The coming of winter can be a challenge, especially because the holiday season favours a sedentary lifestyle and negligent eating behaviour. Also, the cold weather prevents some physical activities, such as running or playing sports outdoors, and culinary choices often include excessive consumption of unhealthy products.
However, health remains an important factor regardless of the season, which is why end-of-year resolutions such as losing weight or playing sports are among the most common. Another activity that contributes significantly to the efficient management of health status is scheduling appointments with specialist physicians for annual check-ups, which is easily accomplished through a private health insurance.
More and more studies show that domestic responsibilities and the level of physical effort involved can have a beneficial effect on the body. Half an hour a day of domestic activities can reduce the risk of developing medical conditions by 20%. Even if a person does not constantly find time to go to the gym, the effort made during house chores will compensate and will have a positive impact on the general well-being, including the mental state.
What are the domestic activities that bring the greatest benefits?
- Dish washing - can reduce one's stress level by up to 30%. The attention paid to the dishes, the pleasant smell of the detergent, the water temperature, all help a person to disconnect from daily stress.
- Vacuuming - Some studies claim that 30 minutes of vacuuming have the same beneficial effects as 30 minutes of walking. Thus, blood pressure is reduced and the risk of heart disease decreases.
- Cleaning the bathroom - the effort of washing, scrubbing or wiping the walls or surfaces of the bathroom is a good physical exercise.
- Gardening - in turn, gardening involves activities that stimulate the physical condition and has important beneficial effects on a person's psyche.
- Making the bed - those who start each day by making their bed are more productive, feel more rested and full of energy. Also, they feel greater self-satisfaction throughout the day, this aspect reducing the level of stress.
Domestic responsibilities do not only affect one’s physical condition or the disposition, but also affect our brain health. After the age of 60, the volume of the brain decreases by 0.2% annually, but the effort made when performing such domestic activities can slow this degeneration process.
Some studies indicate that people who make more daily effort, for example, 10,000 steps, have a brain volume of 0.35% higher, which will lead to slower aging.
