9 Common Wellbeing Myths
- Oct
- 25
Wellbeing Myth 1: You Can’t Define Wellbeing
Many believe you can’t define wellbeing, but this is a misconception. Defining wellbeing is essential if you want to improve it. At Improveon, we define and characterise wellbeing by drawing on leading research and established frameworks. Our unique CANBE model empowers individuals, teams, and organisations to review wellbeing, implement improvement plans, and measure success.
Wellbeing Myth 2: Everyone’s Wellbeing Is Entirely Unique
While everyone experiences wellbeing differently, certain wellbeing principles apply to all. For example, having meaning and purpose in life benefits everyone. When individuals, teams, and organisations clarify their values, strengths, and skills, they build a strong sense of identity and focus on what matters most. Additionally, increasing autonomy and involving people in decision-making consistently enhances wellbeing. Achieving goals, building resilience, and sustaining progress are universal components of personal and organisational wellbeing.
Wellbeing Myth 3: Wellbeing Is Just About Physical Health
Physical health plays a crucial role in wellbeing, but it’s not the only factor. Even the fittest individuals can experience poor wellbeing if their mental health suffers. True wellbeing requires a balance between physical and mental health.
Wellbeing Myth 4: Wellbeing Is Just About Physical and Mental Health
Good mental and physical health form the foundation of wellbeing, but strong social connections are equally vital. Nurturing relationships and building a supportive social network significantly enhance overall wellbeing.
Wellbeing Myth 5: Wellbeing Is All About Me
Wellbeing extends beyond the individual. 1 Research shows that kindness, compassion, and giving to others boost wellbeing for both the giver and the recipient. Wellbeing is about ‘me’ and ‘we’. Moreover, caring for our planet and other species is essential for long-term wellbeing.
Wellbeing Myth 6: Money Doesn’t Buy Happiness
Money isn’t everything, but it does impact wellbeing. 2 Studies reveal that increased income boosts life satisfaction, though its effect on positive emotions plateaus beyond a certain point. Low income often correlates with lower life satisfaction and emotional wellbeing. At the organisational level, financial stability is critical, but focusing solely on profit undermines sustainable success.
Wellbeing Myth 7: You Can’t Measure Wellbeing
Measuring wellbeing is challenging, but it’s possible and necessary. Global initiatives like the UN Sustainability Goals, OECD Better Life Index, and ONS Measuring What Matters demonstrate that wellbeing can be measured.
Within organisations, indicators such as recruitment, retention, engagement, productivity, and customer satisfaction provide valuable insights into employee and organisational wellbeing. The Production of Wellbeing (#POW) and Net Wellbeing Score (#NeWS) approaches integrate social, environmental, and economic indicators, empowering you to measure, enhance, and clearly communicate your organisation’s wellbeing impact for all stakeholders.
Wellbeing Myth 8: Focusing on Wellbeing Distracts from Business Priorities
Wellbeing is central to success-it’s the foundation of productivity, engagement, and organisational growth. Organisations exist to improve lives, and prioritising wellbeing ensures sustainable progress for employees, customers, and communities.
Wellbeing Myth 9: Improving Wellbeing Requires Significant Financial Investment
Improving wellbeing doesn’t always require large investments. Start by assessing the cost of poor wellbeing and the benefits of improvement. Even small changes can deliver significant returns. As a wellbeing coach, I help guide individuals and organisations towards cost-effective and impactful solutions. With commitment and the right strategy, you can achieve transformative, long-term wellbeing improvements.
Wellbeing Myths: The Takeaway
Wellbeing is unique to each person, but universal principles allow us to define, measure, and improve it. Limiting wellbeing to just physical or mental health misses the bigger picture. A holistic wellbeing strategy-encompassing physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, social, cultural, environmental, and economic elements-delivers the greatest impact.
Whether you’re an individual, team, or organisation, adopt a holistic approach to wellbeing. Remember, we’re all part of an interconnected system-true wellbeing depends on every part working together.
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Wellbeing Mastery for Leaders Dashboard – Assess your personal wellbeing across the eight domains.
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Wellbeing Designed Organisations – A mastermind group and workshop for visionary leaders who want to put wellbeing at the centre of organisational design.
Wellbeing Mastery for Leaders – a 1:1 coaching programme that delivers personal development and organisational impact. The unique, holistic approach, based on the interconnected wellbeing domains, sets this programme apart from standard leadership development. Through the coaching you develop your own unique way forward.
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Read
The Age of Wellbeing – A new leadership model for a happier world for a new perspective on how organisations can contribute to the challenges and opportunities we face in our modern world.