Loes Minten

Junior Trendwatcher & Concept developer 

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Good health is not something we can buy. However, it can be an extremely valuable savings account.

Anna Wilson Schaef

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Your Flow

A research shows that 1 out of 5 has a big problem with enjoying their free time. 44% thinks about work during the weekend. While 80% says to feel better after a day off.  Benjamin franklin once spoke the legendary words time is money, and we never forgot them. But they make our free time less free. They have made a research out of this. People who think about money the day before they have a day off enjoy their day less, than people who don’t think about the money they don’t urn but the time they have to spent with family.  After the research the conclusion was time is not equal at money. Everyone who sees it like that ruins their own free time. 

The idea that we have to achieve a level to be happy, is the big myth in our society. We have the feeling that we have to work to this level and that fills up our whole days. That doesn’t bring us anything. What we should think about during our free time is not reaching the level, but being happy.  

We feel happy during working ours. Really? Yes! This is was showed by research from Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, researcher of quality of life.  two reasons why; 1. in our free time we feel quilty because time is money and we have to reach the level, so we start working again.  2. During work hours we get in our flow. Your flow is the moment when you have the perfect balance between a challenge and your own capability. So your activity is not to hard but not to easy either. This is the moment when your at your best. To find this flow can be a challenge, but worth looking for it. 

I know this theory for some years know but it is hard to find your flow. But knowing where to look for makes it easier. Try to go for it and don’t think about money in your free time, lets see if that can help you. 

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Learning through moving

Education like we now it for many years is changing, to improve the system. New methodes are tested and developed, some with more technology other with less sitting in class.  A new program at schools in the Netherlands, Fit & Vaardig ( fit & skilled) supports learning and moving at the same time. It is a new program they recently finished studying and developing. With the program the children move three times a week for 30 minutes while doing assignments. The children who moved while learning, are smarter and healthier. Than the children who sat quietly at their chairs. After they finished their 30 minutes their beter at concentrating at other classes. 

They tested 12 different classes in Groningen en Drenthe. The program is scientifically substantiate. Because schools are open to choose their own methods schools are not bound to this method. They just finished the program so maybe after summer break some schools are going to change to this method. In my opinion this could be a great program for kids. By the time I have kids I hope they can go to a school like this. 

source: http://www.ad.nl/binnenland/bewegen-in-de-klas-levert-betere-studieresultaten-op~add05889/

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Your new way of spending free time

The three biggest Leisure trends in 2016 according to Goof Lukken, Professor and Trendwatcher Leisure. 

The economic crisis was not good for our leisure time. We have less free time and less to spent at it. Now the crisis is sort of gone we’re allowing ourselves again to spend money on Leisure. Leisure is still a growing sector, and 20% disposable income is spent on Leisure. (Source ING).   

1. understated enjoy  After the economic crisis we allowed ourselves to enjoy from our free time again. Modest, with money and destination, but were amusing ourselves again. Most important is spending time together and working together like in an Escape room. Going out to camp is back, spending time outside and with your family. 

2.  Pure jointly Sharing and creating a story is the key in this trend. Goof give some different examples with dutch amusement parks. One of the examples is the Efteling, it is based on fairytales. They opened two new attractions this year both with a great story behind it. Walibi, a park with roller coasters is challenging youth to go fast again. 

3. Mobile digital  Technology is there in every sector, so you can’t mis is it in the leisure sector. You mobile phone makes it easier to enjoy your free time, with spotify and youtube on it. But it also makes it harder to enjoy your free time because your email work or private is at your phone. In 2016 wearable technology is upcoming with google glass, smartwatches and virtual reality. These tree gives an extra layer to your experience both at home or during your free time. 

It is June so we’re in the middle of 2016, so let’s take a look at these three trends. The first two I understand, especially the second one. The last one is not really there yet, google glass is still not launched. Smartwatches are upcoming but not with the big crowed yet. So in my opinion the last one is going with us to 2017, maybe than it is getting bigger. 

source https://www.ing.nl/zakelijk/kennis-over-de-economie/uw-sector/leisure/trends-en-ontwikkelingen-leisure.html

http://pretwerk.nl/topnieuws/vrijetijdstrends-2016-ingetogen-genieten-puur-samen-mobiel-digitaal/40138

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Life requires movement

Aristotle

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4 big human movement trends

We’re going to a more healthy society, people are paying more attention to their body, mentally and physically, and to their food. The food sector is changing, you can see it in your supermarket but also online. There are more and more food bloggers everyday.   Last week I found this interesting article about the fore big health trends of 2016. For me they fit more with the sector Human Movement. They are so familiair. If you pay a little bit of attention you can see them all so good in our current society. 

1. Human Movement  Not fitness in you normal gym but moving in an other way. The writer talks about his personal interest about Ido Portal, a specific way of training. More and more you see the people move outside. 

2. Obstacle course racing  These are the races you see outside. Making use of the nature and nothing more than that. Run for 6, 12, 18 or 42 kilometers with obstacles in your way to make it even harder. A huge one in the Netherlands is Mud Masters. They organize a couple events a year. 

3. Self Quantification The technology helps us to track our body in every way we want to. Wearable gadgets are upcoming, specially when your busy with your fitness routine. Nowadays you can track your sleep, your heart, your blood. We want to take our health in our own hands. 

4.  Plant Based Diets The food sector is changing, it is going towards a more healthy diet. A plant based diet is one of the newest diets, not so popular yet, but upcoming. Two youtubers, Jack Harries, Louis Cole, and The Hodge Twins are following this diet, they’re good influencers for this diet. 

Maybe number fore the plant based diet is the one you don’t see that much yet. They other three are there in our current society. Maybe you don’t go with them yourself but you know at least some one who does. 

Source: 

 http://herohealthroom.com/2015/12/16/2016-health-trends/

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Mental Health Awareness Week 2016

 Nothing is so important as your mental health and it doesn’t get enough attention. From 16 till 22 may it was mental health awareness week. Every year more people suffer from a burn-out, depression or something else. So a mental health awareness week is important. Because having a depression is nothing to be a shame for. The organization of this week helps with campaigns. Further they have projects about mental health on your work place, with your family and at an older age, mindfulness, influencing politics and research. Up till now the company is based in great Britain. Their motto is We deliver change and help empower people to make real changes in their lives. They got a lot attention in the UK during the week. 

In the Netherlands we have a day about mental health. Not enough if you ask me, this should get more attention. To many people are committing suicide or trying everyday! It is getting more regard but not enough in my opinion. 

Source: 

https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/

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Beer & Pig

A men food festival in Eindhoven. This yeas was the second year of Bier & Big.

The idea is simple they put a grill and special beers together. A winning concept. Special beers are getting more populair by the day. Bars are selling more different beers then a couple years ago. Where you have the healthy society at one side you have the be a real man with beers, beards en grill as the opposite. Bier & Big is a good example of the last group. This year they had the breweries: Thornbridge Brewery, Stone Brewing Berlin, Cerveses La Pirata, Õllenaut, Mad Yeast, Lupulus Beer, Jopen Beer, Brouwerij Frontaal, Schneider Weisse, Ramses Bier, Muifelbrouwerij, Het Ciderhuis, PAPA Brews, Van Moll, Brouwerij De Mouterij, Oldskool Brewery, Stadsbrouwerij Eindhoven, Lux Brewery and more! 

If your interested you have to wait for the next edition but it while be worth waiting for! 

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Health numbers

A couple days ago a came across an artikel about a difference in feeling healthy. Men are feeling more healthy than women. In the Netherlands 82% of the men is feeling healthy and 78% of the women is feeling healthy, just 4% but a difference. People with a higher income are feeling more healthy than someone with a lower income, why? And younger people feel better than older people, this one I can understand. But I do want to understand they other two as well, unfortunately the NOS didn’t mention a reason. I found a other source and they gave my the answer, a women is more led trough her physical health and have their periode once a month. Make’s sense if you ask me. So the reason is not so strange. We, ducht people are feeling us healthy comparing with other european countries. The less healthiest people are coming from Portugal, Lativa and Lithuiana. 

source: http://nos.nl/artikel/2112681-verschillen-in-gevoel-gezondheid.html

http://www.npo.nl/gijs-2-0/22-06-2016/RBX_KN_2937060/RBX_KN_4267831

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My favorite recipe

I’m not the best cook, but I love food. Lucky me, my boyfriend is a really good cook! So every evening I have a perfect nice healthy dinner. We once found this recipe and it is perfect! 

My favorite Salmon & Asparagus pasta:

250g dried wholemeal pasta 420g boneless salmon fillets 2 bunches asparagus, chopped 250g punnet cherry tomatoes, halved 1/2 bag baby spinach 1 bunch fresh basil, dill or coriander, chopped 1 lemon, zest and juice 25g pine nuts

Instructions

Step 1Cook pasta following packet directions. Meanwhile, fry salmon in a non-stick pan for 2-4 minutes each side or until cooked to your liking. Remove and set aside.

Step 2To same pan add asparagus and tomatoes. Cook for 3-4 minutes until tender.

Step 3Drain pasta, shred salmon and place both in a large bowl with all vegetables, lemon zest and juice. Sprinkle with pine nuts and serve.

- See more at: http://www.healthyfood.co.nz/recipes/2014/november/salmon-and-asparagus-pasta#sthash.6giBS7Qz.dpuf

You have to try it! Enjoy your meal 

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You get a strange feeling when you leave a place, like you'll not only miss the people you love, but you miss the person you are at this place because you'll never be this way ever again

Azar Nafisi

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Counting fingers

To improve my English I went to Dublin for six months. During my time there I was at IBAT college, a school that teach English. In my class I had so many different nationalities; Brazil, German, Mexican, Venezuela, Italian, French, India, Chili, Spanish, Slovakia, and I probably forget some ones as well. Not only studying English there was fun but to learn about the lifestyles of all those cultures that was amazing. There were no Irish at IBAT, but of course I learned about their culture as well. 

Quality of life something that is so important at my college was an interesting subject. For me money is not the most important thing but happiness. For those who lived in a not so prosperous country it was really important. One day we were talking about it in class and I told them my vision. After class a Brazilian guy came to me and told me I never thought about it in that way, for me it is only about money. So without any theories about QOL he already understood what I was talking about. 

An other thing we liked doing is counting on our fingers. We found out that we do that so differently! In the Netherlands we start with our thumb. In many other countries they start with there index finger. In Mexico they start with their pinky. 

In six months I learned only a little bit about different cultures. For my as a lifestyle professional it is important to know about lifestyles not only in my own country. I hope I can see and learn more about cultures in the future. 

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Watch this documentary and next time you buy a jeans think about it. I thinks no one is aware of what your jeans is doing to the earth. We can not solve this problem at once, but we have to be aware of it. Let’s try to do something about this huge problem as fast as we can to protect ourselves and the earth. 

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For those men who doesn’t like shopping

Everyone knows a least one guy that hates shopping! They don’t want to spent time on it, it is always to busy in the shopping centre and the shop-girl’s are annoying. For those guys there is The Cloakroom.

The Cloakroom is a personal shopper for you. You sign in, you get an interrogative conversation so your personal shopper knows what your style is &your size, you get the clothes send to your home, those you want, you keep, they other ones you return. As simple as that!

This is perfect for the man who doesn’t like shopping or doesn’t have time to shop. For me this fits perfectly in our busy society.  

source: https://www.thecloakroom.nl/

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Learn how to cook -- try new recipes, learn from your mistakes, be fearless and above al have fun

Julia Child 

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