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In a world where well-being is constantly promoted as a personal quest, the results of an international study carried out in fifteen countries reveal a surprising observation: the overall health of individuals is not improving. For four years, global well-being scores have stagnated, with no notable change. Paradoxically, it is the pressures exerted by society to “be well” that fuel a cycle of generalized unhappiness.
In a world where well-being is constantly promoted as a personal quest, the results of the “Global Wellbeing Report 2024″*, a report conducted by Edelman Data & Intelligence for lululemon, reveal a surprising observation: the overall health of individuals does not improve. not improve. For four years, global well-being scores have stagnated, with no notable change. It is currently 66/100, compared to 65 in 2021, at the end of the Covid-19 pandemic. Paradoxically, it is the pressures exerted by society to “be well” that fuel a cycle of generalized unhappiness.
The pressure of well-being generates exhaustion
Today, 61% of people feel constant pressure to maintain or even improve their level of well-being according to specific criteria. This social imperative to look good and do well, combined with often conflicting information on how to take care of yourself, leads to nearly one in two people (45%) suffering from “wellness burnout”. -be”. This burnout manifests itself as a state of physical, mental or social exhaustion caused by prolonged stress and an inability to meet expectations.
Worse still, 63% of people experiencing this burnout feel powerless to improve their well-being, thus creating a vicious circle. Younger generations are particularly affected: 76% of Generation Z and 71% of millennials say they feel increased pressure, compared to only 41% of baby boomers. This feeling of injunction to be well hits harder those who already suffer from a feeling of loneliness or social disconnection, crucial factors of burnout.
The study identifies three main sources of this relentless pressure: unrealistic societal expectations, conflicting information, and a feeling of isolation. Around 61% of people believe that social norms dictate that you always look good, while 53% complain that there is too much conflicting advice on best practices for achieving well-being. Finally, disconnection with the community accentuates this discomfort: 89% of those who experience well-being burnout cite loneliness as an aggravating factor.
How to escape the cycle of unhappiness?
To put an end to this vicious circle, there is no need to undertake big things, according to the report. Experts often talk about simple actions to take to improve your well-being, such as taking breaks from social networks (+9% well-being), setting limits in your professional/personal life relationship (+ 13%), doing things at your own pace (+15%), spending time in nature or outdoors (+18%) or taking walks of less than fifteen minutes (+13%).
Engaging in physical activities also helps improve your daily well-being. And again, not much is enough. Doing mindfulness exercises like meditation would increase well-being by 12%, for example. Combining low-intensity exercises and activities that can be done at home would improve it by 13%. Moving your body a little throughout the day (+16%) is also one of the beneficial actions to take. The study also highlights that doing group activities would further increase people’s well-being: practicing a team sport (+14%), taking part in a group fitness class (+15%) or going for a walk in nature with other people (+18%).
As societal pressure to “be well” seems to grow, it seems more essential than ever to find a balance between external expectations and our own needs, to prevent the quest for well-being from becoming a source of additional stress.
*This report was produced in fifteen countries (France, United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, Canada, United States, South Korea, China, Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand) of the general public. The online survey, conducted at the request of lululemon and managed by Edelman Data & Intelligence (DXI), was conducted in these fifteen markets between April 22 and May 30, 2024, with a sample of 1,000 people per market ( 2,000 for China), representative of the general population in terms of age, gender, income, for a total of 16,000 people.