15 Easy Natural Living Tips
Embracing a natural living lifestyle is more than just a trend; it is a conscious return to the basics that our ancestors understood intuitively. In a world saturated with synthetic chemicals, processed foods, and environmental pollutants, shifting toward a more organic, holistic way of life can feel overwhelming. However, the secret to success lies in making small, sustainable changes.
This comprehensive guide explores 15 practical, easy-to-implement natural living tips. For every tip, we have included a complete recipe, detailed ingredient lists, and step-by-step instructions to help you reclaim your health and protect the planet.
1. Master the All-Purpose Citrus Cleaner
Commercial cleaning products often contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can irritate the lungs and skin. Transitioning to a natural cleaner is the easiest first step in detoxifying your home.
The Benefits
Citrus peels contain d-limonene, a natural solvent that cuts through grease, while white vinegar acts as a powerful disinfectant against mold and bacteria.
The Recipe: DIY Citrus Infused Vinegar
Ingredients:
- Peels from 4-5 oranges, lemons, or grapefruits
- 2 cups White distilled vinegar
- 1 cup Distilled water
- 5 drops Lemon essential oil (optional for extra scent)
- A large glass mason jar
- A spray bottle
Instructions:
- Prepare the Peels: Pack your glass mason jar about three-quarters full with fresh citrus peels.
- Infuse: Pour the white vinegar over the peels until they are completely submerged.
- Sit and Wait: Seal the jar and store it in a cool, dark place for 2 weeks. This allows the oils from the citrus to meld with the vinegar.
- Strain: After 2 weeks, strain the liquid into a clean bowl and discard the peels.
- Dilute: Mix the citrus vinegar with distilled water in a 1:1 ratio.
- Bottle: Pour the mixture into your spray bottle and add essential oils if desired. Shake well before use.
2. Nourish Your Gut with Homemade Sauerkraut
Probiotics are essential for a healthy microbiome, which influences everything from immunity to mental health. While store-bought sauerkraut is often pasteurized (which kills the good bacteria), homemade versions are alive with probiotics.
The Benefits
Fermented cabbage is rich in Vitamin C, K, and lactic acid bacteria that aid digestion.
The Recipe: Traditional Raw Sauerkraut
Ingredients:
- 1 medium head of Green Cabbage (approx. 2-3 lbs)
- 1.5 tablespoons Sea Salt (avoid iodized salt as it inhibits fermentation)
- 1 tablespoon Caraway seeds (optional)
- A large glass jar and a weight (a smaller jar filled with water works)
Instructions:
- Prep: Remove the outer leaves of the cabbage and set one large leaf aside. Shred the rest of the cabbage into thin ribbons.
- Massage: Place the shredded cabbage in a large bowl and sprinkle with salt. Massage the cabbage firmly with your hands for about 10 minutes. You will notice water (brine) being released.
- Pack: Pack the cabbage tightly into your glass jar. Use your fist or a wooden spoon to press it down hard. The goal is to have the brine rise above the cabbage.
- Submerge: Place the reserved cabbage leaf on top of the shredded cabbage. Place your weight on top to ensure everything stays submerged under the liquid.
- Ferment: Cover the jar with a cloth and a rubber band. Let it sit at room temperature for 7 to 14 days.
- Taste Test: Start tasting after day 7. When it reaches your desired tanginess, move it to the refrigerator.
3. Swap Plastic Wrap for DIY Beeswax Wraps
Plastic wrap is a single-use pollutant that can leach chemicals into your food. Beeswax wraps are a sustainable, breathable, and antibacterial alternative.
The Benefits
These wraps are reusable for up to a year and are fully compostable.
The Recipe: Homemade Beeswax Wraps
Ingredients:
- 100% Cotton fabric scraps (cut into squares or circles)
- 1/2 cup Beeswax pellets
- 2 tablespoons Pine rosin (for stickiness)
- 1 tablespoon Jojoba oil (for flexibility)
- An old paintbrush
Instructions:
- Prep Oven: Preheat your oven to 200°F (95°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Layout: Place your fabric pieces on the parchment paper.
- Mix: In a double boiler, melt the beeswax, rosin, and jojoba oil together until fully liquid.
- Coat: Use the paintbrush to spread a thin, even layer of the mixture over the fabric.
- Bake: Place the tray in the oven for 2 minutes to allow the wax to soak deep into the fibers.
- Dry: Carefully lift the fabric with tweezers and wave it in the air for 30 seconds until it cools and sets. It’s now ready to wrap cheese, veggies, or bowls!
4. Boost Immunity with Elderberry Syrup
During cold and flu season, natural living enthusiasts turn to elderberries. They are packed with antioxidants and vitamins that may boost your immune system.
The Benefits
Elderberries are known for their ability to shorten the duration of respiratory infections.
The Recipe: Potent Elderberry Syrup
Ingredients:
- 1 cup Dried Elderberries
- 4 cups Water
- 2 tablespoons Fresh Ginger (grated)
- 1 teaspoon Cinnamon powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Clove powder
- 1 cup Raw Honey (local is best)
Instructions:
- Simmer: Combine berries, water, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves in a saucepan. Bring to a boil.
- Reduce: Turn down the heat and simmer for about 45 minutes, or until the liquid has reduced by half.
- Mash: Use a spoon to mash the berries against the side of the pot to release all the juice.
- Strain: Pour the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into a glass bowl.
- Cool: Let the liquid cool until it is lukewarm. Crucial: Do not add honey to boiling liquid, as it kills the beneficial enzymes.
- Mix: Stir in the raw honey.
- Store: Pour into a glass jar and keep in the fridge. Take 1 tablespoon daily for wellness.
5. Detoxify Your Laundry with Natural Detergent
Standard laundry detergents often contain synthetic fragrances and optical brighteners that can irritate sensitive skin.
The Benefits
This recipe is hypoallergenic, cost-effective, and safe for greywater systems.
The Recipe: Powdered Natural Laundry Soap
Ingredients:
- 1 bar of Castile Soap (grated finely)
- 2 cups Washing Soda (Sodium Carbonate)
- 2 cups Borax (or extra baking soda if you prefer to avoid borax)
- 20 drops Lavender or Eucalyptus essential oil
Instructions:
- Grate: Use a fine cheese grater to turn the Castile soap bar into a fine powder.
- Combine: In a large container, mix the grated soap, washing soda, and borax.
- Scent: Add the essential oils and stir thoroughly to distribute the scent.
- Storage: Keep in an airtight container.
- Usage: Use 1–2 tablespoons per load of laundry. For extra softening, add 1/2 cup of white vinegar to the fabric softener compartment.
6. Heal Your Skin with an Oat and Honey Body Scrub
The skin is your largest organ. If you wouldn’t eat it, you shouldn’t put it on your skin. This scrub exfoliates and moisturizes simultaneously.
The Benefits
Oats are anti-inflammatory, while honey is a natural humectant that draws moisture into the skin.
The Recipe: Soothing Honey-Oat Scrub
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup Rolled oats (ground into a coarse flour)
- 1/4 cup Raw honey
- 1/4 cup Coconut oil (melted)
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract (for scent)
Instructions:
- Process Oats: Pulse oats in a blender until they look like coarse sand.
- Blend: In a small bowl, combine the ground oats, honey, and melted coconut oil.
- Stir: Add the vanilla extract and stir until it forms a thick paste.
- Apply: In the shower, massage the scrub onto damp skin in circular motions.
- Rinse: Rinse with warm water. Your skin will feel silky and hydrated.
7. Reduce Inflammation with Golden Milk
Natural living involves dietary choices that fight oxidative stress. Turmeric, the star of Golden Milk, is one of the most powerful natural anti-inflammatories.
The Benefits
Curcumin in turmeric is better absorbed when paired with the healthy fats in coconut milk and the piperine in black pepper.
The Recipe: Restorative Golden Milk
Ingredients:
- 2 cups Unsweetened Almond or Coconut milk
- 1 teaspoon Turmeric powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon Ground ginger
- 1 pinch Black pepper (essential for absorption)
- 1 teaspoon Maple syrup or Honey
Instructions:
- Heat: Add the milk to a small saucepan over medium heat.
- Whisk: Add turmeric, cinnamon, ginger, and black pepper. Whisk constantly to prevent clumps.
- Simmer: Bring to a gentle simmer (do not boil) for 5 minutes.
- Sweeten: Remove from heat and stir in your sweetener.
- Serve: Pour into a mug and drink warm before bed for a restorative sleep.
8. Refresh Your Scalp with an Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) Rinse
Modern shampoos often strip the hair of its natural oils and disrupt the pH of the scalp.
The Benefits
ACV flattens the hair cuticle, resulting in shiny, tangle-free hair while balancing the scalp’s pH to prevent dandruff.
The Recipe: The “No-Poo” ACV Rinse
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons Raw Apple Cider Vinegar (with “the mother”)
- 2 cups Filtered water
- 5 drops Rosemary essential oil (supports hair growth)
Instructions:
- Mix: Combine the ACV, water, and essential oil in a squeeze bottle or spray bottle.
- Apply: After shampooing (or instead of shampoo), tilt your head back and pour the mixture over your scalp and hair.
- Massage: Massage it into your scalp for a minute.
- Rinse: Rinse thoroughly with cool water. The vinegar smell will disappear once the hair dries.
9. Create a Non-Toxic Oral Care Routine
Most commercial toothpastes contain fluoride, SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate), and artificial sweeteners.
The Benefits
Bentonite clay draws out toxins from the gums, while coconut oil is antibacterial.
The Recipe: Re-mineralizing Toothpaste
Ingredients:
- 4 tablespoons Bentonite clay
- 3 tablespoons Coconut oil (softened)
- 1 tablespoon Distilled water
- 1/2 teaspoon Sea salt
- 15 drops Peppermint essential oil
Instructions:
- Avoid Metal: Use a wooden or plastic spoon (metal deactivates bentonite clay).
- Mix: Combine the clay and salt in a small glass bowl.
- Incorporate Oil: Add the coconut oil and mash it into the clay.
- Adjust Consistency: Add water one teaspoon at a time until you reach a paste-like consistency.
- Flavor: Stir in the peppermint oil.
- Store: Keep in a small glass jar. To use, scoop a small amount onto your toothbrush.
10. Deep Clean with a Natural Wood Polish
Dusting sprays are often filled with silicone and synthetic fragrances that leave a film on furniture and in your lungs.
The Benefits
Olive oil conditions the wood while lemon juice acts as a cleaning agent.
The Recipe: Lemon-Olive Wood Polish
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup Extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup Fresh lemon juice
- 10 drops Lemon essential oil
Instructions:
- Combine: Mix all ingredients in a small glass jar.
- Shake: Shake vigorously before every use as the oil and juice will separate.
- Apply: Dip a soft cotton cloth into the mixture.
- Buff: Rub into the wood following the grain. Use a dry cloth to buff away any excess oil.
11. Harness the Power of Bone Broth
One of the pillars of natural living is utilizing the whole animal and focusing on nutrient density.
The Benefits
Bone broth is a powerhouse of collagen, glycine, and minerals that support joint health and heal the gut lining.
The Recipe: 24-Hour Slow Cooker Bone Broth
Ingredients:
- 2-3 lbs Beef or Chicken bones (preferably grass-fed/pastured)
- 2 tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar (helps extract minerals)
- 2 Carrots, 2 Celery stalks, 1 Onion (roughly chopped)
- 1 tablespoon Peppercorns
- Filtered water to cover
Instructions:
- Roast: (Optional but recommended) Roast bones at 400°F for 20 minutes for better flavor.
- Pot: Place bones, vegetables, and vinegar in a slow cooker.
- Cover: Fill with water until bones are covered by 2 inches.
- Cook: Set the slow cooker to “Low.” For chicken, cook for 12-24 hours. For beef, cook for 24-48 hours.
- Strain: Strain through a fine-mesh sieve.
- Gel: Cool and refrigerate. A good broth will turn into “jelly” when cold—that’s the collagen!
12. Purify Air with Essential Oil Diffuser Blends
Instead of toxic air fresheners or paraffin candles, use a diffuser to clean the air and improve your mood.
The Benefits
Certain essential oils have antimicrobial properties that can actually kill airborne pathogens.
The Recipe: “The Breathe Easy” Blend
Ingredients:
- Water (for your diffuser)
- 3 drops Eucalyptus essential oil
- 3 drops Peppermint essential oil
- 2 drops Lemon essential oil
- 1 drop Tea Tree oil
Instructions:
- Fill: Fill your ultrasonic diffuser to the fill line with clean water.
- Drop: Add the specific drops of essential oils listed above.
- Diffuse: Run for 30-60 minutes to clear the air and open up respiratory pathways.
13. Start a Kitchen Scrap Garden
Natural living means reducing waste and connecting with the source of your food. Many vegetables can be grown from scraps you would normally throw away.
The Benefits
Free organic food and a great educational project for kids.
The Procedure: Regrowing Green Onions
Ingredients:
- The white root ends of Green Onions
- A small glass jar
- Fresh water
Instructions:
- Cut: When using green onions, save the bottom 1-2 inches with the roots attached.
- Submerge: Place the root ends in a small jar with enough water to cover the roots but leave the tops exposed.
- Sunlight: Place on a sunny windowsill.
- Refresh: Change the water every 2 days.
- Harvest: Within a week, you will see new green shoots. You can keep cutting them as they grow!
14. Handcrafted Beeswax Candles
Most conventional candles are made of paraffin, a petroleum byproduct that releases toluene and benzene when burned.
The Benefits
Beeswax candles actually clean the air by releasing negative ions that neutralize pollutants.
The Recipe: Pure Beeswax Mason Jar Candles
Ingredients:
- 1 lb Beeswax pellets
- 1/2 cup Coconut oil (helps the candle burn evenly)
- Cotton wicks with metal tabs
- Glass mason jars
- Wooden skewers
Instructions:
- Melt: Use a double boiler to melt the beeswax and coconut oil together.
- Prepare Wicks: Dip the bottom of the wick tab into the melted wax and press it to the bottom center of your jar.
- Secure: Use a wooden skewer or pencil to wrap the top of the wick and balance it across the jar opening to keep the wick centered.
- Pour: Carefully pour the melted wax into the jars, leaving an inch at the top.
- Set: Let the candles sit undisturbed for 24 hours.
- Trim: Trim the wick to 1/4 inch before lighting.
15. The Daily Magnesium Spray
Magnesium is a vital mineral for over 300 biochemical reactions in the body, yet many people are deficient. Applying it topically (transdermally) is one of the most effective ways to boost levels.
The Benefits
Helps with muscle relaxation, sleep quality, and anxiety reduction.
The Recipe: “Sleep Well” Magnesium Oil
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup Magnesium Chloride Flakes
- 1/2 cup Distilled water (boiled)
- A glass spray bottle
Instructions:
- Boil: Bring the distilled water to a boil.
- Dissolve: Place the magnesium flakes in a glass bowl and pour the boiling water over them.
- Stir: Stir until the flakes are completely dissolved.
- Cool: Let the mixture cool completely. It will have a slightly “oily” feel, though it is a water-based solution.
- Bottle: Pour into your spray bottle.
- Usage: Spray on legs or stomach before bed. Note: It may tingle the first few times; this is normal for those with low magnesium levels.
Conclusion: Your Path to a Natural Lifestyle
Transitioning to natural living doesn’t happen overnight. It is a journey of replacing one product at a time and learning to trust nature’s bounty. By implementing these 15 tips and recipes, you are reducing your toxic load, supporting your body’s innate healing abilities, and contributing to a healthier planet.
Start with one recipe this week—perhaps the citrus cleaner or the golden milk—and build your momentum from there. Natural living isn’t about perfection; it’s about progress. Happy crafting!