Zac Efron: Ripped Body Wasnt Worth the Struggle

is investing in his happiness after 'neglecting' his personal life throughout his career.

The 38-year-old actor – – revealed his priorities have shifted and he's now prioritizing his mental health.

'It's taken me a while to get there, but my biggest motivation is to be happy in both my professional and personal life,' he told Heat magazine. 

'For too long, I only focused on work and I neglected my personal life.'

The former High School Musical star also vowed to never again sacrifice his mental health after going to extreme lengths to get in shape for 2017's Baywatch movie.

He shared: 'I think men, just like women, have to be realistic. The shape I was in for Baywatch, wasn't sustainable. I wasn't happy living the way I was to get in that shape. These days, I place a much bigger priority on my mental health.'

Efron's comments come after it was revealed the actor has been busy .

He is working on the project with designer Joost Bakker, who is .

'It's taken me a while to get there, but my biggest motivation is to be happy in both my professional and personal life,' he recently said; pictured in January 2024