Starting Young

If you’ve ever berated yourself for not prioritising your health sooner, you’re not alone.
It turns out lots of Aussies wish they’d followed a few healthier habits in their younger years.

At iSelect, we surveyed 1,003 Australians aged 18 years and older to discover the health habits the nation wishes they’d started sooner.  

However, it’s important to acknowledge there can be a financial cost involved with practising healthy habits (gym memberships aren’t cheap after all!) that may be out of reach for some.

The most common health habits Australians
regret not starting younger 

While we might like to think of ourselves as laidback larrikins, it turns out there’s a deeper side to Australians. We’re carrying around a lot of regret! In fact, 99% of those surveyed wish they’d picked up at least one healthy habit earlier.

Top of the list: eating a balanced diet, with 45% regretting they didn’t start sooner. And no wonder – a balanced diet fuels our bodies, keeps weight in check, reduces our risk of disease, and boosts energy and mood. 

Not far behind, though, was regular cardiovascular training (43%) and strength training (42%). Both of these physical activities are powerhouses for health, supporting everything from heart health to bone strength. 

Habit Overall 
Eating a healthy, balanced diet 45% 
Regular physical activity – cardiovascular training43% 
Regular physical activity – strength training42% 
Walking/hiking 36% 
Drinking over two litres of water 35% 
Getting enough sleep (7+ hours) 34% 
Wearing suncream / being sun safe 30% 
Dental hygiene e.g. flossing or cleaning twice daily 30% 
Skincare 21% 
Mindfulness and meditation 20% 
Playing sports 19% 
Routine health checks 19% 
Taking vitamins and supplements 19% 
Regular stretching or yoga 17% 
Giving up smoking/vaping 14% 
Going sober 11% 
Going to therapy 9% 
Regular physical activity – other2% 

The most common health habits Australians
regret not starting younger by gender

It turns out, no matter the gender, Aussies regret not starting the same top three health habits earlier. Interestingly, women are slightly more likely to wish they’d picked up these habits sooner.

Working down the list, though, some gender divides do start to make themselves clear. For a start, 28% of women wish they’d started skincare earlier, compared to just 13% of men. Sun safety also stands out, with 35% of women regretting not slip, slop, slapping sooner, while only 26% of men feel the same. So, what’s behind the split? It’s likely the unfair emphasis society puts on women to stay looking youthful with soft skin plays a role here, whereas men may feel more comfortable with visible signs of aging such as wrinkles or grey hair (silver fox anyone?) Once the wrinkles set in, it can be hard to turn back the clock.  

On the flipside, men are more likely to wish they’d played sports, with 25% feeling this way compared to just 14% of women. Perhaps they’re finding that as they get older, they miss the sense of community team sports can bring or just having a few friends to kick the footy around with. 

The most common health habits
each age group wishes they’d started younger 

Sometimes age causes division, but in the case of top regrets, there was plenty of common ground. Across nearly all age groups, not starting regular cardio, strength training, and a balanced diet sooner were common regrets. Up to age 55, these three habits consistently top the list.

From there, our age 55 to 64 cohort wishes they’d prioritised sun safety. Those carefree days sunbathing may be now coming back to haunt them, with skin checks and cancers becoming a regular occurrence. Hopefully younger Aussies can learn from the past and practise sun safety sooner.  

Meanwhile, for those over 65, drinking over two litres of water daily jumps a few places up the list. Staying hydrated, after all, comes with a host of health benefits, from helping look after your teeth to moisturising your skin to preventing constipation and urinary tract infections. 

Overall, Australians have around four or five habits they regret not adopting sooner. Interestingly, 35 to 44 year olds report the highest level of regret, with five habits they wish they’d started earlier. Perhaps once we reach our 30s, we suddenly realise just how much we’ve been taking our bodies for granted. 

Rank1st2nd 3rd 4th 5th 
18-24 years Regular physical activity – strength trainingRegular physical activity – cardiovascular training Eating a healthy, balanced diet Getting enough sleep (7+ hours) Drinking over two litres of water & Playing sports 
18-24 years (%) 55% 53% 45% 41% 33% 
25-34 years Regular physical activity – cardiovascular trainingEating a healthy, balanced diet Regular physical activity – strength trainingWalking/hiking Drinking over two litres of water 
25-34 years (%) 51% 46% 43% 41% 35% 
35-44 years Eating a healthy, balanced diet Regular physical activity – strength trainingRegular physical activity – cardiovascular trainingDrinking over two litres of water Walking/hiking 
35-44 years (%) 56% 45% 42% 41% 41% 
45-54 years Eating a healthy, balanced diet Regular physical activity – cardiovascular trainingRegular physical activity – strength trainingWalking/hiking Drinking over two litres of water 
45-54 years (%) 40% 38% 38% 31% 30% 
55-64 years Eating a healthy, balanced diet Regular physical activity – strength trainingWearing suncream / being sun safe Regular physical activity – cardiovascular trainingDrinking over two litres of water 
55-64 years (%) 44% 40% 36% 32% 32% 
65+ years Regular physical activity – cardiovascular trainingEating a healthy, balanced diet Drinking over two litres of water Walking/hiking Getting enough sleep (7+ hours) 
65+ years (%) 42% 39% 38% 37% 36% 
Overall Eating a healthy, balanced diet Regular physical activity – cardiovascular trainingRegular physical activity – strength trainingWalking/hiking Drinking over two litres of water 
Overall (%) 45% 43% 42% 36% 35% 

‘It’s not just health habits that Aussies in their 30s could end up regretting. Neglecting to take out and keep hospital cover before you turn 31 (technically, before 1 July after you turn 31) means you’ll be stung with Lifetime Health Cover (LHC) loading if you do take out hospital cover later.

LHC loading is an additional loading to your hospital premium – and it keeps growing by 2% every year before you get and keep that hospital cover. It maxes out at a whopping 70% and takes a grand total of 10 years of continuous hospital cover to shift.

If you’re looking to avoid another regret, taking out hospital health insurance could be a good move.’

Andres Gutierrez

General Manager – Health Insurance

“These findings reflect the power of hindsight when it comes to health. Many people only realise later in life the importance of foundational health habits like balanced nutrition, sun protection, limitation of harmful substances like smoking and alcohol and regular physical activity.

“Establishing these habits from a young age can make a huge difference—not just for future health but for how you feel day to day. However, it’s never too late to get started.

“I’d recommend focusing on a balanced diet, staying hydrated, being active in ways that work for you (with a mix of cardio and strength), maintaining social connections, getting seven to nine hours of sleep, and managing stress. Doing so can help prevent chronic diseases and support your mental health.”

Dr. Jill Gamberg

GP, Coach and Lifestyle Medicine Physician