Zac Efron Shifts Focus to Mental Health After Years of Career-Driven Life

Actor Zac Efron has revealed a significant change in his life priorities, stating he is now prioritizing mental health and personal happiness after spending years focused solely on his Hollywood career. The 38-year-old told Heat magazine that he neglected his personal life for too long while pursuing professional success, but has since reassessed what matters most to him. "My biggest motivation is to be happy in both my professional and personal life," Efron explained. "For too long, I only focused on work and I neglected my personal life."

Refecting on his physical transformation for the 2017 film Baywatch, Efron emphasized that he will no longer sacrifice his mental health for demanding physical roles. He acknowledged that the extreme physique he achieved for that role was unsustainable and came at a personal cost. "The shape I was in for Baywatch wasn't sustainable. I wasn't happy living the way I was to get in that shape," he said, adding that men, like women, need to be realistic about physical expectations in the entertainment industry.

Efron's renewed focus on personal well-being extends beyond professional choices. He is currently working on building a sustainable dream home in Australia on a 128-hectare property he purchased in 2020 near Byron Bay, New South Wales. The project, being developed with designer Joost Bakker, will feature a hemp-based structure with six bedroom pods and a rooftop garden. Efron credited fellow actor Russell Crowe with recommending he invest in Australian land, describing the opportunity as a chance to live closer to nature and recharge between work commitments. He views the property as the ideal retreat from his fast-paced lifestyle, allowing him dedicated time to rest and connect with the earth.