural and holistic lifestyle? Here are some of the 
top benefits:

Preventative medicine – Natural living is often confused with never going to the doctor 
again. This is not true! Instead, it is more of a way to manage your health and prevent 
the need for conventional medicine, but you should still see your doctor if and when 
needed.

Less chemicals, additives, and artificial ingredients – The more natural you are, the 
less toxins, chemicals, and additives you are going to have in your food, cleaning 
supplies, and personal care products.

You can save money – Think of all the specialty items you no longer have to purchase 
when you begin reducing waste and living more holistically!

Overall wellness and health – Living a more natural and holistic lifestyle is not about 
being perfect, but instead just to improve your life. It is an amazing way to live a 
healthier life and work on overall wellness for your mind and body.





Knowing What You Need to Change

Holistic and natural are very broad terms that might mean different things to different 
people. To avoid becoming overwhelmed, it helps to understand some different simple 
ways to make changes.

Consider what your lifestyle is right now. Take a few days to journal what you tend to do 
from morning to evening. Add all the food, self care products, cleaning products, and 
everything else you use. What are your habits? Do the foods you eat contain a lot of 
unnecessary ingredients? Do you take a lot of over-the-counter medications? This is all 
important information to figure out how to live more holistically by making small 
changes.


Small Steps Make Big Improvements

For big improvements in your life, it takes small and simple steps. Do not attempt to 
change every single element of your life, replace all cleaning products, switch to all-
natural skincare products, and never eat a processed food ever again. This is not 
sustainable. Choose one small thing to change at a time, then when you get used to this 
new way of living, you can change the next thing.


Getting Started with Holistic Living 

If you are new to the holistic way of living, and aren’t quite sure how to start, this mini 
guide will help. You are going to learn about the importance of hydration, switching to  
more natural products, and some additional holistic habits to add into your life.


It All Starts with Water

Over half of your body is made up of water, so it makes sense that you need a lot of 
water continuously throughout the day in order to function smoothly. Water helps you 
stay hydrated, gives you natural energy, is amazing for your skin, and can keep you 
from snacking too much. Almost any issue you face externally or internally can at least 
be somewhat improved by drinking more water. 









Use Natural Products

To live a more holistic life, begin buying more natural products with clean ingredient, 
and reducing chemicals and additives. This includes a wide range of products, including 
cleaning, skincare, beauty, and so much more. There are over-the-counter natural 
options for just about everything you use in your life, from kitchen cleaners and air 
fresheners, to moisturizers and shampoo. Don’t try to do everything at once, but start 
changing one product at a time.

When you run out of something and go to the store to get more, just try to choose a 
more natural or organic option.


Feed Your Body Clean Ingredients

Begin switching to a cleaner diet made up mostly of whole foods and unprocessed 
meals that you cook in your home. This is such an easy way to live a more natural 
lifestyle, simply by not eating too many processed, prepackaged, and frozen foods. It 
will be healthier, save you money, and you will feel so much better. Plus it feels great 
when you feed your kids more homecooked meals.


Focus on Holistic Mind and Spirit Connections

It is also helpful to start focusing on your mind and spirit connections. This includes 
practicing mindfulness and meditation, unplugging from technology, reading more from 
real books, and writing in a journal. You want to choose activities that improve your 
emotional and mental health, expand your mind, help you learn, and help you get more 
in touch with yourself.

Maybe you spend all your time indoors and want some fresh air and vitamin D, so you 
choose to spend time outdoors as much as you can. Or you are under a lot of stress, 
and start journaling to get to the bottom of it. Use your current struggles to decide what 
will be the best option for you.


Holistic Living for Your Mind, Body, and Spirit

Natural living encompasses so much for your overall health and wellness. Some people 
think about natural living as the way they eat, others consider it about the cleaning 
products they use. But in reality, it is going to help your mind, body, and spirit all at 
once.




Defining Holistic Living for You

What do you think of when you think of holistic or natural living? It is really important to 
make this distinction first, because it means something different for everyone. It might 
depend on your current lifestyle and where you are now. Think about what you want to 
improve in your life to make it more natural. For some people, they think of holistic living 
as eating clean foods and using less technology, while other people are focused more 
on preventative care with things like natural herbs, essential oils, and other forms of 
alternative medicine.


Holistic Body

For a more holistic body, it often starts with what you put on and in your body. For 
natural foods and products, you are looking for less chemicals and additives, and more 
natural ingredients. Your body wants more natural products that come from the earth, 
so think about what is made organically that you can use on or in your body.

Consumption is a big part of holistic living, which includes organic produce, farm fresh 
eggs, local meat and poultry, and anything organically grown. You can add in exercise 
as a way to move your body and keep a healthy body, while using natural products on 
your hair and skin.


Holistic Mind

There are also some choices that help you develop a more holistic mind and mental 
health, such as writing in a journal, meditating, or practicing mindfulness. You can start 
using essential oils to relax instead of other medications, or gradually begin working on 
a yoga routine that helps you feel centered and balanced. 

An easy way to figure out what your mind needs right now is to think about ways in 
which you are stressed, anxious, or struggling with your feelings or emotions. This can 
help you figure out which direction to go.


Holistic Spirit

Your spirit connection is going to be similar to the activities you use for your mind. 
However, it expands more your soul and spirit, such as self-care and participating in 
activities that help you re-energize and feel more balance in your health and life. Many 
people turn to things like yoga or Pilates, meditation, a spirit practice, or grounding for 
their spirit and soul.



Common Mistakes People Make When Living More Naturally 

Wanting to live more naturally is a noble goal, but unfortunately many people don’t 
understand what this means, or make some common mistakes. Here are some areas 
where you might be going wrong, but don’t worry – they are all easy to fix.


Trying to do it All

A very common mistake made when trying to live more naturally is when you try to do it 
all. You can’t “win” at living a holistic life. You don’t need to do it 100 percent perfect 100 
percent of the time, and you definitely don’t have to dedicate all your time and energy to 
it. What this is going to do is overwhelm you, and make you think you are failing 
because if you don’t do everything perfectly, you won’t do anything at all. Remember 
that doing just a little something is better than doing nothing when it comes to living 
more holistically.


Not Making Consistent Change

It really is better to start slow with your new natural lifestyle, and work on changing small 
things, one at a time. Don’t attempt to change everything at once, but work on more of a 
consistent change. This allows you to take small steps that don’t completely change 
your life rapidly, and make you feel like you can’t keep up. Choose one thing at a time, 
like buying organic produce or switching out your skincare products for more natural 
ones, then change the next thing when you feel ready.


Failing to do Proper Research

If you don’t spend some time planning, researching, and educating yourself on living a 
holistic, sustainable lifestyle, you might not realize all the other mistakes you are 
making. Be sure you understand what is natural, what organic means, what you can 
recycle, and so much more. There is a lot to learn about living more holistically, being 
sustainable, and reducing waste. It is a BIG lifestyle change, and one that requires you 
to continuously learn more as you go along with it.


Forgetting About the Small Things

Living more simplistic and natural is not complicated and doesn’t have to be expensive. 
Don’t spend your entire budget on pricey essential oils and organic food. This is a 
common mistake that often leads to people giving up, because they think they can’t 
afford it. But there are many ways to cut costs and not make it so complicated for your 
family just to live a natural lifestyle.


2. Sustainability and Growing Your Own Food


How to Live More Sustainably

Being more sustainable might mean different things to different people. To simplify, it is 
about using the fewest amount of resources as possible in order to help protect the 
earth and climate. It is about reducing your carbon footprint by limiting the resources 
you use, which can be done in a variety of different ways.


Stop Buying Unnecessary Things

A super easy way to dip your feet in sustainable living is not to buy products that are 
unnecessary to your life, and are wasteful. This might include plastic water bottles when 
you know you can get clean water by just using a water filter at home. If you are buying 
paper plates and using them at home, is that really necessary? You can use your glass 
plates and wash them when you are done. Any foam paper products are terrible for the 
environment, so switch to something that can be reused or at the very least, recycled.


Eat Naturally and Locally

Another great way to live more sustainably is to buy local and natural foods. This is 
easy to do with local farmer’s markets and CSAs. Many locations also offer delivery or 
pickup of produce, meat, eggs, and honey from multiple farms in your area, so that is 
another great resource to look into. When you eat naturally and locally, you are helping 
your local farming community, getting fresh ingredients, and saving your environment 
with less transportation of goods. It also tends to use less materials for transport.


Start a Capsule Wardrobe

A capsule wardrobe is when you minimize your wardrobe to a select group of pieces. It 
doesn’t mean only having a minimal number of outfits, but really important pieces that 
you absolutely love, and that will go with multiple styles that you enjoy wearing. This 
means you no longer buy fast fashion, or buying new clothes just because they are a 
trend of the moment. 

Put more thought into the clothes you buy, and make sure each piece of clothing in your 
closet brings you joy. You can start by removing items you never wear or no longer 
enjoy, and donate them to people who might be in need of these clothing pieces.



Know What You Can Reuse or Recycle

It helps to know what you can recycle, and what can be reused in order to live more 
sustainably. For example, you know it is hard to recycle plastic food storage bags, but 
there are reusable bags that can be used in their place. When you empty a glass jar 
from mayonnaise or pickles, rinse it out and put it in your glass recycling, or you can 
even reuse it as a food storage container.


Reduce Waste in Your Home

Reducing waste in your home and that you use on a regular basis, including reusing 
and recycling, is a great way to live more naturally. It lets you be kinder to the 
environment, reduce your carbon footprint, and make use of as many materials as 
possible. 


Start Meal Planning and Cooking at Home

A simple way to start reducing waste in your home is to do meal planning and cook 
more meals at home. This helps you to reduce waste from processed foods and frozen 
food containers. Think about how many food containers you end up throwing away and 
not recycling just from eating out. Fast food restaurants wrap every single food item, 
plus most leftover containers are not recyclable. 

When you use a lot of processed ingredients, all that plastic and glass is just using 
precious resources that end up getting thrown away. The more you cook from home 
with fresh, whole ingredients, the less waste you are going to use.


Reuse Your Containers

There are likely many containers you purchase that hold different foods and ingredients, 
that you currently just throw out. But before you put anything in the trash, consider if it 
can be reused for something else.

For example, those plastic butter or margarine containers are a good size for smaller 
amounts of leftovers. You can reuse glass jars as jars to hold salads or other meal 
prepping ingredients. Often times, deli meats come in a plastic container that works 
great for bringing your lunch to work.






Learn How to Compost

Compost is the practice of taking much of what you would have thrown away, and 
instead returning it to the earth. All you really need is a good-sized compost bin where 
you will throw items like egg shells, banana peels, potato peels, coffee grounds, 
avocado skin, and vegetable scraps. You can also compost other items like grass 
clippings, printer paper, newspaper, and yard waste. Compost is great to add to your 
garden as natural fertilizer.


Reduce Waste in the Kitchen

A lot of the waste you go through in your home happens in the kitchen. Think of some 
more ways you can reduce waste in this area of your home.

Use microfiber cloths instead of paper towels. Stop buying single-use paper towels! 
These are such a waste and can’t be recycled. Microfiber cloths works just as well, if not 
better, to soak up liquids, clean, dry your hands, and so much more.

Get reusable baggies for lunches and snacks. Those plastic storage bags are not 
necessary when you can get reusable ones that are easy to rinse and keep using over 
and over again.


Living Naturally: Grow Your Own Food

Living naturally encompasses many different areas, all of which are great for your 
physical, mental, and emotional health. To boost your physical health even more, 
consider growing your own food. This is a great way to save money, have organic 
produce available to you, and reduce how much you need to buy from local 
supermarkets. 


Why You Should Consider Growing Your Own Food

Why grow your own good? Here are some benefits to keep in mind. 

You will save money – The first benefit you get from growing your own food is being 
able to save some money. The more you can grow on your own, the less you are 
spending at farmer’s markets or grocery stores. 

It saves you extra trips to the store – With instant access to produce and herbs that 
you grow at home, you might not need as many trips to the grocery store. You can work 
on a meal plan that uses more of what you are growing at home, so that your grocery 
trips are minimal and just need the ingredients you don’t have on hand.

You get organic food – Don’t forget that when you grow your own food, you have full 
control over how organic it is. You can grow it without any pesticides or herbicides, 
allowing you to have the cleanest, freshest food possible.


What You Need to Know Beforehand

Before you begin growing your own food, there are some important things to be aware 
of. 

It takes time – You do have to be a little patient when you begin your journey of 
growing your own food and herbs. If you want to use your lavender for medicines at 
home, prepare to wait a few weeks, but longer for many other herbs and produce. 

You need space – You are probably already aware that you need space to grow, either 
indoors or outdoors, but really think about what this means. Not only do you need space 
for the plants, but many seeds and plants can’t be grown near others. This is why the 
research is so important.

Better to start small – Lastly, we want to encourage you to start small and minimal 
when growing food and herbs. Choose just a few different varieties, instead of 
attempting to plant an entire garden full of fruits and veggies right from the start. This is 
a big transition and might change your lifestyle a bit with all the added care and 
watering.


Tips for Getting Started

Now that you have some background information about growing your own food, here 
are a few tips to help get you started:

Plants that are easy to grow – If this is your first time ever growing anything, start with 
the herbs and plants that are easiest to grow. This includes strawberries, tomatoes, 
potatoes, garlic, onion, and most herbs.

Many plants grow indoors – If you don’t have a lot of space in your backyard, you can 
grow tomatoes, lemons, strawberries, and even avocadoes right in your home in 
containers.

The most important thing to remember is to do research and planning, start with easy 
plants, and go from there.





5 Tips for Growing Your Own Herbs

Living a more natural and holistic life has many facets, including what you eat and 
where you get your food. To be as holistic as possible, consider growing herbs from 
home. Not only can you use herbs to cook, but you can also use some of them for 
healing and natural medicine. You will save money and ensure you have the most 
organic herbs possible.


1. Have a Plan Beforehand 

The first step to growing your own herbs is the prep stage. You want to take some time 
figuring out where you will place your garden, what you intend to grow and ways you 
are going to use them, and how much room you are going to need. This is when the 
research comes in handy. The worst thing you can do is just go buy some seeds and 
fertilizer, and start planting without having planned exactly what you intend to do 
beforehand.


2. Decide Between Seeds or Start Plants 

There are two main ways to grow herbs; you can start them from seeds, or you can 
purchase plants that have been started for you. Naturally, if you are a beginner at 
growing, the plants are going to be much easier for you. This is recommended for most 
people who are starting their very first herb garden, as you ease into caring for herbs, 
without having to start them from seeds.


3. Become Familiar with Each Herb 

Before you start planting your herbs, understand what each herb needs you to do as far 
as care and growing it healthy. Every herb will have different guidelines, such as how 
much water it needs, when to give it direct sunlight, and whether it needs to be in a 
container or in the ground.

For example:

Mint grows very fast, and works best in a container with only mint in it. Mint grows well 
in sunlight, but it can also use a bit of shade and still grow well. 

With rosemary, it grows better in cool climates that have sun, and needs to be brought 
indoors during the winter.




4. Caring for Your Herbs

While many herbs can be grown indoors in planters, they still need to be close to a 
window. Some plants may need to be moved outdoors for at least a few hours, as most 
herbs should get 3-4 hours of direct sunlight each day. Again, this will depend on your 
herbs. 

Remember that care includes sunlight and temperature control, watering, and using the 
right soil. 


5. Harvest When Ready

Something to keep in mind when harvesting your herbs is that the more often you do it 
(when they are ready), the healthier the herb plant will continue to grow. Again, look at 
each variety’s instructions to understand harvesting guidelines.





























 
3. Reduce Chemicals in Your Home


How to Reduce Toxic Chemicals 

In order to live a more natural lifestyle and become someone who takes a holistic 
approach, that requires reducing chemicals in the different products you use. Here are 
some different ways you can reduce chemicals, including in your cleaning products, 
skincare products, and even your food.


You Don’t Need Fragrance

One of the easiest ways to reduce the amount of unnecessary chemicals in your day to 
day life is by getting rid of fragrance. In most cases, it really isn’t necessary. Think of all 
the products you use each day that contain fragrance, which does nothing more than 
make things smell a little better for a very short period of time. Do you really need them?

For example, the spray you use to dust your wood furniture probably smells like lemon 
or orange. This is an added ingredient that is likely not natural, and also not necessary. 
Fragrance is often found in skincare products, cleaning products, laundry detergent, and 
so many other items that don’t need fragrance. 


Use Natural Cleaning Supplies

Speaking of cleaning your home, you can use natural ingredients to clean more 
efficiently or purchase over-the-counter natural and organic cleaning products. This is a 
great way to reduce the amount of toxic chemicals you are using. 

Instead of throwing away all your current cleaning products just to buy new ones – 
which is not good for waste reduction – start slow. When a cleaning product runs out, 
such as your all-purpose cleaner, just look for a more natural option or use natural 
cleaning ingredients like vinegar and baking soda.


Check Your Makeup and Skincare Products

Similarly, look at the ingredients of your makeup, hair, skincare, and beauty products. 
These might also contain some added toxins or chemicals that are unnecessary to help 
with your personal care routine. Some ingredients to look for include sodium laureth 
sulfate and parabens. These are not going to improve your skin and hair, and in most 
cases, are completely unnecessary. A lot of companies make more natural and organic 
products if you are not interested in making your own from home.


Choose More Organic Foods Whenever Possible

As far as what you put into your body, you want to choose natural and organic as much 
as possible. This is going to reduce waste and allows you to support your local farming 
communities. When choosing foods from the grocery store, look for organic produce, 
don’t choose anything pre-cut as it contains extra plastic containers you don’t need, and 
pay attention to ingredients of anything canned or boxed.


Easy, Natural Ways to Clean Your Home

Everyone wants to have a clean home, but if you are looking to live a more holistic life, it 
might be time to switch to natural cleaners. Your commercial cleaning products are 
often filled with chemicals and additives that don’t help clean your home any better and 
contain unnecessary ingredients. Here are some easy and natural ways to clean your 
home.


Natural Cleaning Ingredients

Before you start cleaning your home, you need to compile some natural ingredients and 
tools. For natural cleaning, some of the best ingredients include white distilled vinegar, 
baking soda, lemon, borax, cornstarch, essential oils, and of course good old fashioned 
water. You will also need a few supplies for making your own natural cleaning products 
including empty spray bottles and possibly measuring spoons or measuring cups.


Easy Changes to Make Right Now

Over time, you will start understanding all the different ways to clean your home, but for 
now, let’s keep things simple. Here are a few different ways to clean your home 
naturally, that doesn’t require much more than what you have on hand now. 

Use microfiber cloths – With microfiber cloths, they do a lot of the cleaning without 
needing anything other than water, or maybe a little baking soda for scrubbing. They are 
gentle, kind to the environment, and can be used over and over again.

Stop buying scented products – You don’t need added scents in your cleaning 
products. You can find natural ways to improve the smell of your home, including 
essential oil diffusers to provide natural fragrance at any time.

Vinegar and citrus is the perfect combo – Any time you need to do some light 
cleaning or disinfecting, all you need is citrus and white vinegar. These together work 
great for cleaning windows, wiping down countertops, and even mopping the floors.

Make a habit of cleaning as you go – Reduce how much scrubbing you need to do by 
cleaning more as you go. Rinse dishes when you put them in the sink, wipe down 
counters after cooking, and rinse your shower walls more often.


Natural Cleaning Products You Can Make at Home

Now for some more natural cleaning products you can make right at home with the 
ingredients listed above.

Deodorize with Baking Soda – Baking soda is going to be your best friend when you 
decide to use natural cleaning products. It is excellent for scrubbing, but don’t forget 
about deodorizing. Sprinkle it in your bathtub, toilet, or garbage can, let it sit for a bit, 
then rinse with water and things will smell much better.

All-Purpose Cleaner – You can make your own all-purpose cleaner with just white 
distilled vinegar, water, and lemon. Use about one part water with one part vinegar, then 
add the rind from a lemon to the bottle for added scent. Just be careful about using the 
acidic products on granite or marble.


Eat Cleaner to Reduce Chemicals in Your Food

As you begin your journey of learning to live a more natural and holistic life, you will be 
much more aware of what you put in your body. So many processed foods contain 
chemicals, additives, MSG, and so many more ingredients that you not only want to 
digest, but are completely unnecessary. That is why eating a clean diet is 
recommended so often. 


Types of Food Additives

It helps to first understand what food additives might be in your food, which tells you 
which direction to go. Look closely at the ingredients of any processed food you eat, 
specifically for some of these ingredients:

High-fructose corn syrup – There is no reason you should ever need to buy 
something with high fructose corn syrup. This is a type of additive that makes your food 
sweeter, and is even used in foods you wouldn’t need to sweeten. For example, some 
store-bought premade chicken salad that is used in chicken salad sandwiches contains 
high fructose corn syrup, even though it should be naturally sweet with the cranberries 
and apples used.



Nitrates and nitrites – These are most often found in deli meat and other processed 
meats. It is a type of preservative that is going to help keep the food fresher longer, as 
well as giving it the salty flvor you want. The problem is that it has been linked to a 
higher risk of certain cancers, higher cholesterol, and just in general not a healthy or 
necessary additive.

Food coloring – Lastly, look out for artificial food coloring in your food, yet another 
unnecessary ingredient often used in processed foods. All it does it change the color 
and brightness of food to make it look more appealing, but there is no reason to use it. 
You might see ingredients like Yellow 6 or Red 40, which are just food dyes.


When to Choose Organic

Now that you understand what chemicals and artificial ingredients might be used, you 
can start eating a cleaner diet. This often means going organic, but when do you really 
need organic foods? Here are some things to start with. 

Will you eat the skin? – A really easy way to choose what produce to buy organic is if 
you will eat the skin. For example, bananas get peeled, which means it doesn’t really 
need to be purchased organic if you are on a budget. However, fruits and vegetables 
like apples and pears, you typically do eat the skin, so in this case it might be better to 
choose the organic option.

Dirty dozen – There is a list known as the dirty dozen, that includes 12 fruits and 
vegetables that tend to contain more pesticides. If you can purchase these organic, that 
is highly recommended. They include spinach, kale, strawberries, grapes, cherries, 
peaches, apples, nectarines, celery, pears, potatoes, and tomatoes.

Eggs, meat, and fish – Beyond produce, it is also a good idea to go organic, farm 
fresh, and pasture raised with things like eggs, meat, poultry, and fish. 

When you can afford it – Lastly, don’t underestimate the importance of sticking to a 
budget. This allows you to have extra money for other areas of your new holistic living 
journey. If you can’t afford organic, don’t worry too much about it.











4. Holistic Impacts on Your Emotional Health


Become More Self-Aware with Mindfulness

Mindfulness provides some amazing benefits during your mission to live more 
holistically, from helping you to live in the moment, to reducing stress and anxiety. An 
excellent perk of being more mindful is becoming more self-aware. It helps you to find 
clarity and understand who you are, who you want to be, and what might be holding you 
back.


Meditate and Practice Breathing Exercises

To start working on your mindfulness, you can become more self-aware by meditating 
and practicing breathing exercises. Meditation is going to help you really focus your 
mind on being more mindful through the practice. Keep in mind that it takes some time 
getting used to meditation, but breathing exercises are really helpful in the beginning. 
You can start by just focusing on your breathing, being in a meditative state while you 
slowly inhale and exhale, and do this for just a few minutes a day.


Focus on Just One Activity at a Time

Mindfulness is about being in the moment, but that is really hard to do when your mind 
is concentrating on 5 things at once. Try to realign your thoughts to just one task or 
activity at a time and don’t focus on anything else during this time. If you are reading a 
book, don’t let your mind wander to your to-do list or what you plan to eat for dinner. 
When you are enjoying some time with family, try to keep your focus on just that one 
activity, and not what you intend to do after. 


Slow Down and Sit in Silence

It is not uncommon for us to be focused on one thing when we are doing something 
else. Maybe you always listen to music when going for a walk or you watch TV when 
you are eating dinner. Try to do these activities in silence, where you are concentrating 
on the present experience, instead of trying to constantly be distracted.

If you are not used to doing this, try it during one meal a day. Choose a meal, like 
breakfast or lunch, where you only focus on your meal. Don’t listen to music, read a 
book, or use your phone. Just sit quietly and concentrate on the experience of eating 
this meal.



Move Your Body More Often

Spend some time each day moving your body. This doesn’t need to be a strenuous 
exercise, but get up and go for a walk, do some yoga, or even just dance around your 
living room. Regular exercise helps you to be more self-aware of your body and your 
health, and allows you to really appreciate how much movement you can get.


Nurture Your Emotional Health

When you are focusing on living a more natural and sustainable life, don’t forget about 
your emotional health. So many people focus on their physical health and their 
environment, but forget about their mental and emotional wellbeing.

Here are some easy and natural ways to nurture your emotional health.


Find Healthy Ways to Deal with Your Emotions

If you are someone that tends to turn to food or unhealthy habits like drinking or 
recreational drugs, then you are doing more harm to your emotional health than 
necessary. You need to find healthier ways to deal with your emotions, whether it is 
sadness, anger, frustration, stress, or even happiness and joy.

Think about the emotions or feelings you tend to bottle up or cover up with unhealthy 
habits. Maybe you eat a lot when you are stressed or you turn to alcohol when you are 
sad. Not only are these unhealthy, but they are harming your emotional health because 
you are not dealing with the emotions themselves.

Instead, try writing in a journal, practicing meditation, and just sitting with your feelings.


Use Mindfulness to Be Aware of Your Reactions

Mindfulness is a great way to learn what you are feeling, when, and why. With 
mindfulness, you are in each moment, understanding and appreciating what you are 
going through presently, without worrying about the past or the future. Each task and 
activity gets your full attention so you can enjoy and embrace it before moving on to the 
next. It is a wonderful way to nurture your emotional and mental health.







Work to Manage Stress in Your Daily Life

Stress takes a large toll on your emotional and physical health. There is no better time 
to figure out your stress triggers and work to manage it in healthier ways. 

Start by understanding your own signs of stress. There are both physical and emotional 
signs of stress, such as:

Being overly tired or fatigued
Craving a lot of sugar and refined carbs
Lack of focus or brain fog
Chronic pain
Digestive issues
Mood swings and irritability

Once you can identify how you personally change when you are stressed, you will be 
able to start tracking what is causing the stress. This lets you know where to start when 
it comes to managing your stress a little better.


Find More Purpose Behind What You Do

Every action you take should have a purpose, so if you find that you keep making 
decisions or doing things mindlessly, now is a good time to reassess. Every time you 
are about to complete a task or participate in an activity, ask yourself why. Do you have 
a specific purpose, or is it just habit? The more meaning you find behind what you do, 
the more nurtured your mental state becomes.


Self-Care and its Impact on Your Holistic Lifestyle

Self-care is all about nurturing your body and mind, helping you to relax and reduce 
stress. It is a way to remind you to take care of yourself, not just other people in your 
life. You can combine self-care with your journey to being more holistic with the 
following tips. 


Spend More Time in Nature

If you are like most people, you don’t spend much time outdoors unless you absolutely 
have to. But the more time you spend in nature and really make this a joyful, mindful 
experience, the more self-care you will give yourself on a regular basis.



Being in nature provides you with multiple benefits. You are getting fresh air which is 
always a good thing, plus you get a natural source of vitamin D for healthy energy and a 
happier mood. Nature allows you to be more grounded when you can stand in grass or 
dirt with bare feet, and you tend to get more exercise outside since you are walking 
around more than you would indoors.


Buy Flowers and Plants for Your Home

Bring nature inside! It is not always possible to spend large amounts of time outside, but 
you can definitely bring some of the earth’s beauty into your home and office. Nobody 
can stay outside all day, but when you are in your office or inside your home, you can 
have fresh-cut flowers or house plants to give you oxygen and really help you embrace 
the beauty of what lies just outside your shelter.


Use Essential Oils and Herbs

You are also able to use essential oils and herbs as a way to practice self-care in 
natural and holistic ways. Make essential oils part of your self-care routine by turning on 
a diffuser with relaxing oils like lavender or chamomile during your nighttime routine, or 
put some sweet orange or bergamot oils in the morning when you are writing in your 
journal or doing morning yoga for energy.


Unplug and Relax Without Technology

Take some time each day to relax without using any technology. It doesn’t have to be 
for a long time, but just put away your phone, close your computer, and turn off your TV. 
You can read a book, do some light yoga or other exercise, play with your kids or dogs, 
go for a walk, or just sit and do something creative.


Why Reducing Stress is Key to Living Holistically

If you want to live more naturally and incorporate it into your lifestyle, don’t forget about 
your mind and emotional health. When you have high amounts of stress, you tend to 
look toward unhealthy habits to deal with it, but there are many natural remedies as 
well.  







Use Stress-Relieving Essential Oils

An easy way to reduce stress for your new holistic life is to use essential oils for this 
purpose. Essential oils are extracted from the petals, leaves, and stems from various 
plants, herbs, and flowers. Some of the best essential oils for relieving stress are 
lavender, chamomile, lemon, orange, and bergamot. To relieve stress, you can put a 
few drops of them in an essential oil diffuser, or add them to your bath water.


Daily Habits That Help to Relieve Stress

There are also some daily habits that are going to ensure you are reducing stress and 
really embracing a holistic lifestyle. For example, eating a healthy diet and getting 
regular exercise does wonders for your stress levels. Don’t do this as a way to be 
restrictive in your life, but instead just to focus on health and balance. You can try 
relaxing exercises like yoga and tai chi, or just practice a morning stretching routine.

Some other daily habits that help a lot with stress include writing in a journal, reading, 
unplugging from technology, meditating, practicing mindfulness, and just having a 
healthy daily routine.


The Bad Habits You Need to Break

You might have some habits that are doing the opposite for you, and are harming your 
health and holistic living. These can often seem harmless, but really take a toll on your 
stress levels. For example, if you use social media a lot, especially with notifications on 
your phone, it is giving you constant sources of stress. Comparing yourself to others, 
reading the news, seeing negative or toxic updates, even just reading negativity in the 
comments can be hard on your mental state. 

Some other bad habits that you should break include emotional or stress eating, talking 
to people who you feel are toxic to your mental health, not getting adequate movement 
or exercise, and turning to stimulants instead of trying to relieve your stress in natural 
ways.


Incorporate Adaptogens into Your Life

If you have a large amount of stress in your life, one natural remedy that helps you live 
a more holistic life is with adaptogens. These are a type of herbal supplement that 
actually help you to adapt better to stress. You can’t always reduce the sources of 
stress in your life, but you can definitely help support your adrenal glands to help your 
better deal with it a little better. A popular type of adaptogen for stress is ashwagandha. 


5. Alternative Medicine for Overall Health and Wellness


Components of Alternative Medicine

Alternative medicine is not one type of medicine, but encompasses everything aside 
from regular medical intervention. This might include using herbs and essential oils, 
getting acupuncture, meditation and mindfulness, and so much more. Here are some of 
the different components of alternative medicine.


Alternative Medicine as Preventative Measures

The first area of alternative medicine is used as preventative medicine. It does not 
replace conventional western medicine, but instead helps you to reduce how often you 
need to see a doctor. It is a great way to take care of mild health issues and general 
health and wellness, to hopefully avoid how much you need medical treatment.

This type of alternative medicine might include eating a healthy diet, taking the right 
vitamins and supplements, using herbs or essential oils for things like chronic pain or 
inflammation in the body, exercising, and using herbal remedies.


Alternative Medicine for the Body

There is some alternative medicine that is better for your body, though keep in mind it 
has some mental benefits as well. Alternative medicine that is good for the body 
includes exercise, massage, and movement. For example, if you have chronic pain, 
maybe you will see a chiropractor to get an adjustment. Someone who has pain or 
stress-related physical issues might get a massage or seek help from an osteopathic 
physician. 

This also includes gentle forms of exercise like yoga, tai chi, and stretching exercises.


Alternative Medicine for the Mind

There is also alternative medicine meant more for your mind, including behavioral and 
mental health. This might include meditation, visualization, cognitive behavioral therapy, 
mindfulness, and journaling. Think of this as alternative medicine for your mental health 
and emotional health. What do you struggle with? It might be stress, anxiety, 
depression, lack of energy or brain fog, and many other issues.



While it is not meant to replace mental illness care from a licensed therapist or 
counselor, it can help to ease some of your symptoms in between therapy sessions or 
when you have high amounts of stress, unhealthy coping mechanisms, or just for 
general mental health improvements.

The important thing to remember here is that alternative medicine is not meant to 
replace physicians, specialists, surgeons, or therapists. It is used in conjunction with 
other methods of treating your mental and physical ailments. It can work together with 
conventional treatments to get you the best care possible, especially when you want to 
live a more holistic lifestyle.


Using Essential Oils on a Daily Basis

Essential oils have been a big part of people living more sustainably and focusing on a 
holistic and natural lifestyle. But instead of just using them for special circumstances like 
when you have bad anxiety or to help with a skin condition, consider some of these 
ways you can use them more on a daily basis.


Daily Cleaning and Deodorizing 

The first way essential oils can help you on a daily basis for your holistic lifestyle is with 
cleaning and deodorizing your home. Think about how often you use products with 
added chemicals and artificial ingredients that you don’t even really need. Lemon 
essential oil is perfect for deodorizing different spaces in your home and adding to your 
natural cleaning supplies for a bit of scent in your home. It can even kill some bacteria, 
so it is great to add to your all-purpose cleaner if you are using a natural variety.


Boost Your Energy Naturally

You may also find that using certain essential oils in the morning gives you a natural 
boost of energy. The citrus essential oils like orange, lemon, grapefruit, and bergamot 
are a great place to start. Put a few drops in an essential oil diffuser in the morning 
during your morning routine to get a nice boost of energy. You may also want to try 
something a bit stronger on days when you are extra sleepy, such as peppermint. 









Relax and Reduce Stress

Need to reduce stress and relax your mind and body? Several essential oils can help 
you do this. Think of those relaxing scents in your other self care products as a guide to 
which essential oils will help with relaxing. This often includes lavender, rose, 
chamomile, and sweet orange. They are soothing, reduce stress and anxiety, and are 
amazing for your skin and hair growth as well. It’s hard not to find benefits to using 
these types of oils daily. 


Reduce Inflammation

If you are suffering from chronic pain, especially when it comes to inflammation in your 
diet, essential oils can be really useful. Tea tree oil, lavender, frankincense, bergamot, 
and roman chamomile are excellent at reducing inflammation to help with pain or 
muscle cramping. For pain or inflammation, try adding a few drops to your bath water 
with a little Borax. 

It is really easy to make a habit of using essential oils every day for more natural 
remedies and to help with your new holistic lifestyle.


Natural Remedies for Chronic Pain

If you are someone who suffers from chronic pain, you are well aware of how 
devastating it can be. Unlike acute pain where you might get an occasional headache or 
knee pain, chronic pain is almost constant, and continues over a long period of time. 
Before looking for harsh medications and drugs to relieve your pain, try some of these 
natural remedies.


Essential Oils Like Lavender

Suffering from chronic pain is not only difficult physically, but mentally and emotionally 
as well. One natural remedy that combats both issues at the same time is by using 
essential oils. There are many essential oils that can be great for chronic pain, but one 
of the most popular is lavender. It has a light, pleasing scent and in addition to relieving 
chronic pain, lavender can help with relaxing, stress reducing, and helping with anxiety. 
It is also great if chronic pain is keeping you from getting a good nights’ sleep.







Willowbark

Willowbark is another natural remedy that has shown some great success in people 
with chronic pain, particularly if you have inflammation. Willow bark has been used to 
help reduce inflammation for hundreds of years, as it contains an element called salicin, 
which is similar to the effects of aspirin. Not only can you use it to help with chronic 
pain, but it can also be used to help reduce a fever. You can find willowbark in different 
forms, including capsules, liquids, and as a dried herb for tea.


Turmeric

Turmeric has become very popular over the last few years, and among its many 
benefits is the ability to help you with certain types of chronic pain. As many other 
remedies for chronic pain, turmeric helps by reducing swelling and inflammation. A lot of 
pain comes from inflammation in the body, including with osteoarthritis and other forms 
of arthritis. Turmeric can be found in powder or capsule form, so it is really easy to get 
your hands on.


Fish Oil

Need another good reason to take a fish oil supplement? It has natural anti-
inflammatory properties and can help tremendously with your daily chronic pain. Fish oil 
is a natural anti-inflammatory supplement that many people use to help with their 
various types of chronic pain. Added to that, the many other health benefits, and there 
are few reasons not to give it a try.


Exercise

You may not want to hear this, but exercise can actually help a great deal if you suffer 
from chronic pain. You don’t want to do strenuous exercise if you have back or knee 
pain, but gentle exercise like stretching and walking can do wonders for you.


Natural Ways to Get More Energy

If you want to live a more holistic lifestyle, it means getting rid of some of the extras in 
your life that you don’t need. To start with, it might mean reducing stimulants like 
caffeine, which you have been relying on to get energy and stay awake. While coffee 
itself might still be good for you, what you add to it is not. Here are some ways to boost 
your energy in natural ways. 



Start Your Day with Water

Before you do anything else in the morning, drink a glass of plain water or water with 
some lemon. This is a wonderful way to get some natural energy without ever having 
caffeine. It can reduce how much caffeine you end up needing and will hydrate you.

If you get too dehydrated, it can lead to even more fatigue, meaning you get even 
sleepier. Many people jump right into having coffee in the morning, but if you were to 
drink a tall glass of water when you wake up, you might find that you get a sufficient 
amount of energy for your morning tasks.


Get in More Exercise

It might sound counterintuitive, but exercise in the morning can actually give you a nice 
boost of energy. Exercise is going to release endorphins during your workout, which are 
the happy chemicals your brain releases. It puts you in a good mood, which can also 
give you a quick boost of adrenaline. This carries into more energy to get through your 
day without the use of caffeine and other stimulants.


Improve Your Sleep Habits

If you keep waking up extremely tired or have trouble getting through your day without 
stimulants, it might be from your poor sleeping habits. Now is a great time to think about 
your sleep hygiene and whether or not you have healthy sleep habits. This includes 
being sure you start getting ready for bed about an hour before you intend to sleep, 
turning off electronics, and having a comfortable place to sleep.


Get Necessary Nutrients from Your Food

Make sure you are eating a healthy diet with lots of vitamins and minerals. The nutrients 
to ensure you are getting for proper energy include iron, creatinine, vitamin B12, and 
vitamin D. You can get these nutrients from your food, but also take supplements if 
necessary.


Save Your Refined Carbs for the Evening

Refined carbohydrates often make you feel sleepy and have low energy because of the 
blood sugar drop. If you want to avoid this, save your carbs for dinner, as you probably 
want to be restful in the evening.



Why Grounding is Essential for Living Naturally

Grounding, also known as earthing, is a way to connect more with nature. When you 
are grounding, you typically touch physically with the Earth’s surface, like sand at the 
beach, the ocean, the dirt, and the grass. It is an amazing part of living naturally, and so 
easy to do. 


Understanding What Grounding is

Let’s start by becoming more familiar with what grounding actually is. Grounding is often 
called earthing because you are spending more time with direct physical contact with 
the earth. It doesn’t have to be your feet, though that is more common. Any time your 
skin touches the earth, you start enveloping those negatively-charged electrons. It is 
such an amazing way to relax, reduce anxiety, reduce stress, and improve other 
important body systems. 


Benefits of Grounding

Not sure why you should be grounding? Here are some excellent benefits:

You can reduce stress and tension – One of the top benefits people get from earthing 
or grounding is reducing stress and tension, and relieving their anxiety.

It helps with your circulation – The negatively-charged electrons of the earth can also 
improve your circulation and even reduce inflammation in the body.

You feel centered – Want to feel more centered and in control? Try grounding! Get 
outside, walk in the grass without shoes on, and suddenly everything makes so much 
more sense.

It can improve your balance – Many people have also found that grounding improves 
their balance. It has this way of balancing out your entire body and improving your 
strength and footing.


Easy Ways to Add Grounding to Your Life

It is actually really easy to start grounding or earthing on a regular basis. The best and 
easiest way to do it is by going outside in bare feet. Of course, you want to do this 
safely. Check the area first before you take your shoes off. Some different areas to go 
barefoot include in the grass, in dirt, or in the sand at the beach. Going camping? Ditch 
your shoes when you find a bare spot of ground that looks safe to stand on.

You can also submerse your body in natural forms of water, such as a lake or the 
ocean, as well as just lying down on the grass at a park. These are easy ways to get 
more grounding, relax, and live a more natural lifestyle by being one with nature and the 
earth.


