Measured deprivation

Dosed deprivation leads to a better functioning body

If you regularly put more strain on your muscles, they will become stronger.
If you occasionally feel hungry, your digestion works more efficiently.
If you occasionally feel cold, temperature regulation improves.
Short periods of stress make you more resilient.

Fear of - and avoidance of - cold and pain actually makes you more alert and sensitive to these sensations.

Deprivation produces more pleasure

Shade is wonderful after a long walk in the sun, a hot shower is extra nice after that cold bike ride through the polder, water is best when you are very thirsty, lying down is best when you are very tired, vacation feels the best After a busy period, the first sandwich tastes twice as good if you practice intermittent fasting, a party extra fun after a period of social distancing.

"Why easy when it can be difficult"

“Mild stressors that we naturally encounter, such as exercise, thirst, hunger, heat and cold, can improve parameters such as waist circumference and weight, as well as immune status in healthy individuals. We expect this to also apply to patients with metabolic and immune diseases. Short-term living as hunter-gatherers is therefore an attractive strategy for the prevention and treatment of many Western affluence disorders.” (principal researcher Leo Pruimboom from PNI Europe on www.nu.nl 2016)

Practical tips and links:

Take a cold shower regularly, or take a cold shower. It takes some getting used to at first, but after a while you will probably appreciate it and feel the energy and clarity. People who take cold showers usually suffer less from the flu.
Make it a little more difficult for yourself every now and then, look for a challenge in physical and mental strain. Sometimes do it a bit cumbersomely, or in a 'wrong/uncomfortable' position
One method of measured deprivation is 'intermittent fasting'. Intermittent fasting is fasting at regular intervals. During the fasting period you do not eat, but you can drink water, coffee and tea (without milk or sugar). The most well-known variant is the 16/8 hour method, where you fast for 16 hours and eat your meals in the remaining period of 8 hours. For more information:[click here]
Make sure you get out of breath a few times a day, for example by jumping or bending your knees, sprinting or lifting heavy things.
Don't avoid tough days, but make sure you get some extra rest afterwards. Evenness weakens the body, waves make it healthy.
When you walk, speed up every now and then so that you feel tension in all your muscles.
Consider whether you want it to be just as warm outside as inside. If your face can tolerate the cold, why can't your arms and legs? Cold (if not extreme) is just another sensation. A stimulating and refreshing one. Ask yourself whether you should protect yourself against it or embrace it.