Delving into the notion of clean living consciousness, there’s often a school of thought that suggests that clean living is strictly diet-based awareness. Contrary to that, the foundation on which clean living consciousness is built encompasses our physical, emotional and mental well-being, as well as being mindful of our impact on the environment.
Focusing on the mind, the body, healthy relationships, and the environment we indulge ourselves in dictates what we will receive in return as individuals. This lifestyle concept isn’t just a fad or zeitgeist, it’s a new way of life.
It’s an attitude perceived as better for the world, our society and the individual. In the past clean living has been cyclical, so it’s not just about clean eating it’s about a deeper level of significant changes.
So what exactly does clean living consciousness really mean?
Practising clean living is about cultivating healthy habits, allowing yourself time to relax and decompress on a regular basis, decluttering your life and mind and finding new experiences in life that nourish the body and mind.
When you are conscious of all this, you become intentional and mindful of all that you do, and all that surrounds.
What’s driving clean living consciousness?
We are reaching the pinnacle of awareness surrounding what we eat, how we use our time and things that have an impact on our general well-being. Put simply, people are looking inward, for their own priorities and solutions. What’s more, technological advances have enabled us to monitor our health through wearables and applications.
More importantly, there is much more awareness of the environment and the impact that we’re having on the planet. Overall there is a need to be more considerate — to be more motivated by enriched experiences. Take these areas of life sincerely, and they will respond accordingly.
Spend time with nature
Nature is always a good healer — the scent of the trees, the sunlight playing through the leaves, and the fresh, clean air can be comforting to both the mind, body and soul. For years, forest bathing (Japanese oldest pastime known as Shinrin-Yoku) has been credited to ease stress and worry, help us to relax, refresh and rejuvenate, restore our mood, give us back our energy and vitality.
Essentially, the idea of forest bathing involves walking in silence and deliberately connect with nature. Taking in the forest through your senses bridges the gap between you and the natural world. Research on “BLUE Zones” regions (places where people live longer and healthier than anywhere else on earth) list gardening as a common key ingredient in the recipe of wellness.
Getting your hands dirty is also a great way of spending time outdoors. Whether landscaping or starting a vegetable garden, it doesn’t matter — it can enhance mood and make you happier. This strange effect comes from contact with Mycobacterium vaccae — microscopic organisms in the soil which trigger the brain to produce a happy chemical known as Serotonin.
Clear the mind
The common theme of clean living consciousness is decluttering — and it goes far beyond improving the aesthetics of your home or workspace.
Mental clutter is detrimental to our being — when you feel stressed, anxious or sad, your entire body feels it too. Decluttering the mind paves way for what’s more important and promotes peace within oneself.
Whatever task you choose clear the excess clutter out of your mind, it is important to include an element of reflection. The key is finding the one that will improve your mental state and overall wellness. Many find the practice of meditation to be the best solution, while others resort to the idea of daily journaling. Overall, practice self-care in a way that fits you and takes the time to declutter your life and start seeing the positive changes that occur.
Eat healthy, exercise regularly
Eating a healthy balanced diet accompanied by regular exercise is strongly linked to longevity. Research has long suggested that following a Mediterranean diet — consisting of large quantities of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and healthy fats, and consuming less sugar, red meat or processed food — brings a host of health benefits, including a longer life.
Making it a point to move every day is a boon for both your physical and mental health. Taking a hike, playing tennis with a friend or streaming an online workout can boost everything from cardiovascular fitness to mood and energy. These healthy day-to-day choices can surprisingly make a dramatic difference in how you look and feel.
Create a clean space
A carefully curated and mindful space speaks volumes to a person’s values and is most times associated with clean living consciousness. The underlying understanding is that people have different situations and varying schedules. Nonetheless keeping a clean space aids in diffusing the stress caused by a busy routine. Believe it or not, there are actually positive benefits of keeping an organised space and this is evidently backed by psychology.
Bringing in elements of nature indoor has been found to positively enhance our mood in a way that spending time in natural surroundings would. For example, the presence of wood in interior spaces can significantly help forge a healthy environment, in return, contribute to your overall wellness. Similarly, colours, textures and patterns inspired by nature are known to lend warmth, comfort and relaxation in a way the benefits our physical and mental.
Conclusion
With so much going on in the modern world, many people have become caught in a cycle of complexity and a busy lifestyle full of constant activity, material clutter and concerns. Clean living consciousness encourages us to slow down, and it’s the doorway to live all of our moments as if they truly mattered — it’s about eliminating excess in your life.
This could mean simplifying your diet, moving your body more and clearing unnecessary physical and mental clutter. If you’re trying to lead a happier and healthier life, making the necessary changes induces a state of mindfulness that cultivates unshakable deep peace, a sense of joy and aliveness.