Wellbeing | The Runway

Wellbeing is essential to the Australian Defence Force (ADF) as it directly impacts operational readiness, performance, and overall morale. When ADF personnel are physically fit, mentally resilient, and emotionally balanced, they can fulfil their duties effectively, make sound decisions, and enhance team dynamics. Prioritizing wellbeing creates a supportive environment, recognizes the sacrifices of personnel, and improves job satisfaction and retention. It also proactively addresses mental health challenges, reduces stress, and promotes psychological resilience among ADF members. By investing in the wellbeing of its personnel, the ADF ensures readiness, cohesion, and the overall success of military missions.

How the Science of Stoicism Can Boost Your Well-being

Authentic Stoic practices, measured by the Stoic Attitudes and Behaviours Scale (SABS), improve resilience, life satisfaction, and emotional regulation. Key dimensions include beliefs about control and happiness, mindfulness, virtue, compassion, and a Stoic worldview.

Martial Arts Practice Effectively Modulates Depression

Tai Chi Chuan training significantly improves depressive mood in young adults aged 15–24 by combining physiological benefits, such as endorphin release, with psychological effects including concentration and distraction from negative thoughts.

Letting Go of Suffering Is Good for Your Health

Forgiveness, defined as letting go of suffering rather than condoning wrongdoing, provides a pathway to personal freedom, self-empowerment, and improved well-being. Practicing forgiveness allows individuals to move beyond resentment, enhancing mental, spiritual, and physical health.

Space travel found to accelerate cellular aging

New research shows that blood-forming stem cells age prematurely in space, causing DNA damage and reduced regenerative capacity. Findings raise urgent challenges for astronaut health, while offering insights into human aging and disease on Earth.

Do TikTok ‘anti-inflammatory diets’ really work?

Science shows a balanced Mediterranean-style approach—rich in whole foods and low in processed products—supports health and reduces inflammation without unnecessary exclusions. Probiotics may assist in lowering inflammation markers. Avoiding dairy generally unnecessary.

Can Your Marriage Survive Retirement?

Even carefully planned retirements can strain relationships. Common challenges include too much togetherness, differing views of aging, identity loss, financial anxiety, relocation regrets, differing social needs, and unexpected health changes.

Five Ways Your Partner Can Help You Calm Down

Partners can support emotional regulation through interpersonal strategies. Problem-solving/reappraisal, empathy, and distraction/soothing help reduce distress, while avoidance and invalidation worsen it. Awareness and communication about preferred strategies enhance relationship stability.

How We Learn to Let Go of Fear

Fear memories are not erased, but overridden through extinction learning, where the brain actively generates new safety signals—especially via the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex—highlighting the need to build flexible, context-independent safety memories.

The Exercises You Should Be Doing for a Strong Core

Building a strong, functional core requires more than crunches or sit-ups. A balanced program should target the deep core system through varied, controlled movements to improve strength, posture, balance, and injury resistance.

Deployment playlists, then and now: from Walkmans to wireless despair

From cassettes and iPods to streaming playlists and TikTok remixes, music has remained a vital lifeline for deployed troops—boosting morale, anchoring memories, and helping service members endure the stresses of combat.