Life style is a combination of intangible factors, such as preferences, demographic variables, outlooks and personal values. These factors can influence one’s health, especially the development of chronic diseases. To achieve wellness, all aspects of one’s self must work in harmony. Lifestyle also involves choosing an appropriate mode of living.
Lifestyle analysis is the process of analyzing a person’s behaviors, attitudes, and interests. It can be carried out on a diachronic or synchronic basis. The diachronic approach is useful in analyzing patterns of behavior in different sociocultural settings. Observations of individual preferences can be interpreted based on the socio-cultural trends in a specific social context. In a synchronic approach, a person’s life can be viewed in terms of other people’s expectations and actions.
Traditionally, lifestyles have been analyzed on the basis of the structure and the behavior of a given society. The early studies focused on analysis of the social structures, the positions of individuals, and the products. Today, however, it is used in a newer and more inclusive perspective. This is because lifestyles have expanded into a wide range of topics.
In 1929, Alfred Adler introduced the concept of lifestyle in his book The Science of Living. His definition of lifestyle included a number of factors, such as day-to-day activities, opinions, and worldview. He also identified certain features that make it possible for an individual to live a life of success. Some of these include security, intimacy, and superiority.
Earlier, the concepts of lifestyle were considered as styles of personality or thought. In 1961, this was changed to a more comprehensive way of defining it as a way of living. Nowadays, the term has been co-opted into marketing methodologies.
A typical modern definition of lifestyle includes a person’s beliefs, values, and practices. This includes a person’s views on religion, politics, and consumption. It also includes the individual’s attitude towards health and physical activity. People are attracted to a variety of lifestyles.
For instance, an artistic lifestyle is followed by individuals who live in villages or in close proximity to nature. Another type of lifestyle is a nomadic lifestyle. Nomads move from place to place, avoiding attachment.
Lifestyles are formed in the context of a particular geographical or religious setting. They are characterized by a set of patterns of consumption and behavior. Other characteristics include patterns of entertainment and day-to-day activities.
Lifestyles are shaped by socio-cultural and economic changes. They are influenced by socially relevant trends, including those associated with gender. Moreover, the concept of lifestyle is also influenced by the ways in which individuals choose to interact with others.
Unlike earlier approaches, the latest research on lifestyles considers the opinions and interests of an individual as an integral part of the whole. By considering the opinions and interests of an individual, an approach called the AIO (Attitudes, Interests, and Opinions) approach is able to identify the basic components of a lifestyle.
An example of a healthy lifestyle is one that focuses on spirituality and a healthy diet. People in these types of lifestyles also take the time to explore their thoughts and to participate in organized religion. Taking the time to prepare healthy food at home is another characteristic of a healthy lifestyle.