We know that following the Mediterranean diet is a great way to improve your physical health. But incorporating some of these Mediterranean lifestyle habits into your daily routine, wherever you are, on whatever scale you can, will drastically enhance your entire life. From your relationships to your stress levels, taking a more natural approach to living life is the way to go.
So, here’s something random – at least once a week I think of the little lamb kept behind the apartment we rented in Rhodes this last spring. That little lamb woke me up every morning with a baaahhhh and I couldn’t help but watch how the woman fed it with a store-bought cow’s milk in a bottle.
Sometimes I think of the 90-year-old grandma I saw relaxing on her phone in a tiny mountain village in Crete.
I rarely remember deciding to be brave enough to ride a camel in Cyprus and regretting it instantly. I don’t like horror movies, that’s why the third one is reserved for special occasions in my mind.
I call these my Mediterranean memories.
After spending a good amount of time in different countries in the Mediterranean, I perfectly understand why living that lifestyle is good for you and your health. My scientific opinion is that even though people there work hard, they have a more natural, relaxed rhythm of living overall (that is when you live outside of the big cities).
They’re friendly, kind and optimistic, not complainers. I feel like it comes from living closer to nature and from having some actual hardships and the faith and willingness to deal with them. Mostly they’re away from comfort and instant things, so they have no time to overthink or judge others – rather they cooperate.
I always remember years ago coming back to Hamburg, Germany from a vacation in Spain. My life went from sunny and colorful to sterile and grey within 3 hours. Within 3 days I had forgotten I’d ever been to Spain. My life went back indoors. Working, shopping (mostly groceries), going to coffee shops or bars and going to the gym. Not saying it’s a bad life, but it wasn’t a good life either. It was a bit empty to be honest with you, I just didn’t really realize it until I found out there are other things out there.
And that’s not to say anything bad about Germany. I’ve been to many beautiful places there, in and outside the city, where people live a similar lifestyle (even though it’s colder) and I loved it there. That’s how I know, even if you live in a big city that’s not Mediterranean you can still enjoy and implement some of these Mediterranean lifestyle habits to save your sanity and to live a better healthier life. As long as you invest some time and little effort into them.
7 Mediterranean Lifestyle Habits To Start Wherever You Are
So I found most of these habits at the base of the new Mediterranean diet pyramid I shared a while ago. Apparently, they are just as important as what you eat. So here are some from that paper and some, I’m not going to lie, from my own observations.
1. Walking
Walking is the most natural way to move your body. It’s the best way to get from point A to point B without spending any money and depending only on your own body.
And unfortunately, we can now find more excuses not to walk, than reasons to do it. After all it takes a lot of time to walk enough during the day, right?
Personally, 10,000 steps take me about an hour and a half. Sometimes I do 20,000. Believe me, I have more than enough to do every single day, and if I decide to, I can easily say – “Scratch walking, it’s not worth my time. I will do a HIIT workout for my cardio and burn more calories in 20 minutes.” And I’ve done it many times and that workout is never as good as a walk – physically and mentally.
Because that’s what we think matters right? Burn calories, improve your metabolic health, forget you’re a human and be productive mkay? We try to optimize and batch all our movement within an hour at the gym. But the time spent walking, whether it’s in a park or anywhere outside has proven to be worth so much more than the most intense workout. It has for me. Walking has helped me get over my burnout, to lose weight, reduce my stress, increase my creativity and just feel alive.
Walking outside is one of the most important habits and a very self-explanatory part of the Mediterranean lifestyle. When you live in a hilly village with tiny streets, you’re less likely to get in the car in order to go to a coffee shop or to the gym. You just walk everywhere. And you do it outside.
2. Spend time outside and in nature
Which is the next thing on the list of Mediterranean lifestyle habits. Spending time outdoors is crucial. It is good for your body and it’s good for your soul. Beyond vitamin D and the steps you’re taking. Time spent in nature releases so much stress, is good for your cardiovascular health (source) and sun exposure might even prolong your life. Nature’s good for you. Shocker, I know. It’s as if we’re a part of it or something.
So whether you’re gardening, walking, going to a farmers market, playing group sports, fishing or just sitting outside and listening to the lovely sounds of seagulls or crows, spend more time outside. Don’t put things in your ears, listen to what’s actually happening around you. At least 1-2 hours a day. You can then still spend the other 20+ hours indoors on your phone or computer if you want to (I have a feeling you won’t).
To make the most of it, combine it with the walking or exercise habit and maybe take a friend with you (source).
3. Socializing
Speaking of, being social, sharing and spending quality time with others is probably one of the most important Mediterranean lifestyle habits. Good, strong relationships and connections with other human beings are confirmed to be vital for good health. Loneliness on the other hand can be as harmful as smoking (source).
One of the best things you’ll notice about the people in the Mediterranean is how friendly, outgoing, helpful and unified they are. Not in a sales-y kind of way. Not in a way where they want something from you, but genuine.
Maintaining social connections can be as simple as having more family dinners together or lunches with coworkers. Talking and sharing instead of looking at your phone (I can be guilty of this). It can also look like walks (yes I am obsessed with walking currently), sports or even gardening together. And when you want to find new friends taking group classes, joining hobby clubs or volunteering, might be the way to build good new connections.
Don’t know about you, but I think we can all be a bit more social in person these days. And it starts with just being friendly and more outgoing as you go through life. You never know who you will meet or talk to.
4. Being Frugal
I think this habit is the very secret to the Mediterranean diet and lifestyle. This way of living is the exact opposite of consumerism. It isn’t a lifestyle of luxury and “abundance”. You won’t find many 90-year-old grandmas with Chanel bags and diamond rings living in expensive villas eating feta pasta.
People were just trying to survive using what they had. It’s a lifestyle where you’re frugal and resourceful and make many things yourself.
The food is simple and made with whatever is available during the season. It’s not about going to extremes and being vegan or carnivore. You simply eat what you naturally find. For example, collecting wild greens, medicinal herbs or mushrooms is typical for many countries in the Mediterranean.
You can notice the frugality even when you look at old Mediterranean homes. Tiny, with small windows and far from luxury or comfort.
Now how does that frugality translate in today’s life outside the Mediterranean? Well, maybe you buy more seasonal produce and try to get it as much locally as you can. Who knows, maybe you get some seeds, soil and pots and grow some of your own food in containers. And maybe you eat smaller portions and share your food with others. You go out for drinks or coffee occasionally, not all the time. You try to preserve the food you can’t eat by canning or freezing. Or you add cheap foods to your diet – like beans and lentils.
You’re not wasteful and make use of what you have. Instead of always buying new new new, you make things yourself and appreciate what you already have.
Not only will you save money, this lifestyle will make you healthier.
5. Live With Faith
So something I didn’t see in the Mediterranean diet pyramid, but I noticed was people live with faith. Sure life is hard everywhere, but when you have a more optimistic approach you will not stress and obsess about every single thing. Whether I was in Greece, Cyprus, Italy or Croatia I saw churches and monasteries everywhere and everyone seemed to be involved in them.
Believing in something bigger than you and letting go of the things you can’t control is key to being at peace. And you don’t need to be super religious to have faith and to pray. This is a habit you can implement wherever you are in the world and it doesn’t cost any money.
6. Cooking
Preparing your own food is a huge part of the Mediterranean lifestyle. Not only is it more affordable, but it’s meditative and creative. Besides the food you make is way healthier and more delicious than ready-to-eat meals you get at a restaurant or from the store.
To make cooking even more fun, get someone else involved and give them the tasks you don’t like to do. That’s my strategy. Also, try out new things! New foods, new recipes, get out of your comfort zone.
Remember Mediterranean food isn’t just things with feta cheese on them (that’s a reminder for me too!). Get some traditional Greek, Italian, Turkish, Spanish or Lebanese cookbooks (or whatever you prefer) and try recipes you normally wouldn’t make using whatever you have.
7. Resting
And the last super important Mediterranean lifestyle habit is getting enough rest in your life. As I mentioned, you can’t help but notice the natural, more relaxed rhythm of living there.
If there is a good list of quotes to actually live by, “Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished” should be number one. It is so true.
So, don’t rush, don’t stress. Give yourself time and space to have enough rest. Then get back to work and you’ll be better at it. Whether it’s an active rest or it’s a nap after a meal doesn’t matter. The world isn’t going to end because you took a little break. Nobody’s that important.