embracing low tox life

Embracing the Low-Tox Life (Without Losing Your Mind)

naturalproductswaps
April 26, 2025•5 min read

Embracing the Low-Tox Life (Without Losing Your Mind)

When I first started switching to healthier, low-tox products, I felt like I was always behind—embarrassed by what I still used and overwhelmed by how far I had to go. Tossing a favorite snack or swapping a product often felt pointless, like it didn’t really matter. But the truth is, every small change counts. Whether it’s a cleaner shampoo or switching to dryer balls, these swaps add up and make a real impact on your family’s health. You know what though? It is normal to not be perfect. Progress doesn’t have to be all at once—it can take months or even years, and that’s still a win.

For those of us who are perfectionists or very hard on ourselves though - it’s okay; I had to stop obsessing over this too and I wanted to talk about how.

How I Stopped Obsessing Over Perfection

Here’s a quick list of what helped me stop overthinking every tiny detail:

  • Switch your products as you run out of them. There’s no need to stress over throwing out all your Bath & Body Works (I see you, fellow millennials) and spending hundreds of dollars to overhaul everything at once. While some people might find that approach works for them (and that’s awesome!), for most of us, making one small switch at a time is less overwhelming, more budget-friendly, and the easiest way to avoid burning out.

  • Celebrate Mini-Wins: Recognize that switching even one product is progress. Try to make a mental note every time you make a change, like, "The last shampoo had 14 ingredients, and this one has only 6" or "This food has no artificial dyes" or "I can eat this knowing it’s a healthier choice." Actively reminding yourself of these wins helps reinforce a positive mindset, and research shows that doing so can actually strengthen your brain's motivation pathways. According to Dr. Andrew Huberman, a neuroscientist at Stanford, when we celebrate small successes, it releases dopamine, which not only boosts our mood but also encourages us to keep making healthier choices (Huberman Lab Podcast, 2021). So, every time you acknowledge a mini-win, you're training your brain to associate these positive changes with success and motivation.

  • Prioritize What Matters for you: Focus on the swaps that make the biggest impact for you. You don’t have to do it like anyone else and you don’t need to shame yourself or be shamed by others for not being where they are at yet.

  • Give Yourself a Break: Remember that nobody is perfect—even your favorite low-tox products aren’t flawless.

  • Keep It Simple: Use apps and resources that scan and review the products for you so you don’t have to do the heavy lifting of reading all labels and understanding what each chemical is and what it does. 

  • Laugh at the Chaos: Sometimes, you just have to laugh when you realize that you’re stressing out too much and just eat those chicken nuggets in peace. 

No Unecessary Tox-Shaming

Honestly, when you’re starting out, you may want to consider not joining that Facebook group quite yet. Sometimes the conversations about low-tox living can get toxic. Everyone has their own path, and modern medicine and products still have a time and a place in our lives. There’s no need for shaming anyone for choosing the path that works for them. I’m all about balance and compassion, not a “one-size-fits-all” lifestyle. 

Where to Find My Low-Tox Goodies

At The Nurture Nook, I do the heavy lifting for you. I’ve curated a list of my favorite low-tox (or non-tox) products that I personally use, and you can check them out through:

  • My Website: At nurture-nook.com, I have several resources of reviews and detailed lists of my top picks. Here you will find:

    • Nurture Nook Blog: On my blog, I share tips, products, and research to help you nurture your health, home, and faith.

    • Earthley Affiliate Links: For healthy and truly all natural products that use herbs and products straight from the earth as well as full disclosure of what is in each product and how it helps.

    • My Amazon Storefront: As an Amazon affiliate, I earn commissions when you shop through my links. I have several healthier swap items on my storefront that you can find by category.

    • Free Resources: Downloadable posts, PDFs, and checklists to help you on your journey.

I’ve done (and am always currently doing and updating) more research so that you can focus on making those small, life-changing swaps without the overwhelm.

Be Easy on Yourself

Did you know that perfectionism can be more than just a nuisance? According to the American Psychological Association, individuals with high perfectionism are up to 2.5 times more likely to experience clinically significant anxiety (APA, 2018).

In other words, obsessing over every detail can seriously impact your mental health. I’ll dive deeper into how stress and perfectionism affect us in future blogs, so stay tuned.

low tox living


Remember:


Every step toward a healthier life is amazing, even if it isn’t perfect. You don’t need to stress over every ingredient—just focus on making small changes that make a big difference.

More Ideas for Nurturing Your Home, Family or Faith? Let’s Connect!

For more ideas and support, you can follow me on:

Sources:


Huberman, A. (2021, August 23). How to build new habits & overcome challenges (Episode 17) [Audio podcast]. Huberman Lab Podcast.https://hubermanlab.com

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