New year, new you.
That’s how the saying goes. As an indulgent December gives way to a restorative January, we oftentimes seek to transform our routines. From simple changes like updating skincare to more drastic adjustments in fitness and lifestyle, the start of a new year always brings a renewed energy to wellness.
The wellness industry is also changing, with lots of trends forecasted for the coming year. What can you expect to see in 2022? We’re breaking down the ins and the outs–the fads and maybe even the flops–we are seeing in wellness today and tomorrow.
From immune health to self-care to supplements, here is everything you can expect to see in the wellness industry this coming year.
Practice Wellness in Exercise
Physical health is a no-brainer for promoting overall wellness. But should it really be a no-brainer?
Virtual wellness has made it easier than ever to exercise anytime, anywhere. In 2022, expect online courses such as Obé fitness or Peloton to go beyond just exercising the body. We expect to see more emphasis on the mind-body connection, with a strong focus on mindfulness, meditation, and community as opposed to just sit-ups and jumping jacks.
Live an Eco-Friendly Life
Sustainability is, at this point and time, more than a trend. Living an eco-friendly lifestyle is imperative for not just our health, but that of our planet, ecosystems, and survival.
Combatting a changing climate can feel daunting and hopeless (this feeling even has a name: eco-anxiety). However, every one of us can implement small changes in our routines that can make a huge difference for the planet.
Start out small: bring your own bags to the grocery. Reset your thermostat to be a few degrees warmer or cooler, depending on the season. Make sure your lights are out every time you leave a room. Or, if you’re feeling extra dedicated to the cause, grow your herbs and vegetables at home instead of buying them at the store. Mass farming practices can be detrimental to the health of the planet, and with Gardenuity, you’ll be shocked at just how easy–and fun!–gardening can be. You can shop garden kits and find the best kit for you to grow this season!
Improve Gut Health
Science has proven that gut health promotes overall health. The gut biome has been shown to affect a number of other systems, including the nervous system (brain and mood), the circulatory system (heart and blood), the endocrine system (blood sugar), and, of course, digestive health.
If you are looking to take charge of your gut health, the easiest way to start is through supplements. Talk to a doctor, registered dietitian, or certified nutritionist about probiotics, which can jump-start change in your biome. You can also change your diet, incorporating more fermented foods such as kimchi, pickles, and yogurt. Prebiotic foods such as artichokes, bananas, asparagus, and oats are also wonderful for getting your gut on track.
Develop a Plant-Based Diet
Looking to both live an eco-friendly lifestyle and improve gut health? It may be time to consider switching to a plant-based diet.
It’s easier than ever to go vegan, with non-dairy and non-meat alternatives as abundant as their counterparts on grocery shelves. And with apps such as TikTok bounding with plant-based creators and innovators, information about how and when to switch has never been more readily available.
Here’s what you should consider when switching over to a plant-based diet:
Please note that you should discuss all lifestyle changes with a health professional before any drastic action is taken.
1) Organic produce
When eating plant-based, you want to be sure that you are ingesting top-notch produce and whole foods. Organic foods are grown without pesticides, ensuring that they are as clean as they can be from chemicals, insecticides, or other potentially harmful ingredients.
Organic does tend to cost a bit more, which is something to consider when making your next grocery list. However, you’ll have some by skipping the butcher, so you might just be able to maintain the same budget.
2) Try Gardening
Want to be absolutely sure that your food is organic? There is no better way than to grow it yourself at home! Gardenuity makes growing oh so easy, and you’ll definitely be able to taste the difference in your food.
Aside from higher-quality ingredients, gardening has the added bonus of being great for your mental and physical health. Learn all about what this amazing new hobby can give you here.
3) Healthy Foods to Increase Wellness
Ready to try plant-based cooking? We’ve got you covered.
To dip your toes in the water we recommend these one-off recipes:
For those ready to take the plunge, here are some of our favorite guides and recipe roundups:
Take Vitamins to Strengthen Your Immunity
With the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and the rise of the omicron variant, immune health has never been more important. And while science has shown that vaccinations are imperative for preventing the virus, there are other habits you can cultivate in harmony with the immunization to support a strong immune system.
Taking vitamins allows you to ensure that you are getting every nutrient you need, regardless of what goes into your body on any given day. Look for a multivitamin that is high in vitamins A, C, D, and E, iron, and folate. The industry is crowded with options and sometimes the labeling can be misleading as to what is actually in something. Be sure that you are doing your research or speak to a health professional to get the supplements that are right for you.
Importance of Skinmunity
One of the biggest beauty trends we will see this year is the rise of skinmunity. Coined by dermatologist Dr. Uliana Gout, skinmunity is all about treating our skin and strengthening its defenses. Consistent mask-wearing over the past years has led to an increase in skin issues such as acne and inflammation. Take proper care of the skin by moisturizing and cleansing each morning and evening.
Bonus: skincare can be a great way to have a moment of self-care twice a day. Put on some nice music, invest in some luxury products, a fun headband to hold your hair back, and take the time to de-stress. It’s good for your physical and mental health.
Proper Sleep Schedule
We know that consistent sleep is imperative to overall health. As we continue to advance technology, tracking sleep hygiene has become a practice that is easy to do at home.
One of the easiest ways to monitor sleep hygiene is through a wearable tracker. The Apple Watch has great sleep tracking benefits that can sync to other apps such as Rise to track your sleep debt.
Get a benchmark of your habits over some time (we suggest a week), then adjust your lifestyle to get where you need to be. Your mental and physical health will thank you!
Mental Health Therapy by use of Digital Healthcare
In our crazy world, mental health is more important than ever. It’s also more accessible than ever, with companies such as Better Health and Talkspace providing affordable and effective talk therapy via app in the comfort of your home.
This year, expect to see a rise in the popularity of these companies, especially as the omicron variant continues to be strong in the United States.
Keep a Mood Journal
Journaling has been around since the advent of paper–what makes it so special now?
Turns out there’s a reason that keeping a journal has been a trend for generations. Writing is an excellent way to monitor your needs and emotions across a period. Combine it with millennials’ love of data and analytics, and you get the mood journal, which helps you understand why you are feeling a certain way at a certain point by examining your past moods and behaviors.
While the mood journal may be a trend, we don’t see it being one for long. Instead, try keeping a regular journal that goes beyond just how you feel and when. Added bonus: your writing might improve alongside your mental health.
Track Your Stress Level
Stress can be detrimental to both physical and mental health. According to BUPA, 2022 will see more of us tracking our stress levels, whether that’s by using a wearable like a smartwatch or simply by writing it down. This trend is already being adopted by the general public, in fact, BUPA’s health trends for 2022 states that there has been an 83% increase in Google search result for ‘fitness tracker’ just this year.
Tracking stress is not super helpful unless we know what to do when it is high. Our recommendation? Indulge in some self-care, practice mindfulness, and reach for an adaptogen, such as ashwagandha, which will help bring you down naturally.
Interact with Friends and Family
Community is vital. The past years have disrupted much of our sense of togetherness, as we have had to spend so much time apart. 2022 will bring a much-needed rise in gatherings, with predictions for a record number of weddings just being the tip of the iceberg.
Focus on Generosity and Mindfulness
The way we think transforms the way we live. The rise of the generosity mentality and mindfulness practices will only continue over the coming months.
Generosity is an incredibly broad topic that’s been explored in both scientific and spiritual settings. Psychology Today recently featured an article about how, in clinical settings, giving had greater benefits than receiving. Expect more research and conversation around what we can do for others in the upcoming year.
Mindfulness encourages taking time to listen to your inner monologue. It can be done in several different settings, from meditation to intuitive eating to exercise. By taking the time to slow down and listen to our bodies, we can become more in-tune with our actual wants, needs, and strengths.
Our Most Frequently Asked Questions
This year, you can expect to see a continued focus on mental health. We also predict a rise in eco-friendly living, especially when it comes to plant-based diets, and emphasis on mindfulness, and more data around our health and wellness routines.
We have already seen larger companies hiring corporate wellness officers to tackle issues around employees’ physical and mental health. Expect these types of positions to become more popular in 2022. We also predict that gardening will be a huge community-building experience at the office.
First off, get enough sleep and drink more water. Try being mindful at least once per day, whether it’s through meditation or eating intuitively. Get some sort of movement in for 30 minutes a day, and practice self-care whenever you can.
This year, we can expect an emphasis on community wellness. Aside from keeping our neighbours healthy during the omicron variant, we will see a rise in togetherness across the wellness industry.
You said it: wellness is a journey. Incorporate small steps whenever you can go easy on yourself when you don’t get everything right and never try to make drastic, sweeping changes overnight. Remember that one is perfect at wellness, and doing even one thing is better than doing nothing.
The future of health and wellness is holistic. We will be looking at overall human health–physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, environment–to determine overall human health.
Prepare for your wellness journey now!
Are you ready to tackle the new year? Which wellness trend are you most looking forward to trying out?
Let us know on social media, and let’s get growing!
