There is no denying we are busy…
Busy working a 50-hour work week. Busy going to school full-time. Busy raising a family. And, well, staying busy just to be busy.
Though the higher statuses of being busy might seem impressive and inspiring, the lack of leisure is on the rise. And whereas healthy stress exists and may drive success and happiness, an overworked and stressful lifestyle can sabotage personal wellness, involving the negative bearings on both health and happiness.
Paradoxically, while they say money can't buy happiness…
Money can buy time.
And buying time grants us more minutes on our personal clocks, including engaging in more meaningful and impactful experiences that enhance overall wellbeing.
Buying Happy O'Clock
In a 2017 study, "Buying time promotes happiness," researchers investigated the path from wealth to well-being, particularly by spending money to buy free time.
Using large and diverse samples from the United States, Canada, Denmark, and The Netherlands, researchers provided evidence that using money to buy time can defend against time scarcity, thereby promoting happiness.
And ultimately, individuals who spend money on time-saving services reported greater life satisfaction. Working adults also reported greater happiness after spending money on a time-saving purchase, such as on a cooking service, than on a material item.
The Time and Cost of Cooking
Speaking of cooking services… Why use them?
Well, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), it takes 18 hours each week to shop, cook, and clean! And taking the time to eat healthy is also often a stressor, though our bodies require the right nutrients to not only live healthier, but live longer.
To make matters even more convoluted, evidence shows it can be costlier to eat well! Researchers at the University of Washington found high energy-density foods provided the most dietary energy at the least cost.
The cost of foods lower in calorie was $18.16 per 1,000 calories compared to only $1.76 per 1,000 calories for foods more calorically dense!
But while calorically-dense, convenience foods may be cheaper initially, their use can create long-term health repercussions and devalue wellbeing.
BistroMD: Your Time-Saving Purchase to Both Happiness and Health
Disclaimer: This is by no means to discourage the practice of cooking at home, but rather enlighten the prospect of taking advantage of time-saving purchases amidst a busy lifestyle.
A report from the USDA's Economic Research Service concludes the average household meal preparer saves about 37 minutes of meal prep a day by purchasing prepared food.
Fortunately for us busy bodies, bistroMD recognizes the hardships of eating healthy on a time and financial budget. "Eating well does take more time than many of us have: to shop for, prepare, and cook meals when you are tired and strapped for time. There's a reason fast-food restaurants are so popular, and the time factor is a big part of it," said Dr. Caroline J. Cederquist, founder of bistroMD.
So to break down barriers to health that generally come with a high price, including expensive meals and costly memberships, bistroMD offers meals starting at $5.95 that arrive directly straight to your doorstep!
Furthermore, over 200 recipes are doctor-designed, dietitian-approved, and provide a scientific balance of complex carbohydrates, lean proteins, and healthy fats. More specifically, each meal contains 1,100 to 1,400 calories daily with 40 to 50 percent of total caloric intake from lean, adequate protein, 20 to 25 percent of calories from healthy fats, and 30 to 35 percent from complex carbohydrate.
Utilizing bistroMD is not only an opportunity to nourish the body and protect against health risks in the long run, but allows you more time to focus on other life responsibilities and pleasures in the short-term and moment.
So the pressing question is…
