For 2026, “revisiting my natural-living goals” is at the top of my list and having recently attended a class at my local herb shop, I thought I’d share some natural living tips for busy moms.
My natural living journey began when we moved to Arizona when I was 20. My mom had been diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 45 and began her own natural health journey but moving from Florida to the Phoenix valley meant many more options were open to us, plus the boss’s wife of the job my dad took that landed us in Arizona was a “health nut” and willing to teach us everything she knew.
Being put on birth control by my naturopathic doctor when I got engaged to Drew (which made me sicker than I ever was during my pregnancies) led me to teaching myself fertility awareness which only cemented my commitment to staying out of the doctor’s office.
Let me first share my favorite herb shop where I’ve been shopping since the late 1990s. Desert Sage Herbs in Chandler
I’ll add to this list over time but wanted to get it started.
1:: Cut the fragrance. Go as fragrance-free as possible, especially when it comes to what you wear on your body all day and what fills the air at home. A great place to start is by cutting scented lotions and body sprays, using fragrance-free cleaners and throwing out your scented candles.
2:: Avoid plastic. It’s everywhere and greatly contributes to our toxic load. Go for glass and stainless steel whenever possible.
3:: Address your food sensitivities. Everyone is different and sometimes it takes trial and error to figure it out. I follow a “Low Fodmap” way of eating and lean heavily toward the Mediterranean diet.
4:: Aim for variety. I’m prone to eating the same things on repeat (I blame Weight Watchers when I hated to count points so I just ate the same things day to day) but feel much better when my salads, fruit, meat and starches rotate.
5:: You knew it was coming–increase your protein. We need close to 100 grams per day!
6:: WATER. Drink more. Half your weight in ounces is standard but for those of us in the desert, more is more.
7:: Embrace herbs, tea and essential oils. There’s a remedy for everything!
8:: As a color analysis pro, I have to mention eating the rainbow! If my plate looks beige or yellow, it’s a reminder to add some colorful foods like tomatoes or berries.
9:: Move your body. At least a little daily movement is key. Walking and swimming are my favorites. I’m trying to add strength training this year, too! It’s so important for our bones as we age. 30 minutes a day of movement is the standard.
10:: Try a natural approach before resorting to medicine. I love lavender for skin irritation, peppermint oil for headaches and diffusing a citrus blend to perk me up.
BONUS TIP: Spend time with people. Helping people is always a mood booster. Also try to be around people who boost YOU!
What would you add to the list?
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