Relentless pursuit of wellbeing is another cause of burnout

Staying healthy doesn’t need to be intense, and it can be bite-sized and fun. Practice doing things at your own pace.

More people (71%) in the APAC region are placing wellbeing as their top priority (7% increase from 2023), with 90% of people taking more action than they were a year ago to improve their wellbeing. However, 60% of the population still feels consistently stressed or even extremely burnt out.

One contributing factor to this phenomenon, according to Lululemon’s fourth annual 2024 Global Wellbeing Report, is the pressure to keep up with the growing societal demand to improve wellbeing.

The data indicated that 62% of respondents said they had experienced overwhelming societal expectations to appear well. This pressure is leading a perpetual and counterproductive cycle and causing almost half of respondents to experience wellbeing burnout instead.

Loneliness (90%), and conflicting information about the best ways to improve wellbeing (54%), are also top pressure points fueling the wellbeing cycle.

Regionally, Southeast Asian countries (Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore) rank among the top “wellbeing burn zones” with the highest levels of wellbeing burnout.

Men are feeling the effects of wellbeing burnout on a greater scale than women, with 43% of men in the region reporting heightened feelings of loneliness (vs. 38% of women).

Meanwhile, younger generations feel this pressure more acutely than older generations, with 76% of Gen Z and 70% of Millennials reporting they feel pressure to be well (vs. 58% of Gen X and 45% of Boomer+).

To break the cycle and feel less stuck, the report suggested the following:

Quiet the noise to hear yourself

Focus on mindfulness and practice meditation, take social media breaks and set boundaries.

Do what feels good to you

Wellbeing doesn’t need to be intense. It can be bite-sized and fun.

Practice doing things at your own pace, move your body throughout the day, spend time in nature, or use physical activity to socialise.

Invite others on your journey

Human connection offers an advantage. Through the simple act of moving with others, individuals can feel more connected to their communities, become rooted in purpose, and improve overall wellbeing by 16%.

Connect with your community by working out with a friend, sign-up for a team sport or fitness class, or vocalise your needs with your family, friendships, and relationships.

“Often, the pressure to improve our wellbeing causes us to overthink and fixate on what’s lacking in our lives,” said Dr. Murali Doraiswamy, professor, Duke University and lululemon Mental Wellbeing Global Advisory Board member.

“I recommend setting gradual, achievable goals, turning the pursuit of wellbeing into a source of joy and anticipation rather than stress.”

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