Social Media distracts more than it helps, say 41% in wellness survey by Habuild

New Delhi: Some nights, after an hour of doomscrolling through fitness reels and motivational posts, you might decide, that’s it, tomorrow everything changes. You’ll start yoga, eat clean, sleep early. But by morning, it’s back to the same old routine. Sound familiar?

From viral wellness challenges to morning routine influencers, India’s fitness wave is hard to miss. But how many people actually follow through? A national survey by wellness platform Habuild, involving over 4,000 respondents from metros and Tier II cities aged 18 to 60+, suggests that while starting is easy, staying consistent is where most struggle.

The survey found that while many are quick to adopt wellness trends, only a small percentage manage to sustain them. For 25% of respondents, the motivation to begin was personal, “I just wanted to feel better.” 

Another 24% said they were influenced by friends or family. Structured programmes such as Habuild nudged 12% into action, while just 6% attributed their wellness journey to social media influence, suggesting real-world connections outweigh online trends in getting people started.

However, maintaining momentum proved challenging. Only 15% of respondents sustained their most recent habit for 3–5 weeks, and just 7% continued for less than a week. In contrast, nearly 65% of those enrolled in structured routines, such as community-led programmes, reported sticking to the habit for over a month.

When asked why they gave up, more than 40% cited disruptions from daily life, including work, childcare, and household duties. Eleven percent mentioned a drop in motivation, while others pointed to isolation or a lack of visible results.

While social media is often seen as a driver of wellness, its effectiveness appears limited. Only 26% found online content helpful, whereas a larger 41% described it as both motivating and distracting. The survey’s findings suggest that although digital platforms may spark interest, they often fall short in helping people maintain discipline.

The sense of community appears to play a significant role in long-term habit formation. An overwhelming 91% of respondents reported feeling more accountable and consistent when part of a structured wellness group.

“Trends can trigger change, but transformation takes structure,” said Saurabh Bothra, Co-Founder of Habuild. “This data proves what we’ve seen in practice, people thrive when they feel supported and guided. Habuild was built to turn those fleeting motivations into lifelong habits.”