Holistic Health: Why Body, Mind and Daily Life Are Inseparably Connected
Health is more than simply “not being ill.” It emerges when body, mind and daily routines work together – and when we actively contribute to it.
20 November 2025
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Jasmin Cohen
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Health is more than simply “not being ill.” It emerges when body, mind and daily routines work together – and when we actively contribute to it. This is exactly where holistic health begins: it looks at the human being as a whole, connecting prevention, mental balance and a sustainable lifestyle.¹
Holistic health recognizes that physical, psychological and social factors are intertwined. Chronic stress can disrupt sleep, poor sleep weakens the immune system, and social isolation increases the risk of mental strain.¹²
A holistic approach therefore doesn’t ask only What symptoms do I have? – but also Which conditions support my wellbeing?
This includes nutrition, physical activity, sleep, mental health, work environment and access to medical care.
According to the World Health Statistics 2024, non-communicable diseases (cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer) continue to account for the highest burden of disease – driven by lifestyle, stress and an aging population.¹
At the same time, Health at a Glance: Europe 2024 highlights that European health systems are under pressure and that prevention needs to be used more consistently.²
The recent Mavie Mental Health & Stress Study shows: stress and sleep problems are widespread everyday challenges in Austria.³
It is clear that thinking about health purely physically falls short.
Austria offers an annual preventive health check – yet only around 12–13% of eligible adults make use of it each year.⁴
Early detection, however, makes a significant difference: risk factors identified early can often be effectively addressed through lifestyle adjustments or targeted medical support.⁴⁶
The WHO recommends at least 150 minutes of activity per week for adults – the equivalent of 5×30 minutes of brisk walking or cycling.¹
It doesn’t need to be high-performance sport; consistency matters most.
Recent health communication – from the EU to Harvard Health – emphasises the growing importance of stress reduction, mindfulness and sufficient sleep for mental stability.⁷⁸
Even short, regular mindfulness or breathing breaks can help lower stress levels – as long as they fit into daily routines.
New research on the gut–brain axis shows that a diverse microbiome (vegetables, fibre, fewer ultra-processed foods) is linked to better mental and physical health.⁹
Holistic health therefore also means: what you eat influences not only your body, but also your wellbeing.
The EU now sees digital health and telemedicine as integral parts of modern care – including prevention and follow-up.⁵
In 2025, the OECD again summarised how telemedicine can be used effectively.¹⁰
Health emerges where we live and work – not only in a doctor’s office.
A supportive work environment, psychological counselling or low-threshold self-tests can help prevent small issues from becoming bigger ones.
Workplace health programmes like those from Mavie Work address exactly this, combining physical and mental support for employees.
And with at-home testing solutions from Mavie Me, essential health markers can be checked from home – ideal for people who want to take an active role in their health.
Understand your baseline: Where do I stand physically (e.g. preventive check-up), mentally (stress, sleep), socially (support, relationships)?
Set small, realistic goals: 10 minutes of movement is better than none. A consistent bedtime often works better than “I’ll just sleep more.”
Check in regularly: What supported me over the last four weeks? What was too much?
Seek support: Telemedicine, workplace programmes or evidence-based content help you stay on track.⁵¹⁰
Holistic health isn’t an esoteric concept. It’s a pragmatic answer to modern challenges: we live faster, work more digitally, grow older – so we need to think body, mind and daily life together.
With a preventive approach, clear information and accessible services – digital, at home or via employers – staying healthy becomes significantly easier.
Mavie sees health exactly this way and supports you with low-threshold, solution-oriented offerings.
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Sources:
1. World Health Organization. (2024). World health statistics 2024: monitoring health for the SDGs. https://www.who.int/publications/b/74273 who.int+2who.int+2
2. OECD & European Commission. (2024). Health at a Glance: Europe 2024. https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/health-at-a-glance-europe-2024_b3704e14-en.html OECD+2Public Health+2
3. Mavie. (2025). Mental Health & Stress Study (2025). https://www.mavie.care/en-AT/mental-health-and-stress-study Mavie.care – Dein Gesundheitsbegleiter
4. Österreichische Gesundheitskasse / Sozialversicherung. (2025). Vorsorgeuntersuchung / Gesundheits-Check: jährlich kostenlos. https://www.sozialversicherung.at/cdscontent/?contentid=10007.844026 & https://www.gesundheitskasse.at/cdscontent/?contentid=10007.878943 gesundheitskasse.at+2sozialversicherung.at+2
5. European Commission. (2025). Digital health and care – Public Health. https://health.ec.europa.eu/ehealth-digital-health-and-care/digital-health-and-care_en Public Health
6. European Commission / State of Health in the EU. (2024). Health at a Glance: Europe – prevention and screening sections. https://health.ec.europa.eu/state-health-eu/health-glance-europe/health-glance-europe-2024_en Public Health+1
7. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. (2024). Mindfulness can help improve mental health. https://hsph.harvard.edu/research/health-communication/creator-program/creator-resources/mindfulness/ hsph.harvard.edu
8. NIH / U.S. National Institutes of Health. (2021, still valid). Mindfulness for Your Health. https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2021/06/mindfulness-your-health newsinhealth.nih.gov
9. Loh, J. S. et al. (2024). Microbiota–gut–brain axis and its therapeutic applications. Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41392-024-01743-1 nature.com
10. OECD. (2025). Leading practices for the future of telemedicine. https://www.oecd.org/content/dam/oecd/en/publications/reports/2025/01/leading-practices-for-the-future-of-telemedicine_d5392fd9/496a8ffe-en.pdf OECD
