Society

It's the trend of the moment. In a society where meaning is gradually disintegrating in favor of ubiquitous productivity, personal well-being is now seen as a grail. That famous “knowing how to do” which encourages us to stop “being”...   

And yet, even if well-being appears to be a driving force today, it would seem that our health is not improving. This is the conclusion of an international study* conducted by Edelman Data & Intelligence across fifteen markets, between April 22 and May 30 this year. In its report entitled “Global Wellbeing Report 2024”, the research and analysis consultancy points out that for the past 4 years, global wellbeing scores have been stagnating, with no notable variation: 66/100 today versus 65/100 in 2021, just as we were emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Paradoxically, it's the pressures exerted by society to “be well” that are fuelling a cycle of widespread malaise, points out Belgian media outlet RTBF. 

Exhaustion 

According to the results of the study, a constant pressure to maintain or improve their degree of well-being, with regard to specific factors, is felt by 61% of individuals. So today, one in two people (45%) is suffering from what is known as “wellness burn-out”, triggered by this injunction to feel good, without really knowing or understanding how to take care of oneself. What are the manifestations of this burn-out? A state of intense fatigue - or, to put it another way, exhaustion - both physical and mental, due not only to prolonged stress but also to an inability to meet the expectations of others. Still according to the report, 63% of burn-out sufferers feel completely powerless to improve their well-being. It's like a snake eating its own tail. 

And it's the younger generations who are most affected. 76% of Generation Z and 71% of millennials say they feel increased pressure, compared with only 41% of baby-boomers, reports RTBF. This pressure stems from unrealistic societal expectations, a strong sense of isolation and contradictory information. 

But how to get out of the vortex? 

The study highlights small, simple actions that can help you break the cycle of unhappiness.  

• compartmentalize private and professional life: +13% well-being
• take a break from social networks: +9
• taking time out in nature or breathing the fresh air: +18
• go for a walk for less than 15 minutes a day: +13
• practice mindfulness: +12

At a time when the injunction to “be well” seems ever more pressing, the essential thing, more than ever, is to be able to define one's own balance between personal needs and external expectations. Otherwise, well-being becomes an additional source of stress. 

* The study was carried out on a sample of 1,000 people per market, 2,000 for China, for a total of 16,000 people. These people are representative of the general population in terms of age, gender and income. 

(MH with AsD - Source : RTBF - Illustration : Unsplash)