This is the best holistic living guide for anyone wanting to start living a more natural and holistic life. Try these 15 easy practices to start your holistic living journey.
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Starting your holistic living journey can be overwhelming. There is so much information on what you should and shouldn’t be doing.
Holistic living is about listening to your body and giving it the tools it needs to be healthy. Our bodies know how to heal we just need to give them the proper environment and tools to do so.
Holistic living is about looking at the body and person as a whole and not specific body parts.
Everything is connected, mind, body, and soul, and they all play a role in keeping us healthy and allowing us to live our best lives.
Doing all these practices may be a lot at the beginning so start with a couple and add more when you’re ready.
This post is all about the best guide to holistic living for beginners & 15 practices you can start today.
1. Eat More Whole Foods
The first way to start holistic living is to begin eating more whole foods in your diet. This is an easy and fairly simple practice to start.
What I mean by whole foods are foods that come directly from the earth in their natural form. Eating more fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, and quality dairy products and meats.
A good tip for when you’re at the grocery store is to shop more on the outside perimeter of the store.
The perimeter is generally where they have all the fruits and vegetables, meat, and dairy.
Usually, the inner isles are full of processed foods that are packaged and have the longest list of ingredients you’ve ever seen.
These are the types of foods we’re trying to stay away from.
If it comes in a box with more than 5 ingredients it’s probably not that good for you.
Sticking with whole foods is better for your health because they aren’t full of additives and unpronounceable ingredients.
Many processed foods contain added fats, salts, and sugars that we don’t need. Plus eating all these additives can lead to health concerns like weight gain, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, and stroke.
By eating more whole foods you’re nourishing your body with more antioxidants and nutrients which helps to decrease your risk of health-related problems.
So next time you go to the grocery store, fill up that cart with lots of colourful fruits and vegetables!
2. Buy Organic When Possible
The next way to start holistic living is to buy more organic foods when possible.
By eating more organic produce, meat, and dairy you’re reducing the exposure to pesticides and chemicals such as herbicides, insecticides, and synthetic fungicides.
These chemicals are widely used in conventional agriculture and can remain on and in the foods we eat.
Eating organic food can improve your health because it contains more nutrients and antioxidants. It may also help reduce allergy symptoms if you suffer from allergy-related problems.
Another wonderful reason to buy more organic food is because organic farming practices may also be better for the environment.
It may reduce pollution, conserve water, reduce soil erosion, increase soil fertility, and use less energy.
Organic farming without the use of synthetic pesticides is also better for the wildlife around the farming area such as birds and other animals.
3. Practice Mindful Eating
Holistic living also involves practicing mindful eating.
Mindful eating is about taking your time when you eat and enjoying each bite. Savouring it and recognizing the benefits the food you’re eating provides to your body and mind.
Pay attention to the taste, texture, and sensations of each bite of food you take.
Practice chewing slowly to fully break down the food because swallowing.
If you struggle with digestion problems chewing slowly and breaking down your food fully before you shallow may help eliminate some of those problems.
Our food is meant to be enjoyed and savoured. A great way to slow down and appreciate what you’re eating more is to eat your meals with other people.
Eating with others can make the experience more enjoyable and it automatically slows us down from eating too quickly. We’re generally having conversations with the people we eat with which forces us to eat slower.
But even if you are eating alone, still practice taking your time, being grateful for the foods you’re eating, and enjoy the nourishment you’re receiving from it.
4. Stay Hydrated
Staying hydrated is another practice in holistic living.
The average person is made up of 60% water, this varies between male and female and age.
All day we lose water from breathing, sweating, and urinating so we need to be constantly replenishing it.
If we don’t, we can get dehydrated which can lead to problems with blood pressure, heart rate, and regulating body temperature. Severe dehydration can lead to weakness or confusion and in extreme cases kidney damage.
When we sweat or urinate it’s a way our bodies release toxins, so keeping hydrated is important to keep our bodies functioning properly.
To stay hydrated focus on drinking water throughout your day.
A good tip for if you struggle with water consumption is to always carry a water bottle around with you. That way it’s always in reach and you can sip it all day.
This is a motivational time-maker water bottle to help you track your water consumption and make sure you’re drinking enough.
Sometimes drinking plain water isn’t enough to hydrate you. Your body also needs electrolytes to replenish its cells.
Electrolytes are minerals that are in water like sodium, potassium, and magnesium.
Bottled or tap water contains some electrolytes, but to boost your hydration you can add electrolytes to your water.
You can do this by adding salt, lemon, or lime to your water or buying actual electrolyte packs. These lemon flavoured on the go packets are great, and these wildberry-flavoured electrolytes with added collagen.
When you’re properly hydrated you will feel better, think more clearly, have more energy, and have better bowel movements.
5. Practice Daily Routines
The next way to practice holistic living is to start practicing daily routines.
Most routines are based on self-care. Nurturing your mind, body, and soul, by taking time to do things you enjoy, that give you energy and make you happy.
You can do morning or evening routines, or even afternoon routines. Whatever works best for you!
Activities you can do in your routines can be journaling, reading, meditating, yoga, skincare, baths etc.
Practicing rituals like these is about creating peace in your life, calming your nervous system, and increasing happiness.
As long as you’re doing things you enjoy that make you feel better, then that’s the perfect daily routine for you.
If you’ve thought about doing a slow living routine, here is a morning one you’ll love.
6. Use Natural Skincare
Using natural skincare is another way to practice holistic living. So many skincare and personal care products have chemicals and additives that aren’t good for us.
By focusing on using natural skincare, you reduce your exposure to chemicals and toxins being absorbed into your body and bloodstream.
Some personal care products you can switch to natural products are your face wash, body wash, moisturizer, soaps, and shampoo and conditioner.
You can even switch out your makeup for natural makeup products.
On average women use 12 different personal care products a day and are exposed to 168 chemicals because of it.
Using natural products reduces this exposure and the side effects that come along with all these chemicals.
7. Integrate Aromatherapy
Another way to practice holistic living is by using essential oils in aromatherapy.
There are so many benefits to using aromatherapy, including decreasing depression symptoms and relieving pain.
They can also help reduce nausea and improve sinus issues.
Diffusing essential oils can help increase your mood and create a calming atmosphere in your home.
There are so many different essential oils you can choose, you’re bound to find a few scents you enjoy.
Plus, there are so many cute diffusers out there that look like a really beautiful piece of home décor. This one is a natural wood diffuser that would look good in any room.
8. Connect With Nature
When we connect with nature it provides so many physical and mental health benefits.
It can help reduce blood pressure and cortisol levels. Being outside also improves our mood and can also help us focus on other tasks in life.
There are many ways you can connect with nature. You can go for a walk, bike ride, swim, garden, or even simply sit outside and enjoy watching nature do its thing.
Here are 9 ways you can reconnect with nature to improve your well-being.
9. Reduce, Reuse & Recycle
Living a more minimalist lifestyle is another way to practice holistic living. Having a clear home and space where you live often translates into having a clear mind.
You can do this by decluttering your home, and getting rid of things you no longer use or need.
Maybe you have lots of extra kitchen appliances you never use, you can donate them. Or the sweaters in your closet you haven’t worn in 3 years, you can give away.
Also, if you are decluttering your home, you can donate these things to local charities like Goodwill or other organizations in your area.
They appreciate every donation they get.
You can also practice using less single-use plastics and reducing your garbage waste. Reusable containers are great and can replace most plastic bags for almost everything.
Try decluttering today and see how you feel!
10. Use Eco-Friendly Products
Using eco-friendly products is another way to practice holistic living.
Reducing the use of chemicals in your home by using natural home cleaners, clean laundry detergents, floor cleaners, and soaps.
You can also buy a lot of eco-friendly personal care items like cotton pads that are washable instead of cotton balls you throw away. These reusable bamboo cotton pads come with a perfect little laundry bag for washing them in.
Every little switch helps to reduce unnecessary garbage in our landfills.
We sometimes just need to be a little more conscious in our consumption of products we use daily.
11. Start Composting
The next great way to practice holistic living is by composting!
Instead of throwing all your fruit and vegetable scraps in the trash, you can start composting them. Composting will then turn them into a great nutrient-dense soil for your garden.
This is a great guide on composting for beginners.
You can compost by using a bin or creating a pile somewhere in your yard. Even if you live in a town with a smaller yard there are composting bins perfect for small spaces.
If you start composting, your garden and all the plants will thank you!
12. Support Local
The next way you can practice holistic living is by shopping locally!
Shop at local farmer’s markets around where you live. Not only will be you supporting people in your community but the food and products you get at farmer’s markets are usually of higher quality and with fewer additives.
Instead of always looking online when you need to buy something, check at your local store first. The person behind the register will appreciate your purchase a lot more than the huge corporation you were going to buy from.
I know it’s not always easy to buy everything local but even if you try 10-20% of the time to buy local, it helps more than not shopping local at all.
13. Get Regular Movement
Exercise is another way to practice holistic living.
Living holistically is about the health of you as a whole. Your mind, soul, and body.
And part of a healthy body is keeping active.
Exercise is not only beneficial for your physical health by reducing the risk of stroke, heart disease, and high blood pressure.
It also benefits your mental health by improving symptoms of depression and anxiety and increases overall feelings of happiness.
It doesn’t matter what type of activity you do, as long as you’re moving your body you’re going to benefit from it.
You can dance, run, swim, bike, join a sports team, go to a yoga or pilates class, anything!
14. Practice Breathwork
Doing breathwork is another way to practice holistic living. It promotes mindfulness and relaxation while reducing levels of stress and anxiety.
There are many different breathwork techniques you can do. There is alternate nostril breathing, box breathing, and diagram breathing to name a few.
This article is full of good breathwork information and how you can start practicing your breathwork today.
15. Start a Mindfulness Practice
The last way to practice holistic living is to integrate a mindfulness practice or practices!
Things like meditation or journaling help us create awareness in ourselves and our lives.
They help us slow down and give us time to analyze our thoughts and actions throughout the day.
They’re also great for helping us practice patience and acceptance when a situation may not be going as planned.
Learning to stop reacting to situations that arise during our day can help us reduce stress levels and promote more peace and calm in our lives.
Meditating with our thoughts and working through any internal battles we may have can help us overcome limiting beliefs we may have about ourselves.
Being mindful in life is about maintaining moment-by-moment awareness of our feelings, thoughts, and the environment around us.
There isn’t one way to live holistically.
There are so many ways you can practice holistic living but remember it’s all about balance.
It’s about listening to our bodies and allowing them to do what they need to heal.
Try some of these holistic living practices out for yourself today and see how you feel.
