How to start living an organic life

12th February, 2016

Some people may believe that living an organic lifestyle is difficult, because it can mean a big change to your diet, shopping habits and expenses. The good news is, it doesn’t have to be!

There are a number of reasons why an organic lifestyle is not only beneficial to you and those close to you, but to the environment as well. Changing your lifestyle may seem daunting, but soon you will see that it is not as hard as originally thought!

Start small

You don’t have to change everything about the way you live straight away, remember - Rome wasn't built in a day! Simple changes to begin with may include: growing your own herbs, looking for Certified Organic food (Certified through Australian Organic) at your local supermarket and making your own organic cleaning products. Make sure to keep slowly making changes and it will feel like an effortless transition. 

Choose an area to focus on

By initially choosing one area to focus on, you will slowly build up to a wholly organic lifestyle. For instance, eating organic food is not as hard as it once was, with many products available at major supermarkets that have been certified by Australian Organic. Try by looking for the bud logo next time you shop and start by introducing staple items such as bread or fruit and vegetables. You’ll soon see the difference in quality, but also that it tastes better!

Making the decision to solely eat organic food has many advantages for your health and the environment. Organically grown food contains more nutrients, vitamins and minerals than commercially grown food. Meat and dairy products are at the highest risk of contamination by harmful substances. There are many issues surrounding the ways animals are treated, including what they are fed before being passed on to us through digestion. By choosing Certified Organic products, you are ensuring that none of these dangerous substances are going to enter your body.

Eating organically also ensures that the food you are digesting is free from harmful additives, chemicals and pesticides. Digesting processed foods with such additives have been linked to symptoms including asthma, allergic reactions and hyperactivity in children. That is why at Bill’s Organics we use only pure, natural ingredients from certified organic farms. Organic food also tastes better than processed food and after eating an organic diet you won’t only feel better, your food will taste better.

Remember that little changes make a big difference

Other small changes can be made to assist in starting your organic life. Cutting down on the use of driving your car is one such change. There are a variety of reasons that may make this seem impossible, including living a large distance from your workplace, but by walking or cycling to get your groceries or to travel short distances, you are already decreasing your use of your car. Cutting down on electricity usage is another easy way to reduce your carbon footprint. Turn off lights and powerpoints when they are not in use, and opt to use less electricity where possible.  

How to cut the cost of living organically

One worry of people considering an organic lifestyle is the fact that living organically can be expensive. However, there are many ways to cut costs and live life organically. To reduce the costs of organic living you can:

    - Choose to buy fruit that is in season, as it costs less than buying fruit that is in its off season

    - Grow some of your own food including herbs and vegetables

    - Choosing fish more regularly than other proteins such as chicken and beef, as this can be a way to save money

    - Buy directly from organic farmers at Farmer’s Markets rather than from supermarkets

    - Make your own cleaning supplies

    - Look for sales on organic clothing and bedding

    - Research private sellers of handmade organics soaps and bath oils, as they often sell them at a lower cost than     larger companies do

Practice meditation and yoga

Practicing meditation and yoga can reduce feelings of stress in your life. Meditation, when practiced correctly, can allow us to enter a state of calm and relieve anxiety. There are many meditation tutorials on YouTube, and apps that can assist in learning how to meditate. A lot of people can find it hard to switch off their brain and focus on their breathing, and meditation takes practice and patience. Yoga is a great way to relax after a stressful day, and often classes end with meditation, which can assist in teaching you how to meditate at home. By meditating and doing yoga, you are on a pathway to holistic living that is beneficial to your health and outlook on life.

Keep in mind that living organically is not an all or nothing situation. If you are finding it overwhelming to think about changing every aspect of your life, start by changing something small, and your life and health will improve greatly. It is better to change some small aspects of your lifestyle than nothing at all.