Most of us start right where you are now. We’ve realized the toxic habits and products in our lives are detracting from our health, and we want to make better choices.
This realization is all too often followed by extreme overwhelm. It seems like everything is toxic. The lists of ingredients to avoid are so long with so many unpronounceable words. And it seems like every person gives you conflicting advice.
This all adds up to feeling like you’ll never do it right, and if you’re not careful, that can lead to not making any changes at all.
I’ve been there. I’ve felt what you’re feeling. And I’m here to tell you that you don’t need to overhaul your entire life all at once to create meaningful change.
Why the “All-or-Nothing” Approach Backfires
Most women who give up on their toxin-reduction journey don’t do so because they don’t care but, instead, because they care too much. They feel like they have to change everything at once – they may even start doing that – but it’s not sustainable. They soon burn out or hit decision paralysis, and they give up before they’ve truly begun.
Maybe you’re just approaching that feeling. Or perhaps you’ve already been there and already given up.
Here’s a new way to look at it – progress trumps perfection, and consistency beats intensity.
How to Create Real, Sustainable Change
What most people don’t realize is that you don’t need to know everything before you start. You can learn and improve and make new changes along the way.
The way to create lasting change is to make small changes over time. In fact, making even one lasting change will create lasting benefits – read more about the 1 Percent Effect.
A Simple Framework for Getting Started
The key to lasting success is changing your mindset. Think of it as a journey, not a destination. If it helps, use the words “toxin-reduction” instead of “non-toxic” because you don’t have to eliminate all toxins right now (or even ever). Your goal is to reduce your exposure to toxins more and more over time.
Pick One Area
Choose an area of your life to start your journey. It might be a certain room in your home, a specific category of products – like household cleaners, a single habit – like working on an addiction to alcohol or sugar, or just the next product that you’re running low on and need to replace.
There’s no correct answer here. Start with whatever is on your heart or makes the most sense for your life.
Make One Swap or Shift
Within your chosen area, decide on one step to take. Maybe it’s a single product you’ll swap, or maybe it’s a behavior you’ll start, stop, or alter in order to break a harmful habit or establish a good one.
Remember, this step doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be an improvement.
Lock It In Before Moving On
Don’t rush on to the next change. Make sure you’ve fully committed to the current one. If it’s a new product, that might not take too long. However, if it’s a new habit, you’ll need to give it some time.
So slow down, pay attention to how this change feels. Is it working? Can you keep it going? Do you need to adjust it? What next change or step would build on this one?
Embrace Imperfection
Don’t let this discourage you, but there is no “toxin-free” finish line. It’s a life-long journey, and there will always be something else that you might feel like you should change.
I’m 14 years into this journey, and I still have some non-stick cookware. I know it is absolutely toxic, and I should replace it, but I just haven’t found an alternative that works for me or is affordable to swap over everything.
And you know what? That’s okay. I know I will finish swapping it someday, and I count it as great progress that I’ve swapped out about half of it while I try to learn to cook with cast iron and stainless steel.
Additionally, you will (not might, WILL) find things along your journey that you’d already locked in but later realize aren’t what you’d hoped.
For me, one of these was essential oils. When I dove into them, I didn’t realize the importance of quality and bought a bunch of cheap ones that didn’t have much effect. Later, when I learned more, I did more research into quality brands and chose one I was more comfortable with. Also, my first toxin-reduction step was baking my own bread, but the latest part of my journey has led to me largely avoid gluten, so I've stopped baking bread.
It’s okay to switch products or habits. Don’t be afraid to make changes when you find something better. And don’t hesitate to make initial changes, not knowing if they’re “perfect” because you can switch later as you learn.
Focus on Your Journey
Wherever you are in your toxin-reduction journey, I encourage you to release any feelings of being “behind” or needing to be “perfect.” Forgive yourself for any “mistakes” you think you’ve made.
Realize that every step, no matter how small, puts you on a path to improved health, and it’s the cumulation of those small steps over time that will change your life for the better.
Options for starting or continuing your journey:
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