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.

Financial stress is on the rise in Australia. Here’s what to do if money worries are affecting your mental health

WHS training often highlights financial stress as a risk factor to mental health. A better understanding of this relationship requires understanding the financial triggers, along with awareness of financial signs and management strategies.

Perceived financial hardship linked to depression, especially in the wealthy

Perceived financial hardship strongly predicts depression, especially in high-income households, highlighting that subjective financial stress can worsen mental health even when objective resources are sufficient, with long-lasting effects and limited symptom improvement.

Sharing Your Life With a Dog: 5 Benefits

Owning a dog enhances well-being through routine, companionship, unconditional love, social connection, and emotional support. Despite effort and responsibility, the benefits of increased happiness, purpose, and human connection make dog ownership highly rewarding.

How to Make a Friend

Building friendships requires intentional openness, friendly body language, meaningful conversation, and follow-up interactions. There's always the risk of rejection, but it’s important to take small social risks to foster trust and connection, and long-term relationships.

9 Ways to Overcome Adversity

Resilience is the active process of adapting to adversity, not simply bouncing back. Research shows it requires deliberate exposure to challenges, social support, cognitive flexibility, purpose, physical activity, mindfulness, and even a healthy gut microbiome.

From Heartbreak to Healing

Divorce is one of life’s most destabilising events, but healing is possible. By embracing grief, building routines, learning lessons, protecting children, and nurturing genuine relationships, individuals can recover with renewed wisdom and resilience.

Does ‘fasted’ cardio help you lose weight? Here’s the science

Fasted exercise means training before eating breakfast. Research shows exercising before eating does not improve long-term fat loss—overall consistency and total energy balance matter. Furthermore, skipping meals can lead to poor food choices later.

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.