Millennials and Do-It-Yourself Healthcare

By Brandi Goodman

The millennial generation, also called Gen Y, doesn’t have it easy. This group of individuals -- born between 1981 and 1996 -- began facing far more financial hardships than those before them, with healthcare costs and the cost of living on the rise. Because necessity is the mother of invention, many have adopted a do-it-yourself approach to healthcare to save money.

So, what does it take to get by? Let’s take a closer look.

How Many Millennials Are in America?

According to the Census Bureau and Statista, millennials made up the largest generation group as of 2022, with more than 72 million Americans falling in this age range. Yet, they struggle the most with finding decent healthcare at an affordable cost. Less than 70 percent of millennials even have a primary care physician. A large percentage of them turn to walk-in clinics with a smaller fee required up front.

What Kind of Financial Issues Affect Millennials?

More millennials face a financial crisis than people realize. Though millennials are having fewer children than generations before them, many do still have kids to consider. The oldest millennial group has between two and three. Gone are the days of one parent working while the other stays home with the children, meaning an increased cost in daycare expenses. Then there are school costs to add in.

For those with a college degree, of which there are many in this age group, student loan debt is also on the list of financial issues they face. With premium taxes to pay, grocery bills higher, mortgages and rent increased, and essentially everything else more expensive than ever before, there is a significant monetary burden on millennials and the generation after them that is becoming of working age. It’s easy to see why health insurance costs just aren’t feasible for most.

What Kinds of Stress Do Millennials Face?

Aside from the financial burdens faced, millennials feel stressed from their daily workload. Many jobs require longer hours and more time away from home. This leaves little time for familial relationships and friendships, housework, and self-care. Add social media to the mix where others seem to lead perfect lives, and the thought of not having or doing enough can be paralyzing.

How Can Chiropractic Contribute to Self-Care?

Self-care is needed to help ease some of the burden of stress that millennials face. With the thought of not having time for it with everything else on the to-do list, too many people are not getting the alone time that they require. Yet, it’s the one thing that can truly help make the DIY approach to healthcare more beneficial.

Chiropractic care allows people a short span of time to themselves. The chiropractor provides an adjustment and puts the focus on you and your well-being. You’ll have your joint restrictions addressed and tension reduced to feel better overall. The relaxation and often rejuvenated feeling that can stem from a chiropractic session is well worth the time away from other tasks. It can even help you feel more energized and able to take on the to-do list you need to accomplish. Plus, you may better sleep afterward, further making this an advantage.

What Are the Most Important Health Services for Millennials?

Millennials often prefer a technological approach to healthcare. It’s part of the reason why telehealth services have become more prevalent. With the ability to have doctor visits via an app, as well as other apps that link to health data, Gen Y has more control over their own health.

Many also do not feel they can trust or count on a traditional doctor. They want to feel as though they are heard and understood. They want their concerns addressed and not only be a priority when something is wrong. This is part of the reason why many prefer to turn to alternative medicine providers rather than western medicine where pills are often pushed as a means of masking the symptoms rather than resolving the issue.

How Can You Structure a Do-It-Yourself Health Plan?

Because the healthcare system needs an overhaul, and the price for insured plans is often too great, many millennials reported needing a do-it-yourself health plan. As long as you structure it properly and take the time to focus on your well-being, it should suffice for now.

Separate Health Goals Into Sections

First, you should separate your health goals into sections. Include nutrition, exercise, sleep, lifestyle habits, supplements, and western vs. alternative medicine.

• Nutrition - For nutrition, focus on eating more vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Plus, you’ll want to drink plenty of water and avoid sugary beverages and alcohol.
• Exercise - You’ll also need to up your exercise output. Strive to achieve at least 150 minutes of movement per week. Break it down into smaller goals, such as 25 minutes per day, six days per week, to make it more achievable.
• Sleep - Sleep is of the utmost importance. Set a better sleep schedule and make sure you’re heading to bed about the same time each night and waking about the same hour every morning. A solid eight hours is necessary to reduce stress and keep illness at bay.
• Lifestyle habits - The lifestyle habits you exhibit also greatly impact your health. Although nutrition, sleep, and exercise are part of this, you also want to avoid smoking and drinking. Stop overworking and do what you can to avoid significant stress.
• Supplements - If you don’t receive adequate nutrition, you’ll need supplements to make up for it. Make sure you get enough Vitamins A, D, C, and B in your diet. Calcium is also good for bone health, and you can take a fiber supplement for digestion.

Western Medicine vs. Alternative Medicine

You often cannot achieve ultimate wellness without some sort of intervention. Western medicine may be necessary if you’re feeling severely under the weather or having issues such as chest pain, chronic illness, or recurrent and painful symptoms. Of course, you can try alternative medicine solutions first, including working with an acupuncturist, chiropractor, and therapist. Plus, try home remedies.

Combine Your DIY Routine With Chiropractic

Feel free to continue DIYing your healthcare plan. Chiropractors at The Joint Chiropractic understand the need to save on costs, which is an advantage to having a cash-only business that doesn’t require patients to have an insurance program. A study reported on the BMJ Journals website indicated that patients who initially saw a chiropractor for pain relief relied substantially less on early and long-term use of opioids. On a budget, that can be important.

As long as you’re taking care of your physical and mental well-being and doing what you can to remain healthy, that’s all healthcare providers can hope for. However, it’s at least ideal to pair your DIY routine with regular chiropractic. Although you can pay per visit, The Joint offers plans and packages to provide expanded cost savings. A plan is ongoing, such as four visits per month; a package is a set number of visits over the course of a year.

For an affordable cost through The Joint Chiropractic, you can better ensure your body is free from subluxations or joint restrictions so you can continue to maintain your well-being on your own. An adjustment can do more for you than you realize.

The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this page are for informational purposes only. The purpose of this post is to promote broad consumer understanding and knowledge of various health topics, including but not limited to the benefits of chiropractic care, exercise and nutrition. It is not intended to provide or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your chiropractor, physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this page.