Holistic living: what it is and how you can embrace it

We’re bombarded by health and wellness messages every single day. Eat this, don’t eat that. Do this exercise, avoid this movement. Drink more water. Get more sleep. It can sometimes feel overwhelming, can't it? However, what if we looked at things a bit differently? Instead of focusing on tiny pieces, let’s explore the big picture — holistic living. 

What is holistic living? More importantly, can it truly make a difference? In this article, we'll explain the concept and give examples of how you can incorporate it into your life. We'll also share amazing ways to delve into this lifestyle: volunteering or taking part in transformative courses together with like-minded people. 

What is holistic living?

In summary, holistic living is about integrating mind, body, and spirit for overall well-being. This isn't about striving for perfection, but about making conscious choices that nurture your whole being. It means ditching the quick fixes and instant gratification and choosing a path of sustainability – in your health, your habits, and even your outlook on life.

Holistic living is a lifestyle approach. It's about understanding that every facet of your being—your mind, body, and soul—are intertwined. It acknowledges that a little imbalance in one area will likely impact the others.

Remember the last time you were super stressed? Did you crush a bag of chips or find yourself tossing and turning all night? That's your mind and body showcasing their interconnectedness.

Benefits of a holistic lifestyle

Think of holistic living as investing in yourself. Like any worthwhile investment, it can yield some pretty amazing returns, such as improved physical health, mental clarity, and emotional balance. Check out some examples:

• Greater energy and vitality: Ever feel drained by 2 p.m.? When you prioritize healthy habits, eat nourishing foods, and move your body regularly, you create an energy reservoir to power through your day – no energy drinks needed.
• Reduced stress and enhanced mood: Life throws curveballs, no doubt. But a holistic approach, with practices like mindfulness or spending time in nature, can equip you with tools to navigate stress more effectively. This not only leads to a calmer you but can also improve your mood and cognitive function.
• Stronger immune system: By reducing stress, fueling your body with nutrient-rich foods, and getting enough sleep, you are naturally supporting a resilient immune system – one better equipped to handle whatever life throws at it.

How to live a more holistic life

Embracing holistic living isn’t an overnight transformation; it’s about incorporating small, sustainable changes over time. Here’s how to weave its principles into your life.

Physical health

Nourishing foods: Prioritize whole foods like fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats. Think of it as feeding your body what it needs to thrive. Instead of reaching for processed snacks, opt for a piece of fruit with nut butter. This swap provides long-lasting energy without the sugar crash.

Regular movement: Find ways to move your body that you genuinely enjoy, whether it's dancing, hiking, or swimming, for instance. Set realistic goals like aiming for at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise most days of the week. Implement workout plans gradually to avoid overwhelming yourself and support consistency.

Quality sleep: Aim for 7-9 hours of sleep every night. Think of sleep as a non-negotiable part of your holistic health routine, just as crucial as a healthy diet and exercise. Create a consistent sleep pattern and a relaxing bedtime ritual to enhance sleep quality.

Mental health

Mindfulness: Engage in mindfulness exercises or meditation to help calm your mind. Dedicate even a few minutes each day to cultivate inner peace and reduce stress.

Practice mindful breathing while commuting, waiting in line, or even during commercial breaks. Notice how this small shift transforms ordinary moments into opportunities for mindfulness.

Stress reduction: Discover healthy coping mechanisms for stress like deep breathing exercises, spending time in nature, or engaging in relaxing hobbies. Start a self-care practice that nurtures your mental well-being.

Lifelong learning: Read books, explore new interests, or learn a new skill to stimulate your brain. Cultivating a thirst for knowledge and exploring new areas can enrich your life.

You might also like to read: Journey to serenity: 10 meditation places worldwide offering free stay

Emotional health

Self-care: Make time for activities you love and learn to set healthy boundaries. Prioritizing self-care helps you show up fully for yourself and others. This can be as simple as carving out a few moments for yourself each day. 

Incorporate practices like gratitude journaling into your daily life. Jot down three things you are grateful for each day, no matter how big or small.

Kindness and compassion: Cultivate kindness and compassion towards yourself. Remember, nobody’s perfect and embracing self-acceptance paves the path toward emotional well-being. Practice gratitude by acknowledging the positive aspects of your life and expressing appreciation to those around you.

Healthy relationships: Nurture relationships that are positive influences on your emotional health. Make an effort to spend quality time with loved ones, creating meaningful connections.

Spiritual health

Connection to self: Engage in activities that allow you to connect deeply with yourself and explore your inner world. This might involve practices like meditation or spending time in nature. Consider creating vision boards to visualize and manifest your goals and aspirations.

Create a dedicated space for reflection or meditation, even if it’s just a quiet corner in your home. Make it your sanctuary to escape for moments of stillness and reconnect with yourself.

Meaning and purpose: Discover a sense of meaning and purpose. Volunteering, following your passions, or contributing to something you care about fosters spiritual well-being.

Openness and acceptance: Embrace an open mind toward different perspectives. This doesn't mean abandoning your own, but welcoming curiosity as a means for growth.

You might like these articles:

• Spiritual retreats: how to join them for free
• Spiritual travel: journeying towards deeper connections

Learn about holistic living by volunteering

Feel like getting an extra push to change your lifestyle? Worldpackers is a platform that connects travelers with volunteer opportunities across the globe, offering a unique way to explore holistic living. By volunteering in holistic centers, you can immerse yourself in environments dedicated to wellness, sustainability, and personal growth.

Holistic centers around the world focus on various aspects of well-being, including yoga, meditation, organic farming, and alternative healing practices. Through Worldpackers, you can find opportunities to support these centers by teaching classes, assisting with retreats, helping with daily operations, or contributing to eco-friendly projects, for instance.

Volunteering at a holistic center not only allows you to experience and learn about holistic practices firsthand but also to meet people who are also interested in this way of life. This enriching experience can deepen your understanding of holistic lifestyles while making a positive impact on the places you visit.

Check out some of the holistic centers around the world where you can volunteer:

• Yoga, meditation and permaculture community in Thailand
• Communal living in a spiritual community in Brazil
• Yoga retreat center in the Austrian Alps

Holistic living course

If you don’t feel like volunteering, but still want to have an immersive experience learning about sustainable ways of life and enjoying beautiful sceneries in a different culture, there’s also another awesome Worldpackers opportunity: you can spend 8 days doing an Holistic Living course at Kaiwai Permaculture, in Mizque, Bolivia.

Through this opportunity, you’ll learn the skills to become independent for your basic needs such as food, water, and shelter while living in a community and enjoying the enchanting Bolivian countryside.

The course covers basic permaculture principles such as planning the land, designing a food forest, planting a garden, water management, composting, energy conservation, among others. Plus, you get certificated at the end.

This is a great way to gain knowledge on how to have a positive impact on the environment, with a healthy mind and body and creating abundance locally. You’ll also get to enjoy waterfalls, river swims, hikes, local food, and handcraft markets.

The experience includes accommodation and three delicious vegetarian meals every day, made from truly organic food with Andean ingredients.

Emma, a Worldpackers volunteer from Germany, was one of many travelers who gave this host a 5-star rating. Check out her review: 

“The place is wonderful. I felt so welcomed and enjoyed my stay so much, that I expanded it. Jessica and Simon are super friendly and it is fun to stay there. Especially the board game culture there is amazing. I loved it. We volunteers cooked and it was delicious, especially because there are a lot of resources we could use and be creative. The Projects on Simon's Farm are varied and so also the tasks I did, which was very good. The Farm is a super nice and quite place where you can enjoy your time”.

Got curious? Click here to find out more about this holistic living experience. 

FAQs about holistic living

How do I start living holistically?

Remember that change is a marathon, not a sprint. Start by focusing on one area you’d like to enhance, such as nutrition or mindfulness. Small, consistent actions yield significant results over time. To stay organized, create a time routine that incorporates healthy habits. 

Consider implementing meal prepping techniques into your weekly schedule, for instance. This will help you prioritize nutritious foods and save you time throughout the week.

What is the holistic concept of life?

The holistic concept of life revolves around the interconnectedness of the mind, body, and spirit. It is a way of living that considers the whole person rather than just their individual parts.

It's a philosophy of integration, where every decision you make considers your well-being as a whole. Regularly evaluate your habits and make adjustments as needed to maintain a sense of balance.

What is an example of a holistic life?

It could involve embracing healthy habits such as nourishing your body with a balanced diet, moving mindfully through activities you enjoy, and cultivating inner peace through meditation. 

Nurturing your passions by engaging in activities that bring you joy and fulfillment, and contributing positively to the world by volunteering your time or supporting causes you care about are also examples of living holistically.

We hope that by know you’ve realized that holistic living isn’t just a passing wellness trend. Embracing this lifestyle is about honoring the innate connection between your mind, body, and spirit and making conscious choices that support your overall well-being.

Now go forth and live your most holistic, vibrant, and authentic life. Create a free profile on Worldpackers and start saving your favorite opportunities to live holistically around the world.