‘In Australia, wellness is a way of life. But are there lessons to learn from the UK's approach?’
Long walks on famous coastlines post Pilates class, overlooking sparkling blue waters in the shade of a gum tree, observing long-limbed and tanned Yogis on the beach as they savasana their way to a post-surf clarity. The idyllic image is perhaps what many Brits picture when they daydream of the average Aussie morning, a life fuelled by peak wellness and health. And hey, for many it's not far off.
A recent study in the British Medical Journal found that Australia had some of the highest life expectancies among Anglophone countries, beating the UK by almost two years and the US by nearly five. The study touts lifestyle choices, restrictions on smoking and the high number of citizens born overseas (30 per cent as of 2018) as some of the possible reasons this lifespan is so long.
And honestly, I'm hardly surprised. My home country's approach to wellness has never been something I’ve ever really considered, the lifestyle being something that just came naturally. But as a new expat living in the UK, I started to pick up on the cultural differences between my old and new home when it came to looking after your body.
Cultural conditioning
‘No hat, no play’ and ‘slip, slop, slap’ are slogans ingrained into the brains of any millennial or Gen-Z Australian, and Healthy Harold, the drug-fighting, smooth-talking puppet giraffe that visited primary schools to chat about nutrition, physical education, and health safety, is a true Aussie icon. Most Aussie states now ban sweets in school canteens, and school camps are a rite of passage—usually in outback campgrounds or national parks, where kids learn to abseil, kayak, survive in the wild, and get a taste of Indigenous history. My own year 10 camp was in Belangalo State Forest, we spent a week in the infamous location of the 1980s' Backpacker Murders...
Perhaps due to the warm and sunny environment we grew up in, most people I know spent their childhoods bush-bashing at local nature reserves or in the paddocks of the family farm, taking part in beachside Nipper competitions (youth lifesaving) on early weekend mornings or playing backyard cricket and AFL (Aussie football) with their cousins and neighbours. Fitness and exercise are not just encouraged in young Aussies but are an integral part of their daily life and culture.
I was always considered 'lazy' due to my average—and by societal standards, late—wake time of 8 am on weekends back home. Yet, I was surprised to find myself one of the only people walking the streets at 9 am on a Sunday morning in London. While days in Australia usually begin around 6 a.m. with a beachside run, a morning dip in the ocean, or a reformer Pilates class, people in the UK tend to stay cuddled up in bed until mid-morning—a cultural difference I'm firmly team UK on.
Wellness is not really a trend in Australia, but rather a lifestyle practice. Daily movement is encouraged, well-rounded diets aren’t followed but just done, and spending time outdoors is a must for most.
Nanny state?
As much as we like to think of ourselves as a country of laidback larrikins, when it comes down to it, we’re rule followers. Australia has intense regulations set on everything from the sunscreen we wear, to what we ingest, to where and when you can drink or smoke. That means good luck finding unregulated supplements or medications and if you think you’re having a beer in the park or a shot after midnight, you’re dreaming.
After moving to the UK I was horrified to see cyclists navigating the hustle and bustle of London with no helmets on… Something that would see you fined on the spot up to £150 ($300 AUD) back home. The sight of a tanning salon was enough to break me out in hives, an absolute no-go back in Australia, they're something done in shady backrooms of people's homes as they’re banned for commercial use.
The vape, Zyn, and cigarette-lined walls of UK off-licenses and corner stores are the stuff of drunken Australian teenagers' dreams. In reality, these items are often acquired through sneaky under-the-table deals made with 'trusted' local corner shops. However, nowadays you're more likely to hear 'sorry, sold out', as the Australian government recently passed a world-leading law restricting the sale of vapes to pharmacies, and only for the purpose of helping people kick hard nicotine habits (though, where there's a will, there's a way).
During COVID, although we were criticised for our slow vaccine uptake, by October of 2021 we had overtaken the US. Over 95% of the population over the age of 12 has at least had their first dose.
We are known as the ‘land of the fair go’, it is an integral aspect of Aussie culture that we give our fellow countrymen a fair go, with a strong and enduring sense of mateship. This means as long as the rules are somewhat ‘fair’ we’re pretty okay to give them a try for the greater good.
Although this has led to many great wins in the world of community health, it has also led to unintended consequences such as the demise of the nightlife industry across Sydney thanks to stringent alcohol consumption and lockout laws post a bout of violent incidents known as King Hits or Coward Punches, and the longest COVID lockdown in the world in Melbourne (a whopping 270 days) - something that has had long-lasting effects on the mental health of those kept inside.
The grass is always greener
One of the first things I am asked as an Aussie expat living in London is ‘Why on earth would you leave Australia for the UK?’, and it’s often met with shock when I answer that, at least for right now, the lifestyle here is far better suited to me.
While wellness comes naturally to Australians, I admire the dedication that Brits have to look after their bodies and stay fit. Everyone I know in the UK has a gym membership and the running culture here is - with all due respect - cult-like (although that is another UK export being quickly picked up back in Aus).
Wellness in the UK is non-negotiable, it’s something that must be prioritised in order to stay afloat amid temperamental weather and the fast-paced lifestyle. In my experience, there is a sense of community here that is more encouraging than it is judgemental. While I often felt self-conscious back home about my inability to run any further than 2km without throwing up and my aversion to kale, in the UK I am met with tips on how to improve my running stride and not snide comments about how I should ‘really try Pilates in order to lose weight’.
I was pleasantly surprised at the affordability of fresh fruit and vegetables in the UK compared to back home, and I’ve been touting the praises of Tesco and Sainsbury’s deals to any Aussie who will listen. I once paid $7 (around £3.5) for a head of iceberg lettuce and $2.50 (£1.30) for a single red pepper back home, which is frankly, offensive.
When it comes to mental health, those who look, act, dress or live any way outside of society’s acceptable idea will find comfort in the feeling of understanding of those who are different here. Australia may seem laidback but we are notoriously judgemental - hello tall poppy syndrome.
Not always so idealistic
There’s a certain image of life in Australia: morning strolls by the coast, visits to your favourite local coffee shop (though good luck finding a coffee after 3 pm…), and fresh, organic salads made from locally sourced ingredients for every meal. And for a lucky few, this is their reality! But for the millions of Australians living outside city limits in rural and regional areas, wellness and access to it are much lower on the list of priorities.
A quick look at studies that compare health factors between those in metropolitan cities and those in rural areas shows a stark difference. Smoking restrictions have had little effect on the habits of many living rurally, as well as higher rates of chronic health conditions, while drug and alcohol dependencies are a major cause for concern.
Indigenous Australians face far higher health risks and in the Northern Territory, where Aboriginal Australians make up over 30% of the population, the life expectancy is up to 6.2% lower than the highest-performing state.
Not to mention the pockets of Australia like NSW’s Northern Rivers, Melbourne, Sydney’s Northern Beaches and the Sunshine Coast, that have increased in anti-vaccine and anti-medicine messaging and movements.
A lesson to learn
In Australia, wellness feels like second nature, built into our daily lives from a young age. An outdoor-focused lifestyle, constant movement and a strong sense of community health and support make it all feel a lot easier to prioritise our general sense of well-being.
But on the flip side, the UK's approach to staying well shows a type of dedication and resilience I've come to find very inspiring for my own wellness journey. Despite the fast-paced and hectic lifestyle, hustle and bustle of a big city and of course, unpredictable weather, Brits put in the work when it comes to looking after their physical and mental health when they can.
Experiencing both approaches has taught me that there’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to well-being, and I’m grateful for the chance to embrace the best of both worlds.
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