Are you aware that vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in epidemic proportions all over the Indian subcontinent, including India? Estimates suggest that over 70% of the general population, both in urban and rural settings, and across socio-economic and geographic strata, have this deficiency. This, despite the fact that most of our country receives bountiful sunlight throughout the year, and our bodies possess the capability to create vitamin D from direct sunlight on the skin when outdoors.
The reason, obviously, is the more sedate lifestyle that most of us are now used to. Vitamin D deficiency isn’t the only problem, as obesity too is getting bigger in India, with estimates suggesting that one out of every four people might now be overweight.
In a more connected world, we are more addicted to our devices than ever before. While these gadgets do make a lot of things easy and provide wholesome entertainment, they are also eating into all our leisure, making most of us couch potatoes. What’s more, plenty of services that are now available to us on our smartphones get almost everything delivered to us on the doorsteps, making even those minor social excursions to go out and buy something unnecessary.
It is important to incorporate some form of digital minimalism into your lifestyle. By having a philosophy with which you operate on the digital landscape, you will be surprised by the amount of time you can create and peace of mind that you are able to enjoy.
Once you create some time for yourself, it would be good spending it on some form of exercise. Even though most of us do not end up becoming elite athletes, it shouldn’t stop us from incorporating some of those best practices in our daily lives. Simple activities like walking, jogging, running, and cycling, too, come with a lot of benefits.
You can even bring in activities into your everyday commute. You can walk to your destinations if they are less than a couple of kilometres away. You can cycle around, always being mindful of vehicular traffic, even if you are going 5-10 km. You can even walk to the nearest bus stop and travel by public transport for longer distances. By doing these, you are not only leading a more active lifestyle, but you will also be reducing your carbon footprint, making for a greener planet.
The benefits of having a more active lifestyle are not limited to physical well-being. Research suggests that being physically active on a continuous basis also helps the emotional well-being of most individuals.
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