However, the survey examining the physical, mental and social well-being worldwide, also showed there are still challenges to overcome to achieve a more holistic approach to collective health and happiness.
We spoke to five familiar Hong Kong influencers to find out what strategies they use to help them tackle life’s everyday difficulties.
When nothing seems to go right ...
Singer, actor and yoga instructor Alex Lam’s definition of “wellness” is when things are on track. “It’s when my loved ones are happy, my projects are going smoothly, my bills are paid – it’s the simple things,” Lam, 37, says.
However, sometimes life has other plans, leading to moments when nothing seems to be going right. Lam experienced this situation during his last year at university.
“I was 20, feeling lost, unsatisfied with my health and life in general, and unsure of where my future was headed,” he says. “It made me on edge and constantly irritable and, worst of all, the people I was closest to took the brunt of my unhappiness.”
He says committing himself to a 90-minute hot yoga regimen – where yoga is carried out in hot and humid conditions to induce heavy sweating – for seven days in a row “saved” him.
“Tough as it was, I knew I had to surrender to the moment,” Lam says. “Looking back, I realised my satisfaction came from me setting a clear goal and honouring it.”
When your body begs you to rest ...
Artist, dancer, content creator and model Anisha Thai really does treat her body like a temple. Wellness to her means “loving my body, listening to it and taking care of it”, she says.
Thai, who is in her mid-20s, learned this valuable life lesson the hard way after experiencing such intense fatigue and pain that she was forced to stop dancing for two weeks.
“I realised we need to invest in the long-term approach, to treasure and take care of our body on a daily basis – and rest is an important part of that,” she says.
“Social media only shows the final product: an amazing dance video, but it doesn’t reveal the injuries and hours of work needed to get to that level.”
While recuperating, Thai learned to see the silver lining of having to take a break from exercising. “I practised some positive self-talk as I am usually harsh with myself, but I do believe being kind to oneself is healing,” she says.
“I also had more time to sit down and plan projects I have been procrastinating for months.”
When you feel alone and lack support …
Celebrity chef and powerlifter Christian Yang believes the recipe for achieving optimal wellness is eating well – and being his own best friend.
“My best friend will celebrate who I am today and simultaneously encourage me to become a newer version of myself tomorrow, yet remind me that no version of me is lesser than the other,” Yang, 43, says.
“So, to be your own best friend, feed yourself such words that are high in ‘nutrition’.”
This attitude has helped Yang to largely avoid feeling lonely or stressed out – apart from a time when he was homesick while studying abroad. Yang says the key to being self-assured is to use precise language to turn negative experiences into opportunities.
“I am convinced that the single most powerful force of motivation is your own voice,” he says. “When you fix the language you use to talk to yourself, you unburden yourself from the weight of negativity.”
Yang can also rely on strong support from his wife and friends. “I have a cheerleader in my wife and my group of friends,” he says. “You’re not supposed to live life alone.”
When you’re overwhelmed by social media …
Like many of us, entrepreneur and yoga instructor Gianni Melwani was once guilty of getting sucked into social media and had become carried away by it.
“I went through a phase several years ago of wanting to create a certain perception of myself online, as opposed to simply being myself and talking about things I was truly passionate about,” Melwani, 31, says. “It was not authentic, and draining.”
Thankfully, this phase was short-lived. “Now, I’ll only post something whenever I feel like it, not worrying about likes, followers and how a feed looks.”
Yet that does not mean Melwani advocates a “digital detox” – far from it. He encourages users to be mindful about the way we use these kinds of platforms.
“Social media has evolved into a very powerful tool,” he says – echoing one of the findings in the “Global Wellbeing Report”, which revealed that 53 per cent of those in the survey said social media was helpful in making them feel connected.
“However, it can be negative because a lot of the content portrayed online is illusory and does not convey reality accurately. It’s important to discern between the unreal and the real, or it can lead to comparison, depression and anxiety.”
When you feel insecure or lack motivation …
To say entrepreneur and trainer Lindsay Jang is actively busy may be an understatement. Her weekly schedule, while organised, is almost always full.
“I live and breathe by my calendar,” Jang, 40, says. “I make time for all the things that are important to me, and I allow myself to enjoy life.”
However, sometimes she admits she feels listless. “I always have days where I’m unmotivated, but knowing how I will feel after I’ve moved my body and detoxed through sweat is what helps me push through,” she says.
For Jang, an avid yoga practitioner, the concept of well-being means “feeling healthy, strong and ultimately happy”.
To maintain this, she says she makes time every day to exercise, gives her undivided attention to her loved ones, and allows herself the freedom to say “no” to things that negatively affect her sense of well-being.
The influencers in this article are this year’s faces of Lululemon’s “Be You Be Well” Festival. Find out more herencG1vNJzZmivp6x7tK%2FMqWWcp51ku6LAyK%2BcaKSZm7K0wNilnGisn6W2pL%2BOpJyyZZikuaq%2F06KaZq%2BVoblursSipaBnkafBqq%2FLnmZsaWhmhnF9jqKln6SlmruksdGsZLCdnKG7pr%2FS