Health stress — when wellbeing becomes a competition

We live in a time when health is hotter than ever — but also more loaded. Social media is full of perfect breakfast bowls, toned abs and sunrise runs. Health has become an ideal, and it sometimes feels as though we are all competing to be “best at feeling good”. But what happens when the pursuit of health becomes a stress in itself?

Healthy on paper — but at what cost?

Figures from the Public Health Agency of Sweden show that almost 70 per cent of Swedes rate their health as good, and that life expectancy continues to rise. That is welcome. But the report also points out that certain forms of ill health, particularly mental ill health and stress-related problems, are at worrying levels, and that the differences between groups in society persist.

When the ideals narrow

Health ideals can be inspiring — but they can also become narrow and exclusive. It is no longer enough to simply feel well; now we are meant to optimise, measure and display our wellbeing. For many people that leads to health stress: the feeling of never doing enough, of always being able to train more, eat cleaner or meditate longer.

Health stress — the new public health problem?

Health stress is about the pressure to live up to high demands on your own lifestyle. It can be anything from counting calories and steps to comparing yourself with other people’s training results on social media. Even though we know balance and recovery matter, it is easy to get stuck in a spiral of performance — even when it comes to wellbeing.

Who gets to be healthy?

The public health statistics also show that the conditions for health are not evenly distributed. Economic circumstances, education and housing all affect the opportunities we have to live healthily. Health is not only an individual responsibility — it is also a question of social structures and resources.

A health coach’s advice: less stress, broader ideals

• Compare less, notice more: your health is unique — and it is fine for your definition of wellbeing to look different from someone else’s.
• Celebrate the small things: all movement counts, all recovery matters. You do not have to run a marathon to be healthy.
• Dare to be human: nobody is perfect — not even the people who look perfect on Instagram.
• Look for balance, not performance: health is about feeling well, not about winning.

Would you like to find a sustainable, joyful relationship with your health? Get in touch — we would be glad to coach you towards a life where wellbeing is allowed to be just that: how you feel, on your own terms.