Poll of the Day > Sooo, how come it's considered unhealthy to stay confined at home?

(+) Yeah! (+)

My doctor has told me this and I've heard other people say this too.

But I don't really have a reason to leave my house. I almost have everything at home that I want. I do get very bored sometimes, but leaving the house isn't going to fix that at all.

Socializing? I'm more of a listener and I used to mostly socialize at work (when I had a job). I didn't do much socializing outside of work.

What else? I simply don't have many reasons to leave my house. And when I do, I simply do my errands as quickly as possible.

I don't really understand what makes this unhealthy. I do admit that I would like to have some friends. BUT from my experiences, I can only be with some people for a while. Then I get bored or uninterested. I'm not very interesting either. Or I simply just want to be at home surfing the web, resting, or whatever.

Is there something I don't get?
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Physical activity is great.
I counteract my shut in life by walking most places. Also, my girlfriend likes to do things on occasion, so I'll do that. she has a hard time getting how I enjoy indoors so much
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pedro45 posted...

Physical activity is great.
I counteract my shut in life by walking most places. Also, my girlfriend likes to do things on occasion, so I'll do that. she has a hard time getting how I enjoy indoors so much

I enjoy walking. I usually have to do it with someone because I likely won't do it myself because I'm extremely tired all of the time (something I'm trying to figure out with doctors).
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Higher levels of vitamin d through exposure to sunlight.

socializing
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Bunch of reasons honestly.

First as mentioned sunlight is good for you, so is fresh air, even without taking into account the fact you may have mold etc in your home that builds up over time (that can happen even if you do go out regularly).

Going out also gets you into contact with germs etc, which may seem bad (and can be) but if you rarely go out, you don't develop any sort of resistance and when you do get something, it can be really bad.

Mentally going out, even if you don't socialize, gives you new forms of stimulation mentally, being in the same place every day, constantly, even with plenty to do can be bad for mental health. This is one reason they even allow inmates to get outside for an hour a day etc. Long term effects could be hard, including the inabbility to go out at all eventually (more and more likely to just stay inside from then on).

The social part is important as well, but you could have people come over and visit you etc, so you can get around that. Still, not interacting with people tends to snowball, and often if you don't interact with others for long enough, it again becomes harder and harder to do so.

Can you live in your house, by yourself, and survive for decades? Sure!! With plenty of Video games, good books, TV/internet and lots of yummy food delivered you can even do it by yourself and still be somewhat happy.

I would suggest that even minor excursions out though, even if it's just to go eat somewhere, or run to stores to buy things directly etc, will improve your life, make you happier with what you do have, and keep your options open.

You can......suppliment your health with Vitamins if you don't get enough sunlight, and honestly you can socialize through the internet/headphones and video games at this point (possibly easier and more enjoyable for some then real life socialization. If VR improves eventually people may often not end up going out almost at all (I mean look at how many communicate mainly with Cell phones at this point...often even if in the same room!!).

Real human physical contact though, or even being in the same room, watching a show together, playing a board game, eating a meal, those are all food for your soul, and a much more filling one then you can get online, or through VR, at least for now.

Who knows what the future holds though (The shadow probably).
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wolfy42 posted...

Bunch of reasons honestly.

First as mentioned sunlight is good for you, so is fresh air, even without taking into account the fact you may have mold etc in your home that builds up over time (that can happen even if you do go out regularly).

Going out also gets you into contact with germs etc, which may seem bad (and can be) but if you rarely go out, you don't develop any sort of resistance and when you do get something, it can be really bad.

Mentally going out, even if you don't socialize, gives you new forms of stimulation mentally, being in the same place every day, constantly, even with plenty to do can be bad for mental health. This is one reason they even allow inmates to get outside for an hour a day etc. Long term effects could be hard, including the inabbility to go out at all eventually (more and more likely to just stay inside from then on).

The social part is important as well, but you could have people come over and visit you etc, so you can get around that. Still, not interacting with people tends to snowball, and often if you don't interact with others for long enough, it again becomes harder and harder to do so.

Can you live in your house, by yourself, and survive for decades? Sure!! With plenty of Video games, good books, TV/internet and lots of yummy food delivered you can even do it by yourself and still be somewhat happy.

I would suggest that even minor excursions out though, even if it's just to go eat somewhere, or run to stores to buy things directly etc, will improve your life, make you happier with what you do have, and keep your options open.

You can......suppliment your health with Vitamins if you don't get enough sunlight, and honestly you can socialize through the internet/headphones and video games at this point (possibly easier and more enjoyable for some then real life socialization. If VR improves eventually people may often not end up going out almost at all (I mean look at how many communicate mainly with Cell phones at this point...often even if in the same room!!).

Real human physical contact though, or even being in the same room, watching a show together, playing a board game, eating a meal, those are all food for your soul, and a much more filling one then you can get online, or through VR, at least for now.

Who knows what the future holds though (The shadow probably).

Ok, you made some very good points.

I'm already at the point where I don't want to go outside unless I have to. I have to figure out what I can do outside of my home.

Oh and I take Vitamin D. I know it's not the same as taking Vitamin D straight from the sunlight, but it's better than nothing I suppose.
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pipebomb_phil posted...

taking Vitamin D straight from the sunlight

Sunlight stimulates the body to make vitamin D, you don't absorb it from the sun.
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SunWuKung420 posted...

pipebomb_phil posted...

taking Vitamin D straight from the sunlight

Sunlight stimulates the body to make vitamin D, you don't absorb it from the sun.

Even then, though, the frequency with which we shower in the modern world means we tend to wash off the vitamin D that gets generated before it can be absorbed. Supplementing is a good idea even if you do get some sun.
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adjl posted...

SunWuKung420 posted...

pipebomb_phil posted...

taking Vitamin D straight from the sunlight

Sunlight stimulates the body to make vitamin D, you don't absorb it from the sun.

Even then, though, the frequency with which we shower in the modern world means we tend to wash off the vitamin D that gets generated before it can be absorbed. Supplementing is a good idea even if you do get some sun.

That's why you should go outside for more than 5 minutes and don't shower immediately after going back inside.
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JOExHIGASHI posted...

socializing

This. In my personal experience, the lack of meaningful social activity will chip away at your sanity with each passing day because you'll have more time to think bad thoughts.
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Have fun when the dementia starts at around 45 because you have so few novel stimuli and interactions.
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