Australians are at a critical stage in terms of wellbeing with a recent report identifying they are the most burnt out in the world – a finding that does not come as a surprise to Dr Anastasia Hronis.
The findings from Lululemon’s 2024 Global Wellbeing Report, conducted by independent research agency Edelman Data & Intelligence, were published in late September and unpacked the concerning trend of wellbeing burnout.
Over 16,000 people across 15 different countries were surveyed between April 22 -May 30 in regards to their wellbeing (physical, mental and social) and while a significant number of Australians agree it is a priority, they are still struggling.
The report defines burnout as a state of physical, mental, or social exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress, with it worryingly affecting nearly one in two people (45 per cent) of which every two in three burned-out individuals feel powerless in terms of improving their wellbeing.
Nearly two-thirds of Australian respondents said they are struggling with societal demands to maintain wellbeing in specific ways, leading to 55 per cent of them experiencing significant levels of stress and burnout.
Dr Hronis, a clinical psychologist and founder of the Australian Institute for Human Wellness, admitted the results were not surprising to her.
“We certainly see many people coming into the clinic experiencing burnout. It is common, and made worse by the current cost of living crisis as well as societies expectations which might be unrealistic,” Dr Hronis told Neos Kosmos.
There are numerous causes mentioned in the report that contribute to the feeling of burnout, though the clinical psychologist identified a major one consistent to Australia that she believes is also a big cause.
“Unfortunately we do have quite the ‘hustle culture’ here in Australia,” said Dr Hronis, revealing it is something her clinic hears often from the clients work with.
“There is still a pressure to be working hard, or seen as working hard, as well as actual demands from workplaces and the rising cost of living. People are now working longer hours and even taking up extra jobs to be able to afford rent and mortgages.”
Loneliness was cited by 89 per cent of respondents suffering from wellbeing burnout as a contributing factor, with other major causes including unrealistic societal expectations and the conflicting information about how to best improve their wellbeing.
GenZ Australians were found to be a group suffering greatly from the effects of these causes, with social media identified as a leading influence.
“Social media is often a carefully curated display of what’s going well in people’s lives. This can create a false sense of reality, and an unrealistic bar to compare ourselves to,” Dr Hronis said.
“It is important to remember that what we see on social media is only a fraction of what is going on in someone’s life.”
Dr Hronis highlighted that loneliness is of relevance today, stressing the importance of finding ways to keep connected with others.
“It has been said that we are in a ‘loneliness’ epidemic. Loneliness has been shown to impact not only our mental health, but even our physical health,” she said.
“It is incredibly important to feel socially connected with others. To be able to share in our struggles with others, as well as celebrate our wins with others.”
The clinical psychologist, who is also an Honorary Associate and Research Fellow at the University of Technology Sydney, explained that improving one aspect of your wellbeing (physical, mental, social) can have a positive impact on the others.
“There is a lot of research out there that shows the links between our physical and mental wellbeing. In addition, we know that social connection also impacts our wellbeing, with social isolation being a significant risk factor for mental health conditions such as depression.”
Dr Hronis emphasised that managing burnout requires smaller day-to-day strategies to ensure sustainability, with it being important to consider the overall picture.
“If we are working a job which demands long and extensive hours, is high in stress, or sustains an unhealthy work environment, then it is worth considering whether this is really the right workplace for you.”
