Beyond the Grind: Building Health, Identity and Brotherhood for South Coast Men
Beyond the Grind: Building Health,
Identity and Brotherhood for South Coast Men
Let’s be real. The South Coast is full of good men working hard to build a life they can be proud of. Business owners, tradies, brand builders, dads - we came here chasing that elusive balance. The promise of more time with the family, fresh air, and a life that isn’t just about the grind.
But here’s the hard truth most of us don’t want to admit: too many of us end up rebuilding the same trap we tried to leave behind.
It’s time for a reset. A chance to rethink what success really looks like. Let’s break down some of the biggest blockers standing between South Coast men and the life we moved here to live.
The Identity Trap
For a lot of blokes - work, husband, father becomes who we are. Titles are where we get our sense of worth, our validation, our reason to get up in the morning. But what happens when the business slows down? When the kids don’t need you quite as much? When your body starts to send warning signs?
If all you are is your work - you’ll feel lost when it’s time to step back. Your value doesn’t come from the business. The business is just something you do. Who you are is bigger than that. And your health? That’s what keeps all of it going.
Fact: According to a 2021 study in Frontiers in Psychology, men who overly identify with their work are twice as likely to experience depression when business falters - compared to those whose self-worth is rooted in more than the job.
Calling Out the Martyrdom
We’ve been sold a lie that overworking is noble. That the best thing we can do for our family is to break ourselves in service of providing for them. But here’s the truth: if you fall apart, the people you’re trying to protect will feel it first.
Self-care isn’t selfish. It’s strategy. When you look after your body and mind, you’re investing in your family’s future, your business’s future, and your own ability to keep showing up strong.
Fact: Over 70% of Australian men cite work stress as their biggest mental strain - yet fewer than one in three take proactive steps to care for their health. (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare)
Health as Leadership
Here’s the thing about being a man in business: people are watching. Your staff. Your kids. Your mates. The way you treat your own health sets the tone for how they treat theirs.
If you’re the bloke who never stops, never rests, and never looks after himself, you’re teaching everyone around you to do the same. Flip the script. Be the man who shows that strong leaders know how to work hard and take care of themselves.
Fact: More than 80% of employees say they’d be more likely to adopt healthier habits if they saw senior leaders doing the same. (Harvard Business Review, 2019)
Don’t wait for burnout to make the call for you. Start with these five non-negotiables this week:
Move daily – Even a 10-minute walk before work or during the day can shift your energy and mindset.
Schedule recovery – Lock in one health appointment this month: a massage, sauna, cold swim, round of golf, or a PT session. Make it part of the plan, not the reward.
Connect intentionally – Message a mate and book a coffee. Women are better at checking in - we need to catch up.
Connect romantically – Lock in a date with your partner. Lunch, dinner - whatever works. And don’t cancel. Intimacy needs protecting, not postponing.
Be honest – Ask yourself: What truly makes me happy? Whatever came to mind first - do more of that. Your wellbeing depends on it.
Bonus move: Set a “CEO Hour” every Friday to review your health, not just your numbers.
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These aren’t luxuries. They’re life support. Put your own oxygen mask on first - then lead from there.
I look forward to speaking with you soon.
JC
JC works on mindset, habit formation, and long-term whole-body health.
He’s worked with premier league footballers, Hollywood actors, and high-performing executives, helping them achieve optimal movement and health both locally and globally.
You can find him at rewildwithjc.com