Why I’m Crunchy-ish, Not Crunchy – and What I Let Go Of

Reading every label. Stressing about which toothpaste is the right option. Researching products for hours on end. It’s EXHAUSTING.

If you’ve ever felt like being crunchy had to be all-or-nothing. Or like if you we’re doing it perfectly, you were failing – this post is for you.

Let’s normalize being able to participate in something without going all in.

When I first dipped my toes into the crunchy community, I felt like it had to be all-or-nothing. Like if I wasn’t doing everything perfectly, I was failing. After years of trail and error, I finally decided I was going to be crunchy-ISH not fully crunchy – and I’m better off for it.

Sustainability is the name of the game. You’re much better off doing a few healthy habits consistently, than doing none at all because you’re intimidated by the idea of perfection.

I’ve been there. I’ve tried the all-or-nothing approach. And I’ll tell you what, I was TIRED.

I spent the majority of my days researching the right products to use for everything from laundry to skincare. But after realizing that the amount of stress this brought me was more detrimental to my health than the products I was stressing over, I finally decided to half-ass it.

It’s ok to care about the food you put in your body and still enjoy a Casey’s pizza. It’s ok to give a s*** about your all-natural skincare and not about your toothpaste.

So without further ado, let’s get into the crunchy habits I maintained and let go of in order to regain my sanity and my health.

What I Still Care About

Some Natural Skincare

I’m not going to lie to you and tell you my entire skincare routine is all-natural. It’s not. But I do see the value in being mindful about what we put on our skin (the largest organ you have).

My goal has been to slowly find affordable natural replacements for what I can in my skincare routine. Because mama’s cheap and on a budget. Here are a few of my favorite finds so far:

80/20 Rule on Whole Foods

I am and always have been a big proponent of eating whole foods. Think meat, cheese, fruit, vegetables, rice, potatoes, etc. Anything with one ingredient really.

I quickly notice how much better I feel, how my toddler is less emotional, and how my husbands energy levels skyrocket when we eat this way.

HOWEVER, ya girl also has 2 under 2 and enjoys a break from cooking and Diet Coke with a Casey’s pizza from time to time. So we follow the “rule” of eating whole foods and home-cooked meals 80% of the time and have our guilty pleasures 20% of the time.

This doesn’t have to be even as strict as specific meals, but can show up as a store bought croissant for my homemade chicken salad sandwich or a Diet Coke with my whole food dinner.

Those little “treats” keep me sane and make my life easier when I’m on the go. Because not everyone has time to cook homemade bread and a couple slices of the store-bought stuff is not going to ruin your health (even if that IG influencer is telling you it is).

Intentional Screen Time

This is one I whole heartedly abide by. And notice I called it intentional screen time, not limited screen time. I think that denying the fact that screens are a big part of our lives and future is being naive.

However, I don’t think anything has improved my physical and mental health more than deleting social media and getting off my phone.

I notice I am less snappy with my family, I am more creative, and I feel like I have more time in my day when I am intentional about my screen time. What this means to me is:

1. Not mindlessly scrolling social media
2. Watching TV WITH my children and/or husband
3. Researching new hobbies (cooking, gardening, etc.)
4. Not shopping for things I don’t need
5. Using my computer for work instead of my phone when possible
6. Playing music instead of the TV mindlessly in the background

This could look different for you and your family. For me, deleting social media was the only way to keep my mental health protected from it, but for you it could look like getting ruthless about who you follow and why.

What I Let Go Of

Non-toxic Household Supplies

Until there is an option that actually feels clean, doesn’t smell weird, and doesn’t cost me 5x as much, I will stay using my Tide Free & Gentle laundry detergent and Clorox cleaners in the bathroom.

As a mom who is on a budget, I can’t justify spending double what I do now for half the product. I also just cannot deal with the smell of some of the natural alternatives.

When I clean my bathrooms, I want them to feel CLEAN. Not like I just wiped it down with vinegar.

I do, however, keep my children away from the bathrooms or cleaned surfaces until any residual smell/product is long gone.

Clean Beauty Products

I know this kind of contradicts my natural skincare point above, but hey that’s the crunchy-ish lifestyle baby.

Maybe in another phase of life I will get to this level of crunchy. But with 2 under 2 I have learned to pick and choose my battles and this is not one of them. I have my tried and true makeup products and my favorite scented body wash that I am just not willing to part with yet.

And sometimes you deserve to be a little selfish in that way.

100% Cotton Clothing

Not now, not ever.

For one, in this economy? I think not.

For two, um leggings hello?

And for three, I want to look and feel cute in my clothes and I have yet to find 100% cotton clothing that fits my style. Therefore, I will be opting out of this one until further notice.

Unrealistic Morning Routines

When I was a 22-year-old with no children or other responsibilities, I was that girl waking up 2 hours before work to get my morning sun, reading, and getting some gentle movement in.

Now? I sleep in as much as I can to still get both kids and myself dressed and fed before the day begins. And in my book that’s just as much self-care as that old version of me, it just looks a little different.

I still try to eat before caffeine and avoid screens for the first hour of the day, but that doesn’t always happen and in this season of life that is ok.

My Takeaways

If you want to be crunchy but don’t know where to start, or easily get overwhelmed by every wellness influencer telling you you’re not doing enough, start small.

Pick one or two things you know you can easily adapt into your life and do them until they no longer feel like a chore, then add something else (or just stop there, whatever floats your boat).

You don’t have to be perfect to be crunchy, just intentional. There are a lot of things that I have noticed are a “not right now” not a “not ever.” But just because I don’t do it all doesn’t mean I am not seeing or feeling the benefits from doing some of it.

Sometimes half-assing it is better than no-assing it.