Examples of self-oriented and other-oriented actions and their potential effects on individual and intergenerational well-being
| Actions | Potential effects on … | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physical well-being | Cognitive well-being | Emotional well-being | Social well-being | Financial well-being | |
| Self-oriented actions | |||||
| Engaging in regular physical training; adopting healthy eating habits; maintaining routines that include physical activity | Reduced chronic diseases, extended lifespan, improved body mass and function | Maintained or improved cognitive function | Reduced risk of depression and anxiety | Building connections with training and health-promoting communities | Saving public resources (reduced need for treatment of preventable diseases) |
| Engaging in activities that challenge the brain: solving puzzles, learning new skills, or taking part in educational courses | Maintained or improved bodily control | Maintained and enhanced cognitive function, increased self-efficacy | Feelings of pride, curiosity, empowerment, confidence; reduction of anxiety and depression | Maintained or improved social function | Better economic and financial decision-making |
| Actively taking measures to reduce stress, such as mindfulness and meditation, and seeking enriching experiences, such as pursuing hobbies and leisure activities | Extended lifespan, enhanced immunity and cardiovascular function, reduced prevalence of chronic diseases | Enhanced motivation, improved attention, heightened creativity | Increased positive emotions, including pleasure, excitement, serenity, amusement, inspiration | Greater social engagement, stronger social connections | More active investment and saving behavior, spending fewer resources |
| Actively maintaining existing relationships; engaging in social activities, making new friends, and staying connected | Extended lifespan, enhanced cardiovascular function, functional support, and assistance | Increased self-efficacy, increased access to collective knowledge and experience | Lower stress level and depression risk, more appraisal and more self-esteem | Greater social engagement and a bigger social network | Greater financial security, job opportunities |
| Developing and maintaining an individual pension plan; planning for retirement and managing finances | More resources to mitigate eventual morbidities | Increased access to cognitively stimulating experiences | Reduced stress and anxiety, increased confidence and pride | Maintained or enhanced social functioning | Financial independence, opportunities to indulge oneself |
| Other-oriented actions | |||||
| Consuming sustainable food; using digital technologies instead of physical traveling | Improved health due to a cleaner environment and more healthy diets | Strengthened cognitive function, stimulated visuospatial functioning (e.g. experiencing VR) | Increased positive feelings and pride in saving the planet | Being a part of a sustainable consumption community; better relations among distant relatives and friends | Saving resources on travel; better local economy (e.g. support of local farmers) |
| Giving lectures, telling stories, mentoring, or participating in community education programs | Maintained or improved health due to physical activity | Preserved knowledge, improved cognitive skills and function, increased self-efficacy | Increased positive feelings of curiosity, empowerment, creativity, confidence | Building connections with learning communities | Opportunities for additional income Job opportunities |
| Making others happy through organizing social events, offering emotional support, and creating joyful environments | Longer life, better cardiovascular function, less chronic diseases | Maintained or improved planning, reasoning, and decision-making skills | Increased positive emotions, excitement | Meaningful connections (e.g. members of organizing committees) | Opportunities for additional income Job opportunities |
| Volunteering and community service, caring for neighboring kids, or working in nursing homes | Improved physical shape, longer life, better cardiovascular function | Increased knowledge | Increased positive emotions, empathy | Enhanced sense of belonging and mutual support, strengthened community bonds | Saving public resources |
| Retiring later and continuing participation in the workforce | Improved physical shape | Maintained and enhanced cognitive function | Increased positive emotions and sense of being needed | Meaningful and engaging workplace connections | Financial independence; reduced financial burden on younger generations |
| Actions | Potential effects on … | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physical well-being | Cognitive well-being | Emotional well-being | Social well-being | Financial well-being | |
| Engaging in regular physical training; adopting healthy eating habits; maintaining routines that include physical activity | Reduced chronic diseases, extended lifespan, improved body mass and function | Maintained or improved cognitive function | Reduced risk of depression and anxiety | Building connections with training and health-promoting communities | Saving public resources (reduced need for treatment of preventable diseases) |
| Engaging in activities that challenge the brain: solving puzzles, learning new skills, or taking part in educational courses | Maintained or improved bodily control | Maintained and enhanced cognitive function, increased self-efficacy | Feelings of pride, curiosity, empowerment, confidence; reduction of anxiety and depression | Maintained or improved social function | Better economic and financial decision-making |
| Actively taking measures to reduce stress, such as mindfulness and meditation, and seeking enriching experiences, such as pursuing hobbies and leisure activities | Extended lifespan, enhanced immunity and cardiovascular function, reduced prevalence of chronic diseases | Enhanced motivation, improved attention, heightened creativity | Increased positive emotions, including pleasure, excitement, serenity, amusement, inspiration | Greater social engagement, stronger social connections | More active investment and saving behavior, spending fewer resources |
| Actively maintaining existing relationships; engaging in social activities, making new friends, and staying connected | Extended lifespan, enhanced cardiovascular function, functional support, and assistance | Increased self-efficacy, increased access to collective knowledge and experience | Lower stress level and depression risk, more appraisal and more self-esteem | Greater social engagement and a bigger social network | Greater financial security, job opportunities |
| Developing and maintaining an individual pension plan; planning for retirement and managing finances | More resources to mitigate eventual morbidities | Increased access to cognitively stimulating experiences | Reduced stress and anxiety, increased confidence and pride | Maintained or enhanced social functioning | Financial independence, opportunities to indulge oneself |
| Consuming sustainable food; using digital technologies instead of physical traveling | Improved health due to a cleaner environment and more healthy diets | Strengthened cognitive function, stimulated visuospatial functioning (e.g. experiencing VR) | Increased positive feelings and pride in saving the planet | Being a part of a sustainable consumption community; better relations among distant relatives and friends | Saving resources on travel; better local economy (e.g. support of local farmers) |
| Giving lectures, telling stories, mentoring, or participating in community education programs | Maintained or improved health due to physical activity | Preserved knowledge, improved cognitive skills and function, increased self-efficacy | Increased positive feelings of curiosity, empowerment, creativity, confidence | Building connections with learning communities | Opportunities for additional income Job opportunities |
| Making others happy through organizing social events, offering emotional support, and creating joyful environments | Longer life, better cardiovascular function, less chronic diseases | Maintained or improved planning, reasoning, and decision-making skills | Increased positive emotions, excitement | Meaningful connections (e.g. members of organizing committees) | Opportunities for additional income Job opportunities |
| Volunteering and community service, caring for neighboring kids, or working in nursing homes | Improved physical shape, longer life, better cardiovascular function | Increased knowledge | Increased positive emotions, empathy | Enhanced sense of belonging and mutual support, strengthened community bonds | Saving public resources |
| Retiring later and continuing participation in the workforce | Improved physical shape | Maintained and enhanced cognitive function | Increased positive emotions and sense of being needed | Meaningful and engaging workplace connections | Financial independence; reduced financial burden on younger generations |
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