Are endless partying and a busy lifestyle wearing you down? Have you ever considered choosing a more holistic lifestyle? Living holistically means you are choosing to live your life to the full, while healing your body through natural and alternative means. This unique way of living and thinking means you need to take a look at the bigger picture. Take time to step back and review which parts of your life are making you sick or wearing you down. Sickness and ill health can be both emotional and psychological too. Following a more holistic lifestyle means you can be prepared for any challenges that come your way, while nursing your body and mind back to full health; so, if you are keen to adapt a more laid-back approach, a holistic lifestyle could be just what you need.
Use Mindfulness
Living a holistic lifestyle means living in the now. Rather than worrying about tomorrow or next week, you need to learn to make the best out of difficult situations. It’s also important to learn to live more objectively. Whereas you previously might have been put off by a negative memory or experience, mindfulness makes you challenge these thoughts. If you are feeling stressed or overwhelmed, then mindfulness can help.
Start by making small changes to your routine. Be more aware of your surroundings. If you would normally fly off the handle or lose control, then don’t. Reassess how you react to negative emotions and try to work through them. There are a range of Apps such as Headspace, where you can take time out of your day and follow a short program. Mindfulness is an ideal tool to use if you are trying to follow a more holistic lifestyle.
Look after your body
Once you’ve started looking after your mind, it’s time to look after your body. Remember your body is your temple. If you treat your body badly then you are more likely to suffer from aches and pains. Stress and long hours can also wreak havoc on your joints and tissue. If you aren’t already following an exercise or relaxation plan, then now’s the time to start. Plus, exercise is a great way to boost your mood and improve you overall stamina. Incorporate a few gentle classes into your week as a starter, such as Yoga or Pilates. You may even want to consider jogging with friends or going for a walk in your neighborhood. It’s easy to get more active, once you have a reason to start. Getting more active will boost your mood and energy too. So, get your boots on and get outdoors, make the most of the season and enjoy the fresh air.
If you are a pet owner, then having a few hugs with your cat or even walking your dog is a great way to get active. Make sure that your fur babies are fully protected from ticks and fleas using products such as PetAction. Spending time with animals is an ideal holistic approach. Stroking or hugging your pet releases endorphins, or happy hormones, into your body. This helps you to relax and disengage, releasing any muscular tension. What better excuse to give your pet some love?
Eat a clean diet
Eating a high sugar, highly processed diet could be affecting your health. Once you’ve started taking a more holistic approach towards your body and mind, it’s time to think about what you are eating. To follow a more holistic lifestyle, you will need to follow a cleaner way of eating. Clean eating is a cheaper and easier way of preparing meals. Try visiting your local farmer’s market to pick up some delicious fresh and seasonal produce. Preparing your meals at home, without adding extra sauces and salt, will improve your diet. Make sure that you also include a few grains too, such as quinoa or brown rice.
Eating clean is more than just a way of life, it’s also a great way to help improve how your entire body functions. From your mental state to your immune system, this way of eating will have an overall holistic effect. Not to mention, it is also cheaper. Just think how much you normally spend a month on take-outs or ready meals? Replacing all the processed and bad foods with wholesome alternatives will benefit your whole family.
Connect with family and friends
Do you have a friend you haven’t seen for a while? Perhaps you would like to repair a relationship with a family member? Living holistically means you need to replace any negative energy with a more positive approach. It’s important for you to connect and share moments with family and friends. Harboring grudges or bad energy will affect your emotional and mental state. Be open to creating new friendships and enjoy sharing your positive energy with those around you. Why not share all the great new energy you have? Connecting with people and your loved ones is an important part of living a more holistic lifestyle.
Try meditating
Meditation isn’t just for gurus or yogis. In fact, meditation is a great tool for dealing with everyday life. If you’ve had a difficult day and would normally turn to cigarettes or alcohol to help you overcome your issues, then meditation is a good alternative. There are many ways you can choose to meditate too, to fit in with your daily routine. You may want to start by taking a few moments to give thanks and be grateful when you wake up. If you travel by public transport or find your journey to work stressful, then open eye meditation is a good way to challenge your thoughts. Begin by focusing on areas of the body that are causing you pain. Next try focusing your breathing and try to relax. Just by meditating a few minutes each day, you will notice a difference. There’s no right or wrong when it comes to meditation, remember, it’s a personal experience. So, if you are feeling overwhelmed, then why not give it a try?
Living a holistic lifestyle could help to improve your overall mental and physical state. From giving your diet a makeover, to taking time to reconnect with your family and friends, a holistic lifestyle has many benefits. If you are looking to make a change for the better, then why not give it a go? It will be a lot easier than you think.
