As we enter the new year, the best thing you can do is look at this as a time to reflect on what is and what is not working in your life. You don't have to make new goals, resolutions or a word of the year (though the word of the year has been life changing for me personally).
We all grow, transform and change throughout the course of our life, whether we like it or not. You are not the same person you were 5 years ago, 2 years ago, even 1 year ago. You've evolved. Sometimes for the better, sometimes you've made mistakes and learned from them. Either way, sometimes we continue with some parts of our lives because they are comfortable, known, and easy. But sometimes you've got to say goodbye to comfortable and learn to embrace the new.
Say Goodbye to These 4 Things and Hello to Their Better Alternatives:
CANDLES & PLUG INS
I know. You're probably like that is number one? YEP. It sure is. And I'm about to enlighten you on why these seemingly harmless household items are actually terrible for your health.
Candles and Plug ins both contain fragrance. Why is this bad? Fragrance is known as an umbrella term, and thanks to the US Fair Packaging and Labeling Act, companies do not have to disclose what is actually in the fragrance. This unfortunately means that they likely contain endocrine disruptors, allergy and asthma triggers and even carcinogens. Yes, this means your fav perfume, body washes and lotions also are on the chopping block when it comes to fragrance.
Candles are also often made of paraffin wax, a derivative of petroleum. Paraffin also contains benzene and toluene, a known cause of upper respiratory irritation, and can lead to dizziness and headaches. Ever walk into a candle store, or a store with all of the smell good candles, lotions and soaps and get a headache? That, my love, is not normal. That is the fragrance, and the wax causing a physical reaction, and you should take this as a sign to high tail it out of there.
You also have to consider that the air quality in your home is likely poor if you are burning candles. It's often compared to smoking inside your home, and I have to agree. That hasn't been 'in' since the 90's.
There are other ways to make you home smell delightful without the yuck. Pure Beeswax candles are safe, as they have no artificial fragrance, and have a natural sweet smell from the honey. However, this still does pose a fire risk. As a pet owner, and small human wrangler, I just can't have an open flame. My personal preference and suggestion is to use pure essential oils. These can be tricky, because they are not regulated. Often times you'll see the label state 100% oil, but by law, they only need to be 5% oil, and the rest can be filler. Some will even list fragrance as an ingredient, and no plant is producing 'fragrance', so that is a dead giveaway that it is not pure. I strictly buy from Young Living because of their seed to seal promise. This is the promise that from seed, all the way through the distilling and bottling process, there is nothing but pure oil. No pesticides. No yuck. Just oil. Shop my affiliate link here.
2. TEFLON COATED COOKWEAR
While I love a good nonstick surface, this is one I am saying adios to.
The use of Teflon has been under investigation for over a decade, and it's just not worth it to me. I understand that they've changed the process over the last few years, but like, I'm not about to feed my family off questionable cooking surfaces, you know? When I started looking into this, my head was spinning with it is safe, it isn't safe, and on and on, and when I come across something I can't get a clear answer on, it's a no from me dawg. There are so many other options like stainless steel, ceramic and cast iron. So while I will be sad the next time I make eggs, and they inevitably stick because I am still learning how to cook with stainless, at least I'll know I'm not poisoning my family for nonstick eggs. Seems dramatic, but it's true.
I have a few Calphalon Stainless steel pans, and I am hoping to grab some ceramic pans to try this year. I'll be sharing more on this journey on Instagram, and I'd love for you to follow along!
3. TOXIC CLEANERS
I'll admit, I ditched these in 2021, and I'm legit shook every single time I witness someone buying cleaning wipes in the store. Remember how I said headaches are not normal when you are in the candle store? Well, I'm sorry friend, it isn't normal in the cleaning aisle either. The harsh chemicals, the fragrance, the phthalates. YOU DO NOT NEED THEM. They are just as bad as candles with the endocrine disruptors and the asthma triggers. And don't get me started on using them around your kids and pets! YIKES!
The reason I sought out a cleaner that was nontoxic was because I watched my kid lick a toy after I wiped it with a Clorox/Lysol wipe. I felt like an awful mom for not thinking to make sure that my cleaner was safe. How often were they exposed to cleaners like this, and I didn't even bat an eye?! Ugh, not a time I'm proud of, but I am proud that I did the research, sifted through all of the greenwashing and found what I believe to be the best nontoxic cleaner there is.
What is it? Well, based on my earlier proclamation of my love for Young Living, you can probably guess that it is Thieves. The entire cleaning line from the household cleaner to the dish soap, the kitchen and bath scrub, and the laundry detergent have all been lifesavers for us. They are safe to use both kids and pets, they actually clean, and as an added benefit, the essential oils within are immune boosting. And they save me money too, because I don't have to buy 20+ items to clean everything in my home, those 4 products do it all.
The household cleaner can be used on every surface of your home. EVERY. SINGLE. ONE. It is a concentrate, so you'll mix one capful with 16 oz of water and voila! You'll get around 30 bottles from one bottle of concentrate, making it less than $1 per bottle of cleaner.
The kitchen and bath scrub is great for tubs, toilets, and ovens. You can use the household cleaner there too, but you know sometimes you need a little grit, and this gives you just that.
The dish soap seems self-explanatory, but really think about it. Do you want to eat off of something you washed in chemicals? When I had someone ask me that question I shuddered. Just because we grew up with it, doesn't make it the best way. Products have changed over the years, and not always with the health of the consumer in mind.
And finally, the laundry detergent. This powerhouse detergent can be used as is, where you literally use the tiniest amount per load, or you can dilute into (3) 32 oz. bottles. I do this because I think it makes it easier to not use too much. This lasts me at least 6 months for my family of 4, and I do a load of laundry every day. Your skin is your largest organ, and it absorbs everything it touches. So, if you have fragrance and other yuck on your clothing from washing your clothing in detergent from the grocery store, then your skin in just absorbing all of that. I think we can all agree that sounds awful.
If you are ready to make this change, you can shop my link here. Don't get sticker shock. I realize it may feel like a lot for cleaning products, but if you went around your home and added up how much you spent on your current cleaners, I bet it would be close to the same, maybe even more. And these products should last you 6+ months! You will also gain access to my oily community on Facebook with nearly 2000 members! BONUS! You can use the code 'SHAREYL' and save 20% off your order!
4. Saying yes to things that do not make you happy
Are you a people pleaser? I am. I am also someone who likes to help others. In the last year, I have found that I am saying yes to things that I do not want to do, that do not make me happy, and they cause me so much unnecessary stress. Why? Because they will make other people happy with me. They make others' lives easier.
To clarify, this can be anything from saying no to reading a book that your friends are reading, to a playdate on a day where you are just flat out exhausted, or the big things that you are asked to volunteer for like classroom parent, coaching your kids sport, or community events. Whatever it is, before you say yes to appease others, first say to yourself "Will this make me happy, or them happy?" If you will not be happy, consider saying no.
I'll personally be living by the saying "If it is not a hell yes, it is a hell no." and I encourage you to do the same.
At the end of the day, you are the gatekeeper of your home. I've done the research and I feel very confident in my decision to ditch candles (&really anything with fragrance), Teflon and toxic cleaning agents. But you absolutely should do your own research on these items before bringing them into your home. I know I was floored when I started digging deeper, and if nothing else, I hope this encourages you to dig deeper as well.
Cheers to making changes,
Mandi
Commenti