Focusing on your wellbeing is big news these days. I was thinking the other day, whether I ever heard my grandma talk about wellbeing, even in the wider sense. She got her movement from walking the grandchildren, or walking to the cemetary or church and her community again from her church. She did not lift weight or do yoga or meditate and yet, I always felt she had a happy, calm and healthy presence. She passed away well into her 90s surrounded by the family. It almost seemed easier than it is today.
Indeed, a 2024 survey by Lululemon and Edelman Data & Intelligence shows that the intense focus on wellbeing and media coverage of wellbeing has now led to feelings of pressure and burnout rather than improvement. Among 16,000 respondents across 15 countries, nearly half (45%) experience wellbeing burnout, feeling overwhelmed by societal expectations and a constant push to appear and feel well. This pressure has kept global wellbeing scores stagnant for the last four years. Wellbeing burnout! Wow...
Wellbeing Burnout: A Vicious Cycle
The study highlights three key pressures causing this struggle:
Societal Expectations: 61% of respondents feel pressure from others to support their wellbeing in specific ways, leading many to feel trapped in a cycle of striving for unrealistic ideals that simply do not fit their circumstances or personalities.
Confusing Information: With 53% citing conflicting advice on how to be well, it’s no surprise that many feel uncertain about the best path to take. Every so-called wellbeing expert hammers out blog posts to boost their authority and business, and it is really, really hard to distinguish between what is factual, and what is made up (or AI generated) BS.
Isolation: Loneliness plays a big role, 89% of those experiencing burnout report that feeling alone contributes to their struggles.
The cycle is self-perpetuating. People who feel pressured to improve their wellbeing are 55% more likely to experience burnout, and those already burned out are 43% more likely to feel pressured 🤯
Breaking Free: Three Strategies for a Better 2025
The good news is that there are ways to step back, reduce pressure, and embrace a slower, more sustainable approach to wellbeing.
Here’s how (and this is not made up AI generated BS, it is based on data 😊):
Quiet the Noise
Disconnect from social media: Taking a break can improve overall wellbeing by 9%. It’s about reducing the constant comparisons and focusing on your own needs. Here is a little more about why we feel so much data overwhelm: Slowing Down Is A Great Way To Focus On Wellbeing In 2025 (Blog)
Set boundaries: Saying no more often, especially in work and social settings, leads to a 13% increase in wellbeing.
Do What Feels Right
Slow living is key: Taking time to live at your own pace can boost wellbeing by 15%. It’s about finding pleasure in simpler routines, like a leisurely walk or mindful cooking. No crazy or rigid exercise or time-out schedule required, just do what feels right for you more often.
Move gently: Incorporating short, enjoyable activities throughout the day can increase wellbeing by 16%. There’s no need for intense routines—find what brings you joy and stick with it.
Foster Connections
Community matters: Being part of a supportive network can increase wellbeing by 16%, and it also adds a sense of purpose. Engaging in group activities like yoga help you feel connected and uplifted.
Ageing Gracefully, Not Perfectly
The pressure to maintain a certain standard of wellbeing can feel overwhelming, especially as you get older, I feel it, too! But it doesn’t have to be like that. Prioritising what genuinely makes you feel good, rather than what others expect, is the key to ageing gracefully and happily. For me it's yoga (lots of yin, some yang), breathing fresh air and having regular (aromatherapy) massages. I also like healthy, plant-based food and chocolate patisserie with a good coffee. Simple pleasures :)
Our world operates heavily in structures and processes. In programmes and strategies. But it can be beautiful to focus less on rigidity and goals and more on finding balance, a slower pace, and true connections. This helps with happy ageing over perfect ageing. And it is a great foundation for long-term wellbeing and life satisfaction!
Sources:
(1) Lululemon Athletica2024: 2024 Global Wellbeing Report. Accessed via: https://corporate.lululemon.com/~/media/Files/L/Lululemon/our-impact/lululemon-2024-global-wellbeing-report.pdf
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