When we think about lifestyle, many times we picture in our heads the places where we live and what we do when we are inside them, how we spend our free time away from school or the office, and the choices we make regarding our bodies, our brains, and the food we eat.
Keeping these things in mind, let us look at three lifestyle trends in home, leisure, and health.
Home: An Environment of Comfort
The covid-19 global pandemic has forced individuals and families in countries worldwide to stay at home and live in isolation. Even if many governments are already deploying mass-produced vaccines by pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer, Moderna, and AstraZeneca, it is still better to stay within the confines of your own house or apartment if possible.
From a home lifestyle perspective, this has lead to a shift in how houses are viewed. Aside from being places where you eat and sleep, they have transformed into multifunctional facilities where human beings do everything, from working and staying in shape to relaxing and spending quality time with their friends and loved ones. As such, they need to be comfortable and convenient.
Instead of one central heating or ventilation system, today’s houses have modern air-conditioning systems installed in every room. This allows different members of the household to all do a wide variety of tasks all at once. Other examples include home entertainment systems, smart home appliances, and intelligent lighting.
Today, people have to spend the vast majority of their day at home. Thus, it is imperative to make this place the best it can be.
Leisure: Relaxation with a Purpose
Leisure is oftentimes defined as free time and the opportunities that come with having access to it. For instance, I could say that today I don’t have to work, so I will spend the entirety of my day watching TV or chatting with my friends on Facebook Messenger. Another option would be going out for a picnic at the local park with my significant other or a fun-filled afternoon at the shopping mall.
Leisure usually doesn’t entail doing things that require much effort, diligence, and commitment. If I have to clean my house, do the laundry, wash the dishes, sweep, mop, and vacuum the floors, this is certainly not a leisure activity.
Still, in the last couple of decades or so, the term is expanding into an all-inclusive, flexible word used to describe a long list of other things. A quarter into the 21st century, leisure is more than simply doing nothing. It also entails taking part in learning experiences to better our skills and increase our knowledge.
For example, I can spend a portion of my free time engaging in mental training in one of the many available apps that combine games with exercises to improve my reading, writing, communication, and presentation abilities. I could also learn a new language or participate in self-improvement seminars that teach the value of acceptance and having the right frame of mind.
Health: Substance Over Form
If you want to have a long, happy, prosperous life, you need to take care of your health. You need to be mindful of the foods you eat, the amount of physical activity you engage in, and the levels of stress you subject your mind to. After all, it doesn’t matter how attractive you look in a bikini if you are always depressed and filled with anxiety. Nor does your level of success if you find yourself bedridden with a disease you could have prevented with better daily habits.
But even if you cannot do whatever you please whenever you please to do it, this doesn’t mean your health and fitness journey has to be a tedious, repetitive, and exhausting experience. In essence, you don’t have to hate it.
We live in societies where men and women can choose from a wide variety of options on their health. If you dislike running or riding a bike, there are plenty of other cardiovascular activities you can follow, all with either equal or better results. The same goes for the food you eat. While buying a burger, fries, and coke is not something you want to do daily, you can still enjoy the occasional treat. Better yet, you have the option to select choices that pack as much taste but with half the consequences to your liver, stomach, and heart.
As we have seen, three current lifestyle trends are comfortable living, relaxation with a purpose, and enjoying the process of getting healthy. As we learn more about ourselves and our specific needs, they will continue to determine how we live our lives and the choices we make.
