How to live longer: Household hobby linked to 'positive wellbeing' and a feeling of calm

Hey Menfolk! Please come over here!

Scientists have now proven that the place of Men, is actually in the KITCHEN! Really? Hahahaha...Just kidding! 

But seriously, new studies have shown that culinary skills does greatly reduce stress in men. So guys, try it out and we are here for feedback. 

See article below.  

Living - Household hobby linked to 'positive wellbeing.'

LONGEVITY is impacted by a person's quality of life. High levels of stress, for example, could take away nearly three years of a person's life.

Thankfully, one household hobby has been shown to promote a feeling of calm.

Groundbreaking research from the National Institute for Health and Welfare found that excess stress reduced the life expectancy of men more so than a lack of exercise, this is based on data of 30 year old men.

The study revealed that while a lack of exercise strongly reduced the life expectancy of 30 year old men, by 2.4 years. Excess stress on the other hand, shaved off 2.8 years from the men.

"The effects to the life expectancy of older people were similar but smaller than in younger age groups," the scientists noted.

By focusing on chopping, stirring, mixing, feeding and pleasing ourselves... [it] builds a sense of purpose."

"Hastings added: "Our parasympathetic nervous system is also calmed and soothed due to the release of dopamine, which motivates and stimulates our neural pathways to repeat this rewarding task."

Cooking therapy expert Charlotte Hastings is the founder of Therapy Kitchen.

Delving further into the benefits of culinary therapy, Grubby a plant-based recipe kit subscription service put this to the test.

Grubby sent out plant-based meals to 17 volunteers who wore a Fitbit to monitor their heart rate before, during, and after cooking.

Afterwards, the participants filled out a survey to assess their emotional state while cooking.

Out of the respondents, 100 percent agreed that cooking had a "positive effect on wellbeing and mental health".

The results also revealed that 93 percent of participants felt that cooking was "a helpful way to relax" and to detach from the working day.

Furthermore, 73 percent of participants agreed that cooking had "an overall calming effect on [their] mood".

While 100 percent of the participants would recommend cooking to a friend to help them relax after work, there are other ways to destress.

The NHS stated: "If you're stressed, whether by your job or something more personal, the first step to feeling better is to identify the cause."

Building emotional strength, having a good social network, and adopting a positive attitude are all key factors in good stress management.

Speaking on behalf of the NHS was Professor Cary Cooper, an occupational health expert at the University of Lancaster.

Professor Cooper suggests exercise can help to "reduce some of the emotional intensity" one feels when feeling stressed.

Moving your body is a great way to clear the mind, enabling a person to tackle their problems more calmly.

Another key move is to "take control" of your situation. "That feeling of loss of control is one of the main causes of stress and lack of wellbeing," he elaborated.

Tacking action is empowering, and is crucial in finding solutions to your stress-causing issues

Professor Cooper also emphasised the power of connecting with colleagues, friends, and family – especially to have a laugh.

Other stress-busting activities include crafting solo time, setting goals, community work, and prioritising the "tasks that'll make a real difference".

Credit: Chanel Georgina, Daily Express 

Image credit: Recipes.net