Physical Activities & The Social Environment
Daily physical exercise seems like something we take for granted. It’s a given that we can do our walks without fear of physical or emotional endangerment. Unfortunately, low-income neighborhoods don’t have many open spaces, and if there are, they may not be the most attractive option for children or anyone to hang out in. Crime, vandalism, and disrepair often plague these areas, thus inhibiting physically activity from being enacted.
The way you view your neighborhood and it’s surroundings can alter how you interact with your environment too. Neighborhoods that have poor housing, little to no libraries, unsafe public spaces, and poverty can lead to depression and negatively impact your personal relationships. It also affects how you observe your neighbors and promotes isolation within groups. Of course, all these elements influence people at different levels and everyone copes with stress differently. Given the aforementioned facts, however, a neighborhood can unknowingly sway a person’s thoughts and actions at a subconscious level.
Choosing a neighborhood is more than just how much your home will cost or how much your rent will be per month. You should take into consideration all the outside factors that can affect your well-being: commute, access to a variety of foods, and public spaces. For better or for worse, these are things to keep in mind when you’re moving. You want to be able to enjoy your home and take advantage of its surrounding neighborhood.
Your Travel Time To Work
Another major factors people take into consideration when they move is their daily commute. How will it change? Will it be longer or shorter? These are question that need a solution when deciding if a larger living space and cheaper rent have a higher priority over traveling time. An unknown factor is present when we drive or take public transit; you’re at the mercy of outside elements beyond your control. People with long commutes also sleep less and are more exhausted versus the people who don’t have to spend so much time commuting. While some don’t mind long commutes, it plays such a significant role in the lives of many Canadians, that according to Environics-Oxford’s 2013 survey, “it is often a deciding factor for half of Canadians in choosing one job over another”. Hence, why the new wave of workers entering the workforce have been leaving the suburban districts in favor of the urban core.
In conclusion, pick a neighborhood that feels right for you before a dream home in a area that doesn’t reflect your lifestyle.
