Mental and physical health has a lot to do with the actions we carry out every day , with the habits we have and the guidelines we follow. That is to say, our lifestyles determine our well-being and happiness to a greater extent.
Eating well, playing sports, relaxing, having time for leisure, etc., have an effect on our well-being. But, What are the lifestyles that make us happiest? In the following lines we explain them to you.
1. Buddhist lifestyle
The Buddhist lifestyle has a spiritual basis and it is a lifestyle that achieves inner peace thanks to the fact that it follows a series of principles that have their origin in the wisdom and practices of Gautama Buddha.
There are different branches of Buddhism, and despite originating in Asia, it is ideal for the busy Western world in which we live, because its simplicity, which is based on acceptance, gratitude, and compassion, has great healing power, relaxing and, in addition, it helps to achieve a connection with oneself, since happiness is born within our being and in the interpretation we make of the world.
Buddhist practice is based on different types of meditation. In our article “The 8 types of meditation and their characteristics” we explain them to you. Additionally, if this lifestyle catches your attention, you may be interested in the following articles:
2. Mindfulness or Full Attention
Mindfulness is a teaching that comes from Buddhism , and which has become very popular in the West for its benefits for emotional and general health. Its popularity in the Western world is due to Jon Kabat-Zinn, creator of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program. The power of Mindfulness is such that even psychologists use it in their consultations to improve the well-being of their patients. In fact, psychotherapy programs have been created that use this philosophy. For example, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy.
Mindfulness consists of directing attention and observing one’s own internal and external experience in a non-judgmental way, with compassion and acceptance. To do this, he usually uses meditation, but also other exercises such as those you can find in our articles: “8 Mindfulness activities to improve emotional health” and “5 Mindfulness exercises to improve your emotional well-being.”
This practice allows you to learn to manage emotions, reactions, attitudes and thoughts, and becomes a healthier method of coping with unpleasant situations.
3. Healthy diet
There are different types of diets, and some, although they seem healthy because they help you lose weight, are actually not Healthy diets provide the amount of nutrients necessary for the proper functioning of the body, and are not accompanied by the obsession with counting calories, but rather a wide variety of nutritious foods are ingested, which contain healthy elements such as vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants. .
Now, this diet should not be followed for a specific period of time, but should be a lifestyle, that is, we must be constant and have healthy eating habits over time.
4. Mediterranean diet
The Mediterranean diet is a type of healthy diet that originates from a portion of land called the Mediterranean basin a historically very rich place, where different civilizations have lived.
Scientific studies affirm that it is especially healthy for our heart, as it is a balanced diet that emphasizes the consumption of a variety of foods, such as fruits, vegetables, cereals, fish, and meat. Now, the greatest amount of calories should come from foods rich in carbohydrates.
Without a doubt, one of the essential foods in the diet is olive oil, a great source of unsaturated fats. that is, healthy. The amount of food to be consumed should not be excessive, and this diet suggests grilling, boiling, or consuming raw, fresh foods. That is, fried foods should be avoided.
5. Active and sporty lifestyle
For the lifestyle to be as healthy as possible, it is necessary that the person be active, that is, not be sedentary Currently, the pace of life in today’s society leads many people to work in an office, and when they leave it, they do not do any type of sport or physical exercise. This has serious consequences for your health not only physically, but also emotionally.
The active lifestyle includes practicing sports at least three days a week. The ideal is to do both aerobic exercise and strength work. A healthy diet combined with physical exercise should be on everyone’s agenda, because in the long run, if not, the body and mind will suffer.
6. Yogic
The yogic lifestyle is based on both the Buddhist lifestyle, healthy diet and also the practice of yoga. This practice is not only an exercise, but it is a way of life that seeks well-being, inner peace and implies a lifestyle that commits to the observation of ethical guidelines, principles of life and adequate nutrition. Yoga is vital to get in touch with yourself and often with nature. It is mental relaxation, but it is also health for the body
7. Veganism
Veganism, or a vegan diet, is based on not eating animal products It is more of a philosophy or lifestyle than a diet, and vegans tend to be people who have an activist mentality in favor of animal rights. For this reason, they do not eat meat, eggs, dairy products, any food that originates from any member of the animal species.
Although it may sometimes receive criticism, scientific research has proven that it is a healthy diet, as long as variety is included in the diet. It is essential, therefore, to eat vegetable protein and foods high in iron.
8. Lacto-ovo-vegetarianism
Lacto-ovo-vegetarianism is a type of vegetarianism in which individuals do not consume red meat, white meat, fish or poultry. However, they do consume dairy products and eggs. This is the most common type of vegetarianism and the healthiest
9. Personal development
Although the previous examples had a lot to do with self-care, nutrition and physical activity, a lifestyle that helps people be very happy is one in which the person seeks self-realization and works towards it every day* *.**
Having a life goal and carrying out an action plan helps people stay motivated every day and live happier. Of course, the person must be realistic, and the objectives must be met step by step, so it is necessary to have short, medium and long-term goals.
