7. Upcycling food
In the United States, food insecurity is the worst that it has been in decades. With lines of newly out-of-work people at food pantries stretching up to a quarter of a mile long, people have gotten creative about using food scraps or alternatives to their normal grocery store staples. Some brands have gotten in on the trend, selling the imperfect and misshapen foods that would normally be discarded from farms and food processing plants.
8. Functional foods
This year, we're not giving lazy food any attention — it’s got to be good and good for you. There's a growing trend towards functional foods. Functional foods that are either naturally or artificially modified to have additional benefits. For example, think calcium added to orange juice or soluble fiber in oatmeal. It's part of an overall trend towards more thoughtful nutrition choices.
9. Mental fitness
If there's one good thing about the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s that it took the stigma off of mental health conversations. In fact, according to the New York Times, the defining feeling of 2021 was “blah.” While we're all “not okay,” struggling with anxiety, depression, languish, and burnout isn’t quite as lonely as it once was. It's now more acceptable and understandable to reach out for mental health support. This might include coaching, therapy, or even taking a mental health day from work.
10. Meditation apps
Anyone with a smartphone likely has one — or more — meditation apps installed. There is an endless variety of apps, with a plethora of cool features, and options in every price range. This makes meditation apps an easy and accessible way to practice mindfulness.
11. Self pleasure
Yep, we're talking about masturbation. Since social distancing put a cramp in dating, self-pleasure has become a new way to release tension. It also boosts nitric oxide (feel-good chemicals), and safely keeps your sex life vibrant. The market is debuting new toys that promote a more mindful, healthy, and inclusive experience. Not to mention, female-owned companies producing toys designed by female researchers.
12. Virtual hangouts
All-day Zoom meetings may be getting tiring, but virtual hangouts are likely here to stay. After all, you didn't spend all that time teaching your parents how to unmute themselves for nothing, did you? As a vaccinated workforce returns to the office, many social activities will likely continue to offer virtual options. Social events (bachelorette parties, family reunions, and weddings) are leveraging social media and streaming services. This allows those that are not able to travel, or who don't yet feel comfortable, to still take part.
13. Outdoor activities
More time spent indoors — coupled with an (evidence-based) lower rate of transmission outdoors — makes fresh air more appealing. Dining al fresco and working out outside are gaining popularity. This is particularly true in regions that are warming up for spring and summer, providing a reprieve from winter and lockdowns. Outdoor hobbies like gardening, tennis, sailing, and basketball are seeing more interest. They a) involve sunshine and b) don't involve a screen.
14. Cozy and casual chic
Business up top, but party off-screen. Working from home lends itself to a more relaxed office dress code. With offices reopening on a hybrid model (for the ones that are planning to reopen at all), fewer workers will feel the need to dress up for every meeting. Stores are featuring hybrid work-leisure gear. This includes chic fitted leggings, comfortable button-down shirts, and relaxed-but-trendy dresses. High heels and Windsor knots may never recover.
15. Tracking stress
Stress is at new highs and affecting a record amount of the population. With this, people are becoming more and more interested in how different types of stress impact all aspects of their health. The fitness and stress trackers now document physiological responses to determine how stressed out an individual is and when spikes occur. This provides individuals new insight into their daily routines.
16. Digital healthcare
You may have struggled to get an appointment with a specialist in the past or groaned at the commute to the “good doctor’s office.” But, with virtual conferencing and meeting technology more popular than ever, doctors are more willing to meet with you virtually. You can even book virtual sessions with personal trainers, nutritionists, physical therapists, mental health professionals, coaches, and sleep specialists. Just double-check that it's actually your therapist you're texting before you hit send.
17. Adaptogens
The newest addition to the line of superfoods are adaptogens. Known for their stress-busting properties, adaptogens like ashwagandha and rhodiola, help augment immunity, impact the release of cortisol in the body, and improve your resistance to the physical and emotional effects of stress. Although they're enjoying their time in the spotlight, adaptogens were first identified by a researcher back in 1947.
18. Cooking
Even those who have no aptitude in the kitchen are cooking more lately. Meal kits are simplifying the art of cooking. But for those who prefer to source their own ingredients, homes are turning into herb gardens, kombucha breweries, and sourdough bakeries. What started as a reaction to scarcity on the shelves has turned into a nutrition-filled hobby.
19. Gentler workouts
Uber-competitive workouts are hard to maintain when you're sweating in a living room full of Legos. Absent the competitive environment and structure of a gym, many people are finding that they don't want to "go-hard" like they once did. Workouts now double as stress relief, so mind-body exercises — particularly those you can do at home with less equipment — are on the rise. Online yoga, mat Pilates, barre, jogging, bodyweight exercises, and stretching are becoming part of the routine for the couch-fitness crowd.
20. Decluttering and decorating
Heightened levels of introspection and the need to convert homes into multi-functional sanctuaries have turned spring cleaning into a year-round phenomenon. Decluttering has always been a buzzword, but creating space has been therapeutic as well as practical. Unable to visit their normal favorite places, people have been creative about incorporating what they miss about the world into their homes. DIY home projects have provided a creative outlet as well as a way to make lockdown a bit more cheerful.
21. Travel
Remote work allows record numbers of employees to finally leave expensive urban centers and work from wherever they like. For some, this means traveling to sightsee in new locations. For others, this means relocating to a more affordable place with more space. To recoup some of the lost revenue from tourism, many countries are opening co-working spaces. Some are even offering “digital nomad visas” to attract employees.
22. Financial wellness
On both a macro and micro-level, conversations about money have dominated the last year. People struggled with unemployment, uncertainty, and balancing their needs to make money with concerns about their health. The government tried to come up with effective ways to support them while managing the reality of a situation without precedent.
These conversations led to a growing awareness of what needs to happen to provide people with a safety net. It also spurred discussion around everyday individuals caring for themselves, their families, and building their careers.
Although inspired by the pandemic, these health and wellness trends reflect long-term conversations and changes in society. When we look at where people are spending their money and putting their time, we get a good idea of what their priorities are — and what their personal definition of wellness is.
