Another internet moment has been evolving over recent months. This time, social media content makers are capitalising on the many merits of embracing the health-giving aspects of living like an Italian grandmother – otherwise known as nonnamaxxing.
Think soft filters, fresh produce tumbling across rustic kitchen tables, and women of a certain age wearing linen dresses beneath comfortable cardigans as they gather their families to enjoy a from-scratch feast, lovingly made from ingredients harvested from bountiful sunlit gardens.
If this all sounds like an idyllic dream, that’s kind of the point.
Many content makers channelling the aesthetic are doing so in an attempt to rebalance life. As well as presenting an effective way to escape hectic lifestyles, embracing nonnamaxxing could bring a wealth of health and wellbeing benefits.
3 nonnamaxxing ideals that could benefit your health and wellbeing
1. Do some gardening
Gardening can be a great way to get your recommended daily dose of activity. Depending on the job (or jobs) you tackle, a half-hour stint in the garden could incorporate bending, digging, lifting, carrying, and walking.
Not only is it physically demanding, but gardening also stimulates your brain. While it’s perfectly possible to potter without a plan on occasion, you also have to think ahead, monitor changes in the season, and understand what your garden most needs to flourish.
If you aren’t already a keen gardener, start small. Choose a single plant that grows easily – even if that means something as simple as having a small tomato plant on your kitchen windowsill.
Nurturing a single plant can bring a sense of purpose and growing food-bearing plants means you’ll also be able to enjoy the fruits of your labour…
2. Don your apron and prepare a home-cooked meal
Following the health-giving properties of growing your own food, another core tenet of the nonnamaxxing vibe is preparing home-cooked meals.
Those who frequently cook from scratch at home tend to eat more fruit, vegetables, and fibre, meaning fewer opportunities for processed foods, salt, and sugar. As a result, eating home-cooked meals can improve your health, help regulate your weight, and reduce body fat.
Cooking is also thought to deliver psychological benefits, providing a sense of meaning and accomplishment.
If you’ve successfully avoided the kitchen to date, start simple – make a sandwich, scramble an egg, or cook an omelette. Once you’re ready for a greater challenge, focus on creating dishes that you enjoy eating.
The secret to good food is to start with a reliable recipe, so talk to a culinary friend about their favourite dishes or suggest you join forces to prepare a feast for others.
If cooking holds little interest or you simply don’t have the time, eating with others can boost social connection and provide a sense of belonging. Instead of slaving in the kitchen, call your friends, make a booking (or several), and make dining out a regular ritual.
3. Carve out time for friends and family
With numerous studies showing that positive social connections are directly linked to health and happiness, making time for family and friends is a big part of successful nonnamaxxing.
Enjoying quality time with loved ones and sharing experiences with friends and like-minded people is not only enjoyable, but can also:
- Create feelings of belonging and being loved, cared for, and valued
- Help to strengthen your immune system and protect you against serious illness and disease
- Increase your chance of enjoying a longer and healthier life.
Even the smallest social connection can make an impact – a brief chat at the supermarket checkout or a friendly exchange in the street have been shown to have measurable benefits.
Meanwhile, studies have also shown that those who volunteer have stronger immune systems and are less prone to catching colds.
Engaging in group activities can also bring a sense of purpose and belonging.
Busy modern lifestyles and greater dependency on technology have, for many people, decreased opportunities for in-person social connections. But it’s not all doom and gloom. Responding and being engaged with friends and family – even via text message – can boost your emotional wellbeing.
In the best-case scenario and where geography, people, and time allow, growing your own food and then using it to prepare a home-cooked meal to share with family and friends could be the best way to increase your health and wellbeing, while also benefiting your nearest and dearest.
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