The Lifestyle Concept
A person’s lifestyle determines the way in which he or she lives. It encompasses a set of attitudes, beliefs, values, and behaviours that define an individual or group, and the manner in which they live. This lifestyle is determined by external factors such as social class, culture and family, and internal factors such as inclinations, desires, motivations and interpretations. The lifestyle concept has evolved in different directions in both research and theory. Its complexity and ambiguity have hampered its use in scientific research, because the different fields of knowledge have developed theories and definitions that are very distant from one another.The lifestyle concept has been studied from two main perspectives and in two trends:First, the sociological perspective, which is rooted in the ideas of Weber and Bourdieu. Its aim was to understand how the different patterns of daily practices and behavioural attitudes are the expression of a particular type of social class.A second trend was the psychological perspective, which is based on the work of Alfred Adler and Milton Rokeach, among others. It aims to identify the set of values and guiding principles that each individual develops during childhood, and that governs his or her reactions and actions throughout life.This approach focuses on the interaction between thoughts and behaviours, and it identifies several models of behavioural patterns that differ according to different groups of individuals. The latest development in this area is the so-called profiles and trends approach, which combines synchronic and diachronic approaches to analyse the characteristics of lifestyles, and the relationships between them.Lifestyle choices are important to our health and wellbeing, and we can choose to make healthy or unhealthy ones. It is important to make wise decisions about the food we eat, the amount of exercise we get, and whether or not to smoke, drink alcohol or take medications. Healthy lifestyles can prevent or control many of our leading causes of death, such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and obesity.However, there is a lot of evidence that if we are living a unhealthy lifestyle, it can affect our physical and mental well-being in negative ways. We can reduce our risk of illness by eating a healthy diet, getting regular exercise, not smoking, drinking alcohol in moderation and taking medication as prescribed. Ultimately, the most important thing is to find a healthy balance that works for you, and stick with it. It’s never too late to make healthier choices. If you need help, there are many resources available to you and people who can support you. Just ask! Then, you can enjoy a lifetime of good health and happiness.