There is so much information out there on the web about healthy living. Having the world at our fingertips can be an amazing resource, but a person can soon find themselves overwhelmed by it all.

When healthy living encompasses so many aspects of our day to day lives, where does one begin to make changes? How do you sort through the murky sea of information and misinformation to find the pearls? What must one do to get their family on board for the healthy living ride?

Navigating the Sea of Information
This sea is filled with great information AND misinformation. Always evaluate the source. Is it someone sharing their experience? Are they selling something? Does it seem to line up with what you’ve read elsewhere? I find that the best thing to do is look for a couple of sources that are saying the same thing. Chances are, they might be on to something. Read reviews on personal blogs, amazon, and other review places. This can help you weed through the myriad of products out there.

Keep a notebook nearby as you read both on the net, from books, or other places. Jot down ideas that appeal to you; things you might want to try. Break this collection of information into different pages for various topics. For example, have a separate page for healthy eating, natural remedies, exercise, natural cleaning, etc.

In another section of your notebook, write down your personal experiences as you begin to try new things. Do you need to tweak something? Did it flat out fail? Or have you stumbled onto something to add to your healthy living arsenal? Keeping a record will help you know what worked, and what didn’t.

Making Changes
The most important thing to remember is that you can’t, and shouldn’t, try to make several changes all at once. You will most likely become overwhelmed and quit. This is why your notebook is important. You can choose a couple of things to change now, while not forgetting anything you might want to try later.

Where to start? This could vary depending on what’s going on in your life. Do you or a family member have a cold? Research home remedies for colds. A good immune building soup would be good for supper tonight.

Maybe you read something, and really feel led to make a change in that area. Sounds like a good place to begin to me. Or maybe you really have no idea because things need to change in several areas. Maybe it all speaks to you. What then? I suggest starting with you. What do you need to do to get healthy? Drink water, eat better, exercise, or maybe get some sleep. Next Tuesday, I’ll post about more on this starting point.

Getting the Family on Board
This can be tricky. The younger the family member, the easier it is to make changes. Be enthusiastic, and they will jump in with a game mentality. Making it fun and adventurous, and letting them be a part of the process will bring them on board fairly quick.

Older family members and spouses can be a bit skeptical. They need to know why they should bother to make the change. I suggest trying things first, and telling them about what you’re doing. Curiosity as well as seeing results will usually get them to try something new. However, be prepared that they might be perfectly content right where they are with what they are doing or using. And that’s okay. They can make that choice for themselves. Don’t be disappointed. Enjoy the journey you are on.

It can be a lot of fun to try new things, and discover new ways of doing things. You will begin to feel better, see great results, and this helps you to continue experimenting. Don’t allow yourself to become discouraged if something isn’t working. It might not be right for you, or it just might not be right at all. Share your experience both positive and negative because that might help someone else make a decision.

I’ll share more in the weeks ahead about what has worked or not worked for our family. Remember, I’m on my own journey, still learning, still adding new changes. I’d love to hear about what’s working for you, what’s not working, and anything you might be curious about. Maybe together we will navigate the murky waters, and come up with those pearls to enrich our families.