Not everything at once. Taking care of yourself can be exhausting, too.

On 8 September we celebrate World Wellbeing Day.¹ It is a good opportunity to view wellbeing not merely as a trendy buzzword, but as a daily question: What do I need to function better, more calmly, and more consciously?

According to the Multi.Life survey, 88% of Poles worry about their health, and more than four in ten experience stress as a result frequently or very frequently. At the same time, 43% of respondents state that they would like to learn how to better care for their physical health, while 36% would like to gain more knowledge regarding the prevention of mental health disorders.² In another survey by Multi.Life, nearly one in three Poles (28%) also indicated a desire to learn the principles of mindful and healthy eating.³

– ​ There are everyday needs hidden behind this data: how to sleep better, how to cope with stress, how to get exercising again, or when it is worth talking to a specialist. That is why the conversation about wellbeing moves increasingly beyond a single, general recommendation. It should focus on setting priorities and choosing a first step that is realistic for the specific individual – argues Dr Andrzej Silczuk, psychiatrist and Multi.Life expert, and adds:

– When discussing wellbeing, it is easy to inadvertently trigger a pressure mechanism. You hear that you should sleep better, be more active, eat healthier, cut down on screen time, nurture your relationships, and still find time for personal growth. Each of these recommendations is necessary, but together they can sound like yet another list of requirements. Therefore, it is worth introducing changes gradually. If someone is already overwhelmed, such a list isn’t always motivating. Sometimes it only reinforces the feeling that we are failing to cope with something again – he says.

Wellbeing as a system of interconnected vessels

The World Happiness Report 2026 describes wellbeing in broad terms. It considers relationships and trust. Health, a sense of agency, and the digital environment also play an important role in it. Therefore, the report does not reduce the subject to a simple practice or a single factor. It rather points to the everyday life conditions that influence how people evaluate their own functioning.⁴

A similarly broad perspective appears in the “The Wellbeing of Poles” report prepared by infuture.institute and commissioned by Benefit Systems. Its authors describe wellbeing in terms of six areas: physical and mental health, inner peace, living comfort, relationships, and contact with nature. The average Wellbeing Score for Poles is 4.9 out of 10.⁵

– The fact that wellbeing comprises many areas does not mean you have to address them all simultaneously at any given moment. Needs change depending on the situation, stage of life, or level of burden. Sometimes we need action, and sometimes we need rest and letting go – says Dr Silczuk.

A phone can be a distraction, but it can also help

A Multi.Life survey reveals that overstimulation is currently one of the main causes of stress among Poles (47% of respondents). Almost the same proportion (48%) mention an excessive workload and a lack of time.²

– I wouldn’t demonise technology as such, even though it is often the first thing that comes to mind when we look for reasons behind a decline in wellbeing or health. After a day full of tension, a phone can keep us in a state of constant arousal if it becomes merely a source of further stimuli. However, that same screen can, for instance, be used for communication, acquiring knowledge, training, or connecting with a specific specialist needed at a given moment. That is why it is worth looking not only at the time spent online, but above all at why we turn to technology and what we do with it. And, most importantly, how we feel afterwards. Especially since the online space is precisely what levels the playing field regarding access to information and specialists – the expert adds.

The World Happiness Report 2026 presents a complex picture of the relationship between social media, technology, and wellbeing. It is not only the time spent online that matters. What also counts is the type of activity, the context in which digital tools are used, and whether technology fosters relationships, knowledge, and a sense of agency.⁴

Fewer applications, a simpler first step

Technology has made it possible for us to always have tools with us that support our health and good habits. It reminds us that it’s time to get up and get moving. It helps us schedule a consultation with a specialist, estimate the calorie content of a meal, or check how well we slept. Thanks to technology, we can also listen to podcasts featuring experts. However, it is easy to get lost in all of this, especially when every need entails yet another application, account, and notification. Instead of making self-care easier, we sometimes unwittingly burden ourselves with additional decisions, eventually becoming discouraged from using the available solutions.

An online survey conducted by Talker Research on behalf of MD Live by Evernorth among 2,000 insured American adults who use health applications and tools shows that the average respondent regularly uses six such apps, while 22% use at least ten; 57% use physical activity tracking tools, 39% use nutrition apps, and 37% use sleep monitoring solutions. More than half of the respondent (53%) believes there are too many health apps to keep up with, while 45% report experiencing weekly burnout associated with the need to input and track data. At the same time, 91% state that health tools have improved their understanding of how their bodies function, although 40% admit they do not know how best to use them in practice.⁶

– The multitude of solutions used can lead to chaos, making it even more difficult to look after our wellbeing. When looking for technological solutions that can support us in taking care of ourselves, it is therefore worth paying attention to how comprehensive they are. Today, there are solutions available on the market that combine the monitoring of healthy lifestyle elements – such as physical activity and nutrition – with access to expert knowledge and consultations. It is worth looking for tools that show us what our lifestyle looks like today and help us make the desired changes a reality. Solutions focused on an effective user experience can help define the goal and recommend appropriate functionalities to support its achievement – says Izabela Nasiłowska-Włodarek, Business Development Director at Benefit Systems S.A., responsible for the development of the Multi.Life wellbeing platform.

Wellbeing does not require perfection

Taking care of yourself doesn’t have to be another remedial project undertaken under pressure. You can make micro-adjustments and set priorities, but also leave room for rest, pleasure, or time not dedicated to achieving any specific goal.

– Taking care of yourself shouldn’t mean constantly trying to improve yourself. There are moments when we need action, a change of habit, or professional support, but there are also times when rest is what we need most. Wellbeing is not about doing everything perfectly. It is more about being able to recognise your own need and respond to it without adding further pressure on yourself – sums up Dr Andrzej Silczuk.

^{¹ Gdańsk University of Technology, “8 września - Światowy Dzień Wellbeingu” (September 8 – World Wellbeing Day); Kalbi, “Światowy Dzień Wellbeingu” (World Wellbeing Day).}

^{² Multi.Life / Benefit Systems survey, Ariadna Nationwide Research Panel, August 2025.}

^{³ Survey commissioned by the Multi.Life brand, Ariadna Nationwide Research Panel, 2025.}

^{⁴ Helliwell J. F., Layard R., Sachs J. D., De Neve J.-E., Aknin L. B., Wang S. (ed.), “World Happiness Report 2026,” University of Oxford: Wellbeing Research Centre, 2026.}

^{⁵ Benefit Systems / infuture.institute, “The Wellbeing of Poles”, Gdańsk, May 2024.}

^{⁶ Talker Research commissioned by MD Live by Evernorth, “Are Americans experiencing a health app burnout?”, 2026.}

Izabella Rzymowska

Senior PR Specialist, Benefit Systems

• i.rzymowska@benefitsystems.pl
• 880 126 912

^{Multi.Life is a digital employee benefit developed by the creator of the MultiSport Programme. It helps companies support employee health, wellbeing, and development in a single digital space. It was created for organisations that want to go beyond individual benefits and build a more conscious, long-term approach to caring for their teams.}

^{The platform supports employees in taking care of themselves on a daily basis, covering health as well as personal and professional development. Users can benefit from expert knowledge, online consultations, educational materials, and partner services available through the platform. An important element of the solution is also the AI Wellbeing Assistant, which provides 24/7 support.}

^{Multi.Life is also a tool for HR teams. Thanks to the Wellbeing Score – Benefit Systems’ proprietary solution – employers can better understand their teams’ needs and design data-driven wellbeing initiatives. The platform also supports the achievement of development goals, helps monitor educational activities, and facilitates the building of an organisational culture based on care for people.}

^{Multi.Life is part of the Benefit Systems ecosystem, alongside the MultiSport Programme and the MyBenefit cafeteria platform. It supports companies in creating a work environment that fosters employee health, engagement, and long-term effectiveness.}

^{More information at multi.life/en and benefitsystems.pl/en.}