Sally's Guide to Living Naturally
With winter fast approaching and everything we have learnt during this pandemic, now more than ever is the time to get back to basics, and start utilising nature's gifts to enrich and nourish our bodies.
There are many great advantages that come with living life more naturally. Not only does it boost our health and wellbeing, but there is also less impact on our environment by working with nature.
Switching to natural alternatives in our daily lives is really easy and it can have some real benefits to our health. A few of those benefits include;
- Reducing stress: We love using essential oils with their aromatherapy qualities to help ease stress. Diffusing specific oil blends can positively impact your mood and the way you feel, with ingredients that help lower anxiety and increase relaxation.
- Relieving skin conditions and irritations: Often synthetic fragrances and paragons can disrupt our skin's natural moisturising mechanism and can worsen acne skin irritation, contact dermatitis and rosacea. Certain chemical products can also cause dizziness, headaches, hormonal issues, and hyperpigmentation. Replacing synthetic products with natural alternatives can reduce the severity of common skin conditions, and...
- Combating illness: Natural supplements, along with a healthy diet and good hydration, can boost your immune system to help you fight bugs that may cause you to become ill.
Living naturally can be interpreted differently between every individual. The trick is to find what works for you.
We caught up with Sally to find out what living naturally means to her. We talked through some of her favourite natural remedies that she loves incorporating into her life to keep herself and her family healthy and happy.
How do you start your day?
"We all know I can’t start my day without a freshly squeezed juice! I use a cold-press Juicer to get the most goodness out of my ingredients, and it helps that they are delicious and refreshing! I also make sure I drink some cool water first thing in the morning to boost my hydration after sleep."
What's your go-to Juice right now?
"I'm loving my signature blend of apple, carrots, pear, celery, orange and ginger. I sometimes add beetroot or baby spinach too.
I also make smoothies like my 'Sunshine Smoothie' which has mango, bananas, oranges, chia seeds, honey, coconut water, cinnamon and ginger, with a big handful of crushed ice. I like to add an LSA organic mix which is like ground nuts, and sometimes when I want to mix it up I'll add avocado or mixed berries."
How do you stay healthy at mealtimes?
"I shop for organic foods mostly, lots of vegetables and fruits from the local markets at Rapid Creek or from my favourite place; Greenies. If I need a 'snack' during the day I'll opt for a healthy one (most of the time!). Occasionally, I'll be naughty and eat junk food (I have a huge sweet tooth!), but that is a rare treat that helps boost my mental health. I think treats like this are fine as long as they are in moderation."
You mentioned creating a positive home and work space. With many people working from home right now, can you give them any tips on how to stay focused?
“Depending on my mood and health, I will diffuse essential oils. When I'm feeling flat or need to focus on work, I'll use the light citrus smells of Wild Orange to give me a 'pick me up' and when its time to wind down for bed I always use Lavender Peace.
On a daily basis, I like to diffuse a blend of my favourite doTerra oils. I add 2-3 drops each of On Guard, Clove, Lime and Frankincense for a cleansing aroma."
What natural alternatives do you use around the home?
DoTerra is the answer to everything in our household. Depending on what I'm cleaning I like to use different mixtures which will usually include either, Lemon, Eucalyptus, On Guard blend, Wild Orange or Tea Tree. There are some great recipes out there for cleaning with DoTerra oil, just please remember to follow the instructions as some essential oils can irritate the skin. I also love using Bio Living Organic cleaning products. They are safe for animals and kids and smell amazing!
If you have kids with sticky fingers or love to have a pack of wet wipes for travelling like me, then I'd also highly recommend Niki's Baby Wipes. Niki's have the most gentle biodegradable wipes which have coconut oil and Manuka honey essence to keep your skin clean and soft."
How can we incorporate living naturally when it comes to cosmetics?
“Along with the huge range of natural skin care options out there, I am loving the vegan-friendly nail polishes by Sienna Byron Bay. I wear nail polish all the time, so having a non-toxic alternative is so good! These gorgeous polishes don’t have overbearing chemical smells and come in the most stunning colours!
I'm not big on perfumes either, instead I opt for my own signature scent of Patchouli and Vetiver Essential Oils, which I dab onto my wrists and neck. If you're using essential oils for the first time, please make sure you follow the instructions and test on a small area first as some oils are highly concentrated and can cause irritation."
We're now into the Dry Season here in Darwin, and winter is approaching throughout southern Australia. That usually means our skin starts to dry out and become irritated. What can you recommend to help keep our skin glowing?
"I use my coconut oil every single day. I cannot tell you how important it is to moisturise and keep your skin hydrated. Drinking enough water is also important for your skin and overall health.
When I go out in the sun I also love to use my Sun + Earth Zinc Cream, which has a soft tint to give me a healthy glow and natural SPF qualities to protect from the sun rays."
What advice would you give someone looking to start living more naturally?
"Start slowly and make small changes gradually over time. Look at the 'pain points' in your life, and find a natural way to improve them first. Whether you're having trouble sleeping, have skin issues or find it hard to focus, just pick one thing to make a small, positive change. Your body will thank you for it."
