Wellness at Home
Listening to our intuition when it comes to health
Wellness doesn’t look the same to everyone. We all have our own way of doing things and work to individual rhythms, routines and rituals in our lives.
Over time, I feel I’ve naturally moved beyond trends and fads that pop up in this (sometimes overwhelming) wellness, natural living and personal development space, because I’ve realised that the more we connect with our own body and intuition, the more we can start to understand what a healthy lifestyle looks like for us on a personal level, with our own unique make-up (mind, body and soul), irrespective of what’s ‘in fashion’ or not.
I’m sure we’ve all moved through dieting, fasting, juice cleanses, detoxes, meat-free mondays, plants-only, the kombucha revolution, no carbs, fermented friends and other ways of eating, but not all ‘healthy’ solutions work for everybody. With this in mind, I’ve found it useful to stamp out comparisons with other people and their daily choices, and have tried to focus on honing my own intuitive eating methods, and making my own products or foods where possible, after lots of trial and error. Most physical ailments manifest from emotional, mental, energetic and gut imbalances, so it’s key that we observe our bodies and cravings as much as possible.
Being mindful of the imitation foods, toxic chemicals and additives contained in shop-bought products, takeaway food, and many of the home and beauty items sold to us from a young age, I thought I’d pop down a few tips and essential practices that have helped me take my health into my own hands, to support my overall physical, mental and emotional wellness.
Generally, I like to challenge myself and try out various holistic approaches to see what works for me, but there is no set rule for any one person, we are all different in this respect. And, of course, it helps if there is a bit of wiggle room so that we can still enjoy a ‘cheat day’ with friends every so often, and not feel guilty about the occasional naughty foods we might fancy - it’s important that guilt doesn’t exist within our daily habits and choices (I do love a chip!).
My essential day-to-day living tips:
Daily meditation and sound therapy: this is a conscious personal choice and practice that is essential for my peace and personal (r)evolution.
Hydration: starting the day with a cup of warm lemon water, and at least 1.5 litres of loose leaf* non-caff tea before I even touch food, which feels great for my mind and body.
Intermittent fasting (in essence, delayed gratification): not needing to have three meals each day, especially not solids, listening to the body more, and understanding the fresh foods I’m drawn to (colours as well), and my food cravings.
Steam or sauna: I’ve had many heavenly moments in the sauna, stressing my body in a positive way, and decompressing any muscle tension in that divine heat. I even bought a mini home steamer so I could live my best life in ‘lockdown’ when everything was shut - you can’t keep me away from a good steaming.
Sunshine: we all need the benefits of soaking up some real life vitamin D from the sun. It’s the ultimate mood changer for me (nothing can beat me if the sun is out).
Movement: whether it’s morning stretches, lunchtime crunches or an evening cycle or stroll, it’s important to keep active everyday, to help move energy through the body in a positive way.
Sleep: listening to our bodies more, turning electrics and wifi off at night, and getting in eight hours sleep to feel on top form. I’m a Taurus, so it’s hard for me to exist on a 4 hour nap, sarrrry.
Digital detoxing: ensuring that we’re not available 24/7, and taking time off social media / screen time every week. I also deleted WhatsApp back in 2020 and have never looked back.
Cutting out white sugar: this is the one! I can’t even begin to describe how my body has changed, and how I feel after cutting out this addictive ingredient (including alcohol) from my life gradually over the past 3-4 years.
Wellness at Home
Here are a few items I’ve learnt to read the ingredients of before buying, and inexpensive alternatives that have significantly helped improve my own health. With new and affordable wellness brands popping up all the time, it’s now easier than ever to swap from cheaper, toxic products to cleaner items.
Toiletries
One issue with these products is that when we’re in the shower, our pores are more open due to the heat of the steam and water, which means that when we use shower gels that contain chemicals (some carcinogenic), it’s more likely that they will go straight to our lymphatic system and blood stream, and over time this can have negative effects on the body. Items to consider swapping:
Soap - Faith in Nature, Dr Bronner
Shower gel - Jason, Sukin
Body cream - Sukin, Weleda, Avalon
Face creams and wash - Ren, Sukin, Tropic
Shampoo - Faith in Nature, Avalon
Toothpaste - Aloe Dent, Kingfisher, Nature’s Answer (all fluoride free)
Natural makeup - Lavera, Dr Hauschka, Bare minerals
Lip balm - Burt’s Bees, Dr Organic, Neal’s Yard
Medication - using natural remedies for headaches and colds where possible, i.e doTerra On Guard for sniffles, or ZenGest for upset stomach, or homeopathy for asthma and other health issues.
Nasties to read up on and avoid in these items in general: Parabens (methylparaben, propylparaben, and butylparaben), Propylene glycol, SLS (sodium laureth sulphate), Fluoride (which has a highly detrimental effect on the pineal gland), Petroleum (literally derived from petrol - not sure why we think this is a good thing for our bodies), Palm Oil (there is no such thing as sustainable palm oil).
Cleaning products
Items to consider swapping to:
Bleach - Ecover, KOH or try making your own
Washing up liquid - Ecover, Method
Antibacterial surface spray - KOH, Method, or try making your own
Nasties to read up on and avoid in these items in general: Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Hypochlorite.
Kitchen
Items to consider swapping to:
Filtered water - tap water can contain a multitude of chemicals, from chlorine and fluoride to microplastics and hormones, so where possible use a filter to eliminate as much as possible before consumption.
Fresh foods - green vegetables are always handy for juicing and steaming, or raw rainbow salads. Remember the dirty dozen list of foods, which ideally should be bought organic whenever possible. Aldi also sells organic produce, and local farmers markets often host small scale producers who do not spray pesticides on their food.
Plant-based nut or oat milks - reducing our dairy intake can have positive effects on our lung health, breathing, metabolism and heart function, due to reducing our consumption of mucus-forming foods.
Fruits - to help support our immunity, hydration, skin and great for juicing, smoothies or homemade lollies too. I don’t believe we can overdose on fruit sugars, they are essential to the human body and cellular repair. Oh, and remember, seeded grapes all the way!
Herbs - are a great addition to any kitchen and have numerous medicinal properties. Have you tried growing your own in little pots, or in a veg patch yet? I started my green finger journey in late 2020, see more.
*Loose leaf teas - many people don’t realise that tea bags contain plastic. Teas contain fantastic minerals and vitamins that support the body’s natural immunity. My favourites for women’s health, antioxidants and general digestion are - hibiscus, nettle, raspberry leaf, spearmint, rooibos, burdock root, mullein leaf and chamomile (see my instagram for more on each tea).
Seeds - full of healthy fats, and add a delicious crunch to salads, soups and roast veg.
Sea salt - swapping out refined, unhealthy table salt, for sea salt flakes, Himalayan pink salt, or Celtic grey salt wherever possible.
Organic and raw coconut oil, or extra virgin olive oils - using less animal and saturated fats in our cooking or meal prep helps prevent heart disease.
Coconut sugar, raw honey or maple syrup - alternatives to the very addictive substance we know as white sugar.
Bread and carbohydrates - try to move away from white foods as much as possible, as they are often highly processed, bleached, and contain sugar. Seek out more wholesome, wholemeal and nutritious foods to try, including ancient grains too. I enjoy rye or sourdough bread, sweet potatoes, black rice, teff, quinoa, buckwheat and brown rice pastas.
Nasties to read up on and avoid in these items in general: MSG - Monosodium glutamate (contained in condiments like Sriracha, and flavour enhancers like Maggi, and in many takeaway or ready meals), GMO (genetically modified foods - check the seedless fruits, oils, sweetcorn, soy or corn-based products you use), Colour - Red 40.
Bedroom
Creating a beneficial routine for the start and end of our day supports maximum life enjoyment and peace of mind. Things to consider:
Meditation - even only 20 minutes in the morning or evening can dramatically improve our relationship to self and mood.
Lighting - ensure screen time is reduced at night, or select the non-blue light mode to give your eyes a break, and create an environment for relaxation as you wind down for the day.
Essential oils - eucalyptus or wild orange for a morning boost, or lavender at night on your pillow or in an evening Goddess bath.
Please note that this information is not medical advice, but simple wellness tips that have empowered me to live a more conscious, balanced lifestyle with great personal results.
Useful articles:
Food additives
Imitation food
Fluoride - impact on childhood neurological development
Non-toxic household cleaning products
