New Years is always full of new hopes, dreams, and plans. If one of your dreams is to become more naturally minded or reduce waste or become more mindful etc. This is a great list for small changes that are easy to make and really help contribute to your ultimate goal!

For this post I didn’t include much for resources as I hope to encourage you to start doing your own research (if you don’t already) because one skill you absolutely should have is self advocacy. In the New Year I will create a page for you to sign up for personal natural lifestyle coaching where I will help you learn how to find reliable sources as well as help you in any stage of your journey of natural or mindful living.

Here are some small lifestyle changes you can start for your New Years Resolutions!

1. Switch your cook wear to stainless steal and glass. Cut out “Non-Stick”

Non-Stick cookware is often (if not always) made with toxic materials that can leach into your foods especially if it starts to get scratched and cracked. Toss your pots and pans and spoil yourself with some stainless steel ones! And replace your bakeware and Tupperware with glass ones. Stores are catching on to the hype and most have what you need right in the store. Or Amazon is a great place to check too.

2. Start reducing plastic around the house, switch to clean reusable supplies.

Plastic is all around not healthy for us or our environment, ESPECIALLY single use plastics. Even if they label “BPA FREE” it most likely has BPS in it instead which is toxic like BPA. Replace your Tupperware, plastic cups and bowls, plastic toys, etc.

3. Start going to the Chiropractor

Chiropractic care takes a look at the body as a whole instead of separate organs and muscles. Emphasizing that the body has the innate ability to heal itself with proper alignment. A licensed chiropractor will adjust the spine to keep it aligned so your nerves can be free of subluxation stress and keep your body in tip top shape. Some chiropractors focus on pain relief from injuries or medical conditions so depending on your goal I would research local chiropractors to see what their scope of practice entails.

4. Start your day with protein

Instead of a sugar filled breakfast, start your day off with a protein packed zero sugar breakfast. For one, monosaccharides (refined/processed sugars) are detrimental to our health. Focus on whole sugars from foods, because we need sugar to function just not the sugars you’re used to! And two, protein keeps you full longer. Going Paleo I can attest to this! Eating more protein, especially starting my day off with clean protein (not a protein shake full of sugar and carbs) keeps me full and I don’t snack much at all!

5. Switch from a megadose multivitamin to an herbal vitamin

*not medical advice* Megadose multivitamins are believed to actually be counter productive and a waste of money. You expell some vitamins you don’t need and high doses of some vitamins and minerals can actually make it tough for your body to absorb another, which could cause a deficiency. You can find my absolute favorite tasty sugar free, gluten free, soy free, dairy free, egg free herbal vitamins here.

6. Reduce sugar intake or completely cut it out

Sugar lowers your body’s defense to fight pathogens for a minimum of 5 hours after consumption. (Heard that on a video from Dr. Patrick Flynn) It can also lead to Type 2 Diabetes and many other negative health problems.

7. Ditch the coffee creamer

Switch from coffee creamer to a plant milk and for flavor use Sweet Drops. If you’re cutting out sugar this would be a great replacement! Also take a look at the ingredients and research what they are and ask yourself why they would even put that in there.

8. Replace one cup of coffee everyday with a cup of green or herbal tea

Coffee isn’t really all that healthy. Minimal health benefits if the risks even outweigh them. Of course continue to do your own research and come to your own conclusions. Unless you’re drinking strict organic coffee this is a great little NYResolution to try!

9. Stop going out to eat

Saves money and you know exactly what you’re eating! Reduce the amount of times you go out to eat or order in. Make it a habit of cooking your own foods at home.

10. Ditch the one use paper towels

Start using old rags or head to your local supermarket and pick up a pack of cheap washcloths Saves money and trees!

11. Throw away your table salt

Switch from that terrible bleached iodized salt to Celtic Sea Salt and/or Pink Himalayan
Salt. Both are packed with trace minerals your body needs.

12. Start buying organic

It’s not only better for you but also better for the planet and the bees!

13. Start your year off with a house cleanse

Purge the old unused stuff, reorganize, diffuse some cleansing essential oils.

14. Swap your cooking oils

Swap your vegetable and canola oils for Extra Virgin Olive Oils, Coconut Oils, and Avocado Oils.

15. Ditch your microwave

For one, it destroys the quality of your food and breaks down vitamins. And they emit harmful EMFs.

16. Go to your local crystal Rock shop

Buy one crystal that calls out to you. And do some research on it to see its properties.

17. Start doing yoga

Aim for 2-4 times a week. Yoga is a great subtle way to exercise and perfect for stretching your muscles.

18. Get a tongue scrapper

Your tongue accrues a lot of nasty bacteria while you sleep, scrapping your tongue with a copper tongue scrapper is proven to reduce bad breath.

19. Learn about your Chakras

Chakras are like balls of energy in your body that correspond with certain areas and emotions. Really fun to get into and learn more about!

20. Buy a small houseplant from your local plant store

A house plant cleanses your air and they are proven to help with stress and anxiety.

21. Ready for a diet change?

If you’re dealing with a lot of skin problems or constant inflammatory pain, look into the AIP or Paleo diet. You won’t regret it! Even if you don’t have any health problems this diet is very interesting to take a look at when considering eating changes for the New Year.

22. Switch from OTC meds to natural remedies

Ditch OTC meds and look for an herbal alternative here. In the menu tab they have easy to navigate sections to find what you’re looking for.

23. Start listening to Solfeggio tunes once a day

Find out more here

24. Bye bye tampons

Switch from tampons (yes even organic) to the cup. They’re Reusable so it saves you money and saves the planet Find your best fit here. If you’re a pad person, look into reusable cloth pads. Etsy has some super adorable ones!

25. Get new skin and hair care products

Switch your skin care products (yes even the soaps you use in the shower) to cleaner products like Earthley or Allafia.

I prefer products that have MINIMAL ingredients. Only using what is needed and no fillers whether its a “natural” filler or not. Both of these brands fulfill my expectations. Skin and hair care products are more often than not filled with toxic ingredients and random fillers that aren’t necessary. Take a look into endocrine disruption.

For more in depth questions in the New Year I’ll open my online Personal Lifestyle Coaching page.