LIFESTYLE refers to the guiding principles, theories, and practices that help people to live their lives in a way that is conducive to happiness. The word was first introduced by Austrian psychiatrist Alfred Adler in his 1928 book, The Case of Miss R. With the implied meaning of “the basic character of a person as established early in life”. LIFESTYLE theories are used today by parents, educators, therapists, and health professionals to help people to discover the basic traits and characteristics of happiness.
The LIFESTYLE concept has many dimensions beyond defining what it is. According to some experts, LIFESTYLE can be applied to the ways in which people organize their lives, their careers, and even their relationships. In the case of organizations, LIFESTYLE can refer to the ways in which managers organize their work or how they deal with conflict in the workplace. In other instances, LIFESTYLE can refer to a particular culture or social norm such as the polar opposite of collectivism or individualism. Many people who subscribe to LIFESTYLE believe that happiness is a complex phenomenon, and the factors that bring about happiness are not always clear cut.
In addition to defining the term, some experts define it as the result of the search for specific aspects of one’s life that need attention and focus. The idea behind this concept is to allow people to focus on their most important goals. For instance, the idea behind LIFESTYLE in the context of a business is to allow business leaders to focus on achieving company goals instead of simply achieving profit targets. Organizational leaders may do this by inviting their team to focus on a particular aspect of the business. This can be achieved by having focused group discussions where members are encouraged to contribute their own ideas, thoughts, and opinions regarding a particular aspect of the organization.
A more literal example of a LIFESTYLE is represented by a public place such as a city park. When public parks are used as LIFESTYLE sites, people are encouraged to “hang out” and have conversations about current events, world affairs, local events, and anything else of interest. While in the park, participants are encouraged to photograph and take pictures of themselves, fellow participants, and even scenery and landmarks around the park. These pictures are then placed on canvas and displayed for all to see. LIFESTYLE has a dual purpose: it allows people to get in contact with others who are interested in the same things, and it allows people to create unique artwork based on their unique interests.
Although the original LIFESTYLE was created by Swiss artist Peter Lugizio in 1998, it has since become a fixture of exhibits and public locations around the world. In fact, the minimalist lifestyle concept has even become incorporated into some major department stores, which are using this concept as part of their marketing campaigns. One such store in the UK called Pop Up Art is using the LIFESTYLE concept to sell custom-designed t-shirts promoting a “food for thought” campaign. The goal of the campaign is to offer consumers the opportunity to “come together” as individuals to create a lifestyle, rather than an obsession with one particular lifestyle.
One of the most popular aspects of the LIFESTYLE concept is the “Bekins Diet” itself. The Bekins Diet is a series of five phases, each representing a different aspect of one’s lifestyle. For instance, the first phase of the Bekins Diet is “raw foods”, which are vegetarian and vegan and emphasize freshness, spontaneity, and sustainability. The second phase of the Bekins Diet is “home cooked food”, which would include anything made at home (rather than prepared at a restaurant), and which would be geared towards long-term weight loss and health improvement rather than a short-term “fix”.