Is the pursuit of well-being burning you out? A favoured remedy is to move together
Lululemon’s fourth annual ‘Global Wellbeing Report’ looks at 15 markets and finds that people feel best when being active with others
Fitness and well-being have become essential in many people’s lives, providing countless benefits to mood, body condition and overall self-esteem. It seems as if almost everyone is signing up for a new gym or yoga classes, or regularly heading to the hills for a hike. Online, there is no lack of YouTube videos to follow for all types of exercises.
And fitness trackers are exploding in popularity, with market researcher Fortune Business Insights valuing the global market for the devices at nearly US$54 billion in 2023 and projecting it will grow from US$62 billion this year to more than US$290 billion by 2032.
In this growing pursuit of wellness, many people are feeling the burn – but in the wrong way. A new report from the technical athletic apparel brand Lululemon finds that wellness fatigue is setting in, especially among men in Asia and members of Gen Z worldwide. In addition, three Asia-Pacific markets – Australia, New Zealand and Malaysia – rank among the top five “burnout zones” globally.
The fourth annual “Global Wellbeing Report” finds that while 89 per cent of individuals surveyed worldwide said they were taking more proactive steps towards well-being, nearly two-thirds were feeling overwhelmed by societal expectations to appear well.
The report, which is based on data from online surveys conducted in 15 markets around the world in April and May, refers to the phenomenon as “well-being burnout”. As an antidote, people are turning to community-based movement and group workouts as a means to connect with others and seek support.
The well-being burnout trend particularly stands out in certain markets. The survey found heightened levels of burnout and loneliness in Malaysia, particularly among Gen Zers. One in two men also said societal expectations for their gender make it difficult for them to express emotions.
However, 68 per cent of the country’s respondents said they use physical activity as an opportunity to socialise, with 71 per cent of the men indicating that working out is one of their favourite ways to spend quality time with friends.
These sentiments are not only shared in other burnout zones, but also across Southeast Asia as well as in Hong Kong, where more than 60 per cent of respondents said they love moving with others as a way to improve well-being.
