Even those whose lives are devoted to the wellness of others can struggle to keep their own goals on track. Here’s what eight wellness entrepreneurs are setting their focus on in the new year.
Ben Lucas, director, Flow Athletic
My resolution for 2025 is to run my 50th marathon. I took up marathon running after I retired from my NRL career [2003], as I needed a physical and mental challenge. I really enjoyed it and managed to run 35 marathons and ultras in the space of five years. When I had kids, though, running took a back seat until I needed it again for my mental health during the lockdowns.
For the past few years I have embraced it again. I have started several run clubs, and I am now the head coach for the Sydney Marathon, which was just named as a world major. This year I will be running a marathon in Sydney and hopefully I will get over to New York and either London or Berlin. I also take my run club to the Gold Coast marathon most years.
Running is amazing for your mindset, working on your resilience and your physical health. It is one of the best things I ever did for myself.
Shaun Krenz, co-founder/director, AusFitness Expo
My personal wellness goal in 2025 is to enhance my mental resilience and physical health through a balanced approach to strength training and running, complemented by focused recovery techniques.
I’ve found that the combination of strength training and running is the best way to maintain peak physical condition, crucial for managing the stress and demands of directing large-scale events like the AusFitness Expo. To achieve this, I plan to follow a rigorous regimen that not only intensifies my workouts but also prioritises recovery through practices like proper sleep, nutrition, and restorative activities. This holistic approach to fitness will not only boost my physical endurance but also my mental clarity, directly enhancing my leadership at AusFitness as we aim to grow by a minimum of 20% next year.
Amy Castano, co-founder, ACERO
2023/2024 my wellness goals were to get into a better exercise routine and cook more home-cooked, healthier meals (due to being time poor, I opted for UberEATS most of the time), so I feel I have achieved that.
My personal wellness goal for 2025 is prioritising my stress levels and balancing work with self-care. It’s important for me to set a wellness goal to keep me motivated and focused on making progress towards positive changes and value into my life.
Owning companies means you’re usually on 24/7. It is very hard to switch off. During 2024, I felt on the brink of burn out due to this. I felt refreshed after short trips and holidays the most, so I will plan to schedule more time out for holidays, even if they are just short weekends away.
Jono Castano, co-founder, ACERO
My wellness goal for 2025 is centred around activities that support longevity and quality of life. This goal is especially meaningful to me, particularly as I embrace fatherhood and strive to give my daughter the best possible life experience while maximizing our time together.
To accomplish this, I will prioritize key elements such as increasing physical activity, adopting a nutritious diet, ensuring adequate rest, and staying properly hydrated. When it comes to nutrition, I aim to maintain balance by choosing meals rich in protein and whole foods. Preparation is key, so I make a point to plan my meals in advance to avoid unhealthy choices.
Furthermore, I intend to integrate additional strategies into my daily routine, including longevity supplements like NMN, Resveratrol, and NAD+ for energy production and overall body protection. I also plan to focus on recovery methods such as infrared saunas and ice baths.
Adam McDonald, producer Search4Hurt, founder, Ruksak
Every year since 2018 when I was diagnosed with fatty liver disease, type-2 diabetes and, ultimately, cancer (It was a big year for comorbidities!), my number-one goal has been to stay alive and reverse the damage.
Building muscle while reducing visceral fat tops the goal list which is all about a protein-centric diet, lots of time with my Ruksak on my back and a powerlifting session once a week.
Managing blood sugars is there, which is all about having a starter salad for some fibre before my protein-heavy meals, plus taking a 15-20 minute stroll after each meal to reduce the spikes.
Third, and a new one on the list, is some mindfulness through visualisation and journaling to try and reduce the cortisol levels that are, unfortunately, part of serial entrepreneurialism.
Last, is to make my weekly routine more efficient, especially when travelling for Search4Hurt, so I’ve used an AI consultant to set me up with some amazing tools that I am excited to keep developing through 2025.
Luke McLeod, founder, Wellbeing At Work and Soul Alive
2025 will be the year of saving and consolidation for me. This goes not just for my business interests but also personally. After having a few years of some large outgoings due to investments, both business-wise and personally, I’m looking forward to streamlining my expenses and maximizing my cash flow and cash saved.
Focusing my time on high-yielding services I provide like wellbeingatwork.au. This might seem like quite a material/business-focused goal, but it has a direct influence on my personal well-being too. While investing is great for building wealth, having a financial safety net will relieve a fair bit of stress, and we all know that these are at the tip of the spear when it comes to looking after yourself.
On a lighter note, I also just registered to run and complete my first marathon in 2025. At the age of 41, I’m not getting any younger, and running a marathon I feel is one of those things on life’s bucket list that should be ticked off before it becomes too difficult.
David Altamura, co-founder, Wildsoul Wellness
2024 has been an exhilarating and progressive year for our wellness business. Business growth and scale is never easy. Expanding a business is one thing, serving as an anchor through it all has left me feeling mentally and physically exhausted. The irony is, that I am leading a wellness franchise, yet more recently, I have found myself needing more of my surroundings.
2025 will be a testament to our business model. It will be a year for me to come back to my health, embracing stillness and progressive movement. Whilst I manage a workout most days, it has become perfunctory. In 2025, my approach will be led with purpose and intention; more connection, more stretch and more breath. And, of course, my love for strength training will remain steadfast.
As Wildosul Wellness prepares to expand across Victoria and the East Coast of Australia, I am reminded that building a business and my well-being are deeply intertwined. In 2025, I aim to prioritise the same principles I teach, leading with balance and intent.
Jarad Hobbs, founder of Joy In Movement
In 2024, I made the decision to remove alcohol from my life—a shift that has been transformative for my mental clarity, emotional balance, and overall well-being. This change gave me the focus and energy to tackle big challenges, and as I head into 2025, I’m doubling down on prioritizing wellness.
My main goal for the coming year is improving sleep, recognizing its vital role in cognitive sharpness, emotional resilience, and sustainable high performance.
To achieve this, I’ll be using tools like the Oura Ring to track and optimize my sleep patterns, making rest a cornerstone of my personal and professional strategy.
These wellness efforts are critical as we plan on opening 50 new J.I.M locations in 2025. By sustaining an alcohol-free lifestyle and focusing on sleep, I’m creating a foundation to thrive personally while ensuring I have the clarity, energy, and resilience needed to take J.I.M through its next stage of growth.
