So, how do you take an Autumn detox?  Just follow these simple steps:

1. Start with a mindset detox   

The average person has an estimated 70,000 thoughts per day. Isn’t that amazing?  But the types of thoughts you have make a big difference when it comes to your overall well being.   Positive thoughts boost your mood and your energy, whereas negative thoughts are toxic; they drain you of your precious energy and tend to beget a downward spiral of negativity.  

Our noggins need a break; rest and restorative sleep (without the mobile devices nearby) are critical to quiet our brain and to release the negative, toxic thoughts that have swirled throughout the day.  Meditation, deep breathing, walks through nature, listening to music or viewing your favorite artwork allow your mind to rest from noisy thoughts and negative self-talk, which reduces stress and sets you up to perform at the top of your game.  

Attitude is everything, and clearing your mind of toxic thoughts, results in positivity and an “I can handle anything” kind of attitude.

2. Do a pantry/kitchen makeover  

We’re  not talking about repainting or redecorating; we’re talking about taking a good solid look at the food items in your kitchen, and tossing the things that offer you little to no nutritional value.  With the kids home from school this past summer, the cabinets may be bulging with the not-so-great stuff.  

Make a commitment to nourish your body, by getting rid of the foods with long lists of ingredients or difficult to pronounce ingredients.  Those difficult to pronounce ingredients are most often chemicals, and those chemicals tell the cells in your body to behave badly.  Think of your body as a neighborhood.  Your body is going to thank you for creating a safe place for your cells of your body to live.

3. Declutter your surroundings  

If your first inclination is to ask, “how exactly should I declutter”, then look no further because we have the perfect exercise for you.  Walk around your house, your closet, your garage, your car, and your desk at work and ask yourself these three questions:  Do I love this?  Do I need this?  Do I use this?   If the answer is a resounding “no”, then get rid of it.  Getting rid of things that we don’t love, use or need is liberating and frees up space in our life to hold onto the things that matter.  

The trick to decluttering is to keep up the good work.  So, once you remove the excess items from your surroundings, be sure to keep things that way. The next time you are inclined to hit the “buy” button at your favorite online retailer or make a purchase at your favorite shop, ask yourself the same three questions: Do I love this?  Do I need this?  Will I use this? And be truthful with your answers.  Keeping things simple will not only help you keep a tidy home, but will allow you more financial freedom as well. 

4. Detox your body

While our bodies have a built-in detox function, our systems are constantly being overloaded by chemicals in our food, our skin care products, our medications, the environment, and so on.  Our bodies could use a little extra assistance sometimes, and there is no shortage of body detox options out there.  

Some great detox rituals include:

• Exercise (sweat it out)
• Massage (great way to release toxins, and it’s not just for relaxing luxury)
• Yoga (rids toxins naturally through postures and deep breathing)
• Warm lemon water (natural detoxifier)
• Green tea (increases antioxidants)
• Increase organic food (fewer pesticides)
• Acupuncture (helps cleanse any blockages of toxins in the body)
• Drink more water (flushes toxins)
• Increase fiber (naturally cleans the digestive tract of toxins)
• Get 7-8 hours of sleep (helps the body to function properly)
• Probiotics (keeps digestive system working properly)
• Foot detox pads (draws impurities out through the feet)

This list is just the beginning.  There are so many ways to give your body the extra help that it needs.  Figure out what methods work best for you, and try new methods along the way.

5. Remove chemicals from your life

Now, we will be totally honest and tell you that this one is a work in progress in our homes.  We are finally getting around to taking a good hard look at our cosmetics, sunscreens, and cleaning supplies, all of which have an impact on our health.  We love, love, love the Environmental Working Group’s mobile app that allows a quick search for all different kinds of environmental products and their ratings, along with healthy guides and downloadable shopping lists.  If you haven’t yet looked at their website, or downloaded their app, it’s well worth it.

The bottom line on this one is that it’s impossible to remove every single toxin from your home, but every little bit helps.  Shop for cleaning products the way you would shop for food; choose products that are plant based, with short ingredient lists whenever possible.  Baking soda, lemon, vinegar and cornstarch are pantry staples that can double up as cleaning supplies.  

When buying beauty products, choose companies that you trust and know have made a commitment to using non-toxic chemicals in their formulas.  Siobhan O’Connor and Alexandra Spunt’s book “No More Dirty Looks”  is a quick read, and provides a wealth of useful information about beauty products as well as a guide for choosing safe and clean cosmetics.  

6. Detox your relationships

This detox step just might be the most difficult of all, especially for us women, who tend to stay in certain relationships because of guilt.  Toxic friendships consume energy, breed negativity and increase your stress, all of which ultimately impacts your overall well-being.  

So, how do you know if a relationship is working for you or not? Well, the question to ask is “After spending time with this person, how do you feel about yourself?” Do you feel energized, inspired, uplifted, supported or encouraged OR do you feel drained, let down, and discouraged?

Once you have an awareness of the way a relationship makes you feel, you need to give yourself permission to release the people in your life that do not nourish your soul.  It’s not an easy thing to do, especially if the person is a close family member or a long-time friend, but it is necessary.  And if you HAVE to spend time with that person, find ways to be with them where there will be less opportunity for the negativity to come out or set boundaries so that the relationship works on your terms.

How do you plan to detox?  We’d love to hear your comments below.  

xo Alex and Jill

Article By: Jill Chmielewski
Photo Credit: Alex Bertha