Healthy Habits Hotspots | Money Expert

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October 2022
Image titled Healthy Habit Hotspots showing illustrations of people walking and riding bikes in a city setting

Healthy Habits Hotspots | Money Expert

In a Post-COVID world where people are valuing their well-being more, there has been a shift in attitudes towards more positive habits. From drinking two litres of water a day to getting in 10,000 steps, there are a variety of trending tasks that us Brits are following, but where exactly are people most interested in gaining or maintaining healthy habits? In addition, what is the general consensus on healthy living?

By combining search volume data for a variety of health-focused terms and survey results from the UK general public, Money Expert’s life insurance team can reveal where and who is most interested in becoming the picture of health. 

Where in the UK has the healthiest habits?

Despite recent news of Durham being below average when it comes to health, the city is certainly inquisitive when it comes to health-focused routines, scoring top for total number of searches related to healthy habits.

 

The people of Durham were most interested in daily water consumption and how effective drinking two litres of water a day is, alongside other positive passions such as meditation, yoga and pilates. 

 

Officially the second smallest city in England and also second in the rankings, Ely residents are keen to learn more about a selection of healthy routines, coming top for searches surrounding journaling and eating a balanced diet. 

 

Third spot goes to the idyllic cathedral city of Truro, where the trending “10k steps a day” is hot on the search bar, together with searches for restorative habits like “mindfulness”. 

 

What do the people of the UK think about their habits? 

 percentage bubbles

 

There are a wide range of sources offering health advice to the public, from news features and articles, to social media, and daytime TV. But, with this wide scope of information, people can often feel bombarded by different messaging and confused by what advice is actually true.

  

In fact, 47% of people say they feel overwhelmed by conflicting health advice and 44% even said they felt depressed when looking at health and wellness-related news. Due to these overpowering feelings, it can be hard for people in the UK to get started on their positive health journey.

 

1 in 3 people don't know where to start being healthy

  

One in three people in the UK simply don’t know where to start when it comes to living a healthier lifestyle but out of everyone, the most confused residents are those based in Cardiff, where 64% of people say they don’t know how to get going. 

  

chart showing percentage of people who need better access

 

As a whole, almost two-fifths of the UK public say that greater access to services or amenities would help them live a healthier lifestyle. This figure rises to 60% for those living in Aberystwyth where they felt they needed greater access to wellness focused services or amenities. The Welsh town is closely followed by Brighton and Hove (59%), Aberdeen (55%), Cardiff (52%) and Wolverhampton (50%).

 

How are people's habits influenced by social media?

Habits, whether they are good or bad, are discussed on social media in both positive and negative ways, from tutorials on how to journal to the aftermath of a big night out including mentions of the typical “vices” such as vapes and alcohol. The question is, how much influence does consuming this type of content have on people?

Silhouettes of coventry and swansea

 

Respondents in Coventry are the most positively impacted by content on social media with 64% saying they have been inspired to be healthier due to content they have consumed online. At the opposite end of the scale, 50% of Swansea residents say they have been influenced to pick up bad habits like smoking and drinking after seeing them online.  

 

Future generations 

 

For the generations of the future, the impact of online content can be significant when it comes to forming habits and in fact, six in ten young adults in the UK say that content on social media has influenced them to pick up habits such as smoking, vaping or drinking. 

Although, socials are not all bad when it comes to forming habits, with 80% of young adults saying they were inspired to be healthier due to content on social media.

 

Bubbles with statistics on gen z

Gen Z is actually pretty focused on living healthily with 62% saying they have felt guilt about their own habits when they saw others being healthy and 64% even admitting to getting jealous of those with healthier lifestyles.

Breaking bad habits is hard and with the many sources of conflicting advice, a lack of amenities, and time spent consuming negative content, it really can be hard to pinpoint exactly what will help you make a change. If you feel as though you want to ditch your bad habits, then you can seek advice from your local NHS service. 

When thinking about your long-term plans, it could be worth taking out a life insurance policy as a way to protect yourself in the future. Money Expert can help you compare life insurance quotes to find the best deal for you. 

  

Frequently Asked Questions 

What are habits?

Habits are behaviours and actions we perform every day. A habit can also be anything that is repeated often enough to develop into an automatic behaviour. For example, hitting the gym after work, brushing your teeth before going to bed, staying up late, cracking your knuckles, etc.

How to form good habits?

Having more good habits can help you to improve your overall health and be more successful. One of the most crucial aspects of forming good habits is staying consistent. Here are some tips to help you develop better habits that will last:

  • Identify your motivation
  • Identify your obstacles
  • Be positive
  • Stay consistent
  • Know the benefits of the good habit
  • Get support from family and friends
  • Give yourself some time
  • Focus on one good habit at a time
  • Reward your progress

What are healthy habits?

Healthy habits are habits that enhance one’s physical or mental health. Some examples of healthy lifestyle habits include eating healthier, exercising regularly, taking care of your mental health and staying hydrated. Adopting healthy habits in your everyday life may help you combat diseases, boost your energy, live longer and much more.

How to maintain healthy habits?

It may be difficult to start and form healthy habits and even more challenging to maintain them. While there is no magic solution for maintaining your healthy habits, here are three tips that may help you keep up your new healthy routine:

  • Set a realistic goal and ensure your new healthy habit fits around your other commitments.
  • Break down your main goal into smaller goals to help you easily see your progress when building your new healthy habit.
  • Find a “buddy” with the same goals to help you stick to your new healthy routine.

How to break bad habits?

Bad habits can not only put your physical and emotional well-being in danger, but also keep you from reaching your goals. They also squander your time and energy. While it may take time and effort to break bad habits, persistence is key. Most people who eventually succeed in quitting bad habits make several failed attempts before they finally succeed. Therefore, even if you don't experience success immediately, it’s important to keep going. Here are some tips on how you can get rid of your bad habits.

  • Choose a replacement for your bad habit: For example, if you decided to quit smoking, you could add a new exercise routine to your daily schedule.
  • Eliminate any triggers: If you eat sweets before going to bed, make sure you throw them all away.
  • Find a friend for support: Being aware of other people's expectations of you can be really motivating and may hold you accountable for your goals.
  • Reward yourself for accomplishments to keep you motivated: Be sure to recognise your progress and find ways of rewarding yourself along the road.