Is the pursuit of wellness bad for our health?

Illustration by Ashley Goodall

Life is contradictions.

On one hand, Gen Z are eco-conscious and reject diet culture. On the other, they buy from unethical fast fashion brands and pioneered the Love Island aesthetic.
On one hand, the internet is a tool for underrepresented groups to be heard and affect change. On the other, it’s a shouty hellhole where many of us waste too much time.
On one hand, the concept of self-care is empowering us to prioritise our mental health. On the other, it says we’re stressed because we didn’t make time to meditate. 

It’s almost as if it’s impossible to make any sweeping generalisations because we are all unique individuals who are each - inevitably - a bundle of contradictions.

But people love a statement of fact. Our brains love it. We prefer to see ‘good’ and ‘evil’ rather than take the time and effort to understand it’s never as clean as that.

It’s why I feel just as…