As the demands of modern work life continue to accelerate, conversations about wellness are growing louder. A recent McKinsey & Company survey found that 58% of U.S. respondents are prioritizing wellness more now than they did a year ago, underscoring a significant cultural shift toward integrating well-being into daily life. This growing shift has generational roots, as Millennial and Gen Z consumers are spending more on health and wellness than older consumers. Overall, eighty-two percent of U.S. consumers now consider wellness a top or important priority in their everyday lives.
For high-achieving professionals who are beginning to embrace the idea that true career success requires holistic well-being, the concept of a “soft life” is shifting from the margins to the mainstream. Whitney Stringer, a Washington, D.C.-based public relations professional and wellness event curator, says the key to sustainable high performance can be found by understanding your source.
“To perform at the top level at anything, you have to go back to the creator’s instructions,” she explains. “That means recognizing that our mind, body, and soul are all connected. Our best work and biggest career success can happen when we nourish our well-being.”
Stringer’s perspective is emblematic of a growing movement among millennial professionals who are redefining success on their own terms. Rather than simply pushing harder, this generation is asking deeper questions about the intersection of ambition and well-being—and they aren’t alone.
According to millennial well-being guide and soundbath practitioner Jess Gray, a big part of this new work and wellness mindset is recognizing that your worth isn’t defined solely by how much you produce.
“In a world where your value is often attached to your productivity, it is easy to get lost in your work. But you are human first, and the care you take of yourself—physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually—fuels everything else that you touch. We shouldn’t sacrifice our well-being for work. In fact, our work often flourishes in response to our own wellness practices.”
Gray shares that her own professional life has benefited from prioritizing wellness.
“When I’m consistently investing in my own wellness, my creativity expands, bringing about more innovation and stronger problem-solving, and I have more confidence in myself,” she says.
So how can busy professionals integrate wellness into the fast pace of their work lives? Both Stringer and Gray agree: start by subtracting, not adding.
“Before thinking about what to add to your life in the name of wellness, I always encourage people to first look at what they can take away to add more moments of rest,” Stringer says. “Think of letting some air out of the balloon. We’re often over-committed, so see what you can scale back to create more ‘cushion’ in your day-to-day. Slow mornings, restful weekends, and seated family dinners can go a long way to elevating your well-being.”
“Take some pressure off yourself and start small,” Gray adds. “Wellness practices don’t always have to be grand and should not be performative. The small habits add up.”
While McKinsey estimates that, in the United States alone, the wellness market has reached $480 billion—growing at 5 to 10 percent per year—integrating simple wellness practices doesn’t have to be expensive or cost any money at all. Gray encourages people to start small and make wellness practices personal and sustainable. For example:
- taking a short walk during your lunch break
- having a cutoff for screen time
- saying ‘no’ when your plate is full
- not checking your email first thing after waking up
- taking a quick stretch in-between sitting for long periods of time
- starting your day with a nutritious breakfast
- pausing to take a few deep breaths after a stressful moment
“It is more about discovering which wellness practices work for you and fit your work life, then adding them to your toolbox.”
As the conversation around career success continues to evolve, Stringer and Gray offer a powerful reminder that the most meaningful achievements begin with a foundation of wellness—one that is unique to each individual and nurtured by everyday choices.
Hear more from Whitney Stringer and Jess Gray at the event A Soft Place to Land: Reclaiming Rest Over Burnout + Sound Bath Immersion on Monday, April 28, in Washington, D.C.