When we talk about clean living, we talk a lot about our bodies, what we put into them, and the environment around us. But it is truly much broader than that. An ecosystem connects each piece of our lives—our bodies, family and friends, environment, and physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. It’s a healthy lifestyle from the inside out, as well as the outside in. It’s about a healthy diet as much as it’s about getting a good night’s sleep. It’s about self-care as much as it’s about gardening and organization. It is a holistic view of our life in any circumstance—not just our ordinary day-to-day life. Some of the biggest challenges to a clean lifestyle can occur when we are forced out of the ordinary and must face adversity or uncertainty.
When we are out of our element, it strains our emotions and thoughts, adding clutter to our already busy minds. This is the opposite of what anyone wants, regardless of the extent of their clean lifestyle. I recently faced a situation that could have enveloped my mind and feelings and sent me down an unhealthy path. But my commitment to a pure lifestyle wouldn’t allow me to.
My family and I moved over the summer. Anyone who has moved knows that this is a stressful situation in and of itself. But we had to leave our home before our new home was ready. Our move-in date was a continuously moving target, creating even more stress. We drove all our belongings (except what we needed) into storage and had to stay at family and friends’ houses and even some Airbnbs—not necessarily an ideal situation. At times, I could feel my stress level rising, I didn’t want to exercise or eat healthy, and I felt frustrated. But I didn’t let these less-than-favorable circumstances change who I am and what I do. And I noted some things that helped me maintain my clean lifestyle even while living in uncertainty.
If you find yourself in a similar situation (not necessarily moving, but anything throwing you off you’re A-game), try the following:
- Plan ahead: When it comes specifically to moving, plan for where you will stay and when.
- Be Mindful: Keep items with you that make you feel as comfortable as possible. My PiMag alkaline water system, KenkoAir Purifier, Nikken sleep system, grounding mat, Norwex sheets, and pillowcases helped me sense normalcy.
- Be creative and innovative: Aways think outside the box. For example, we needed to sign documents for the mortgage company. We had to find alternatives without a printer – FedEx Print and Go saved us the first time. But then it became a regular occurrence, and I checked out the Adobe Acrobat electronic signature feature, which saved us a ton of time in the process.
- Practice patience: In this case, particularly with family members. We even made a “vacation” out of our temporary stays.
- Practice gratitude: Through all the frustration, remembering to be grateful that we had a roof over our heads and family and friends who loved us helped keep me focused and calm. It also helped me sleep better at night, which has enormous health benefits.
- Sleep Schedule: Stick with your regular sleep schedule. Without having my bed and space, I had to remind myself to follow my bedtime routine. Sticking to that schedule helps our bodies adjust.
- Practice mindfulness: This is never as important as when we are dealing with uncertainty. Awareness of our thoughts, emotions, and environment helps us stay grounded.
I realized during this time that we all will sometimes face uncertainty in our lives. And sometimes, unknowingly, we allow those circumstances to alter our healthy, clean habits. But I also realized that with small steps and a commitment to a clean lifestyle, we don’t have to.
#Gratitude #Mindfulness #Sleep #Norwex #Nikken #HealthandWellness #Connection #Moving #CleanLiving
