I may receive commissions from purchases made through links in this article. Full Disclosure
If it seems too intimidating to be crunchy, just relax. I’ve got some tips on how to go crunchy without going crazy! It’s not as hard as it might seem (and it’s not all or nothing)!
If you have checked out my post on What is Crunchy Living (a popular favorite), you will probably have a decent grasp on what this whole crunchy thing is about.
You are also likely to be in one of three positions:
1) You are already crunchy and this whole series has just been a nice refresher course
2)You are currently not crunchy but now would like to be
3)You could care less about being crunchy (although I really hope that is not the case for anyone)
This post is for group #2; the group who wants to be crunchy or perhaps those who are crunchy but want to be crunchier.
If it seems like you have so much to work on in order to be crunchy, just relax. As I’ve mentioned before, being crunchy is not an all or nothing lifestyle nor is it a “convert everything at once” lifestyle.
No, thankfully you can work on becoming crunchy without becoming crazy.
How To Go Crunchy Without Going Crazy!
1) Tackle One Section At A Time
Odds are there are many areas in your home and life that could use some crunchy changes. Perhaps they all need some tweaking! My suggestion is to pick one area and work on that.
Do not just start running around your home and changing everything at once! Doing so will not only drive you and your family crazy but it can also cause you to become overwhelmed and you might lose your desire to be crunchy.
So pick one area; be it cleaning supplies, recycling, food, baby, or plastics and focus on that area until you are ready to move on to another section.
Want a way to focus on one area each month? Check out my Going Natural: One Month at a Time post.
2) Replace Produces As You Run Out
This philosophy is truly very helpful! Not only will it save your sanity but you also won’t be throwing items away or spending a ton of money all at once.
Say for instance that you know you need a crunchy/crunchier toothpaste, however you still have some of the old stuff left. Use the old stuff up and then make a new purchase. This will give you time to research which new toothpaste to go with.
The complete crunchy overhaul will take longer but you will be able to put more time into picking the right products the first time and you won’t be in debt suddenly because you throw away every old product in your house!
3) Realize That Being Crunchy Is A Process
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, being crunchy is a lifelong process. There’s no magic over-night transformation that takes you from mainstream to crunchy.
It’s a slow, lifelong ordeal. Nobody is 100% crunchy and even if they think they are, I assure you there is something that they could stand to change.
4) Loose The Crunchy Guilt
With the crunchy movement seems to have come crunchy guilt… this seems particularly true for moms who just add on a new layer of already familiar mommy guilt but it can be true for anyone venturing into the crunchy world.
You do not need to be as crunchy as somebody else.
Some people can actually go off grid, use family cloth instead of toilet paper, grow all their own food, and never own a single piece of plastic or technology…. most of us however, just cannot live like that.
It’s ok to incorporate parts of the crunchy lifestyle that work for you and keep the mainstream practices that you need to.
And let’s be clear… just because you might look at my blog and it looks like I do ALL these things ALL the time…. remember it’s just a snippet of my life.
I did do all these things at one point of my life but that doesn’t mean I still do them (I’m sorry but I don’t have time to soak my grains currently). It also doesn’t show the mainstream things I still do…. like use technology or getting fast-food after a long day of grocery shopping.
Resources to Help You Have A Crunchy Lifestyle
1) The Library aka Books
Yes, you could buy books but I do encourage you to check out your library first. It’s free that way! There are tons of books on crunchy topics.
I find most of my books by searching the library’s catalog with phrases such as “natural living”, “green living”, “toxins”, or “eco living”. You are almost sure to find something that way!
2) Natural Living Websites
There are quite a few great crunchy sites. Some focus on just one area (food, kids, toxins) and some cover multiple subjects. Many of these websites are wonderful for helping your sort through the massive amounts of products out there.
Some do cheat sheets for crunchy products, some give ratings for products, some write reviews of products they try, and some help you stay up to date on the latest news.
3) Crunchy Blogs (and Instagrams)
Like this one, there are many blogs (and instagrams) out there. I follow tons of other crunchy blogs and I learn quite a lot from them! Some favorites are: Green and Happy Mom, Mindful Momma, Grow Forage Cook Ferment, Reclaiming Vitality, Butter Nutrition, and A Life Adjacent.
4) Crunchy Forums
Forums are probably the greatest contributor to my crunchiness! Through forums I’ve “met” other crunchies and I hear about things I would have never even thought of!
It’s because of forums that I use cloth diapers, make my own deodorant, and make my yogurt in a crock pot!!!
One of my favorites and one I frequented very often in my early crunchy years (screen name: ‘spritzey’ if you ever want to say hi) is Crunchy Mamas on Babycenter’s community.
As of right now, I have yet to find a non-parent crunchy forum. They all seem to be designed for parents or soon-to-be parents. However, if you know of a non-parent crunchy forum, let me know!
I hope this post has helped you understand how to become crunchy. Try not too become overwhelmed. Start small and slow. You will be a crunchy pro in no time!
All great ideas! I'm in the transition phase now. As we use up old things I bring in new eco friend/crunchy items. It makes all the research much easier as I'm not doing it all at once.
So, I guess I'm a transitional crunchy mama 🙂
Jennifer
itchylittleworld.wordpress.com
I've been hearing the term "Crunchy" for a while now. I've put context clues together to make some sort of definition for myself. It's helpful to read the true definition. I'm on the brink of becoming crunchy myself. It's definitely a process and a HUGE learning curve.
Andrea
http://www.ScratchMeNot.com
Just stumbled across your blog because I am transitioning into more a natural lifestyle, but have been feeling overwhelmed with everything I "should" be doing – versus what I realistically CAN do right now. So this post just helped alleviate some of that stress! I look forward to perusing the rest of your site!
Hi Elizabeth!
So glad you found my blog and I'm glad that this post is helping you realize that a natural lifestyle doesn't need to happen instantly!
Hi Brittany!
I am on the path to becoming a more "crunchy" person as you put it :). I lived with my best friend the past six years and just recently have started to live by myself within the past 6 months. I have always embraced this type of lifestyle but it is hard to be crunchy everyday when the people you surround yourself with aren't. Now, living by myself I find myself gradually embracing these lifestyle changes. I finally feel myself and this is a passion I have been longly wishing ot pursue because it ultimately reflects who and what we will become. I am so happy to find your blog as well! Great topics, can't wait to read more 🙂
I love this post, and you're so right – it doesn't have to be an all-or-nothing thing. Not everyone would be happy with a 100% crunchy lifestyle, what works for one might not work for another. You're very wise indeed to recommend they work slowly to find what works for them. I consider myself pretty darn crunchy, but it's something I really enjoy and embrace in this stage of my life. (It wasn't as important to me or attainable in previous stages as it is now.) Thank you SO MUCH for sharing this post!
~Taylor-Made Ranch~
Texas