I am fascinated by wellness, of the body, mind, and spiritually, so I was happy to recently see some new data on the future of wellness and what we can expect by 2030.
I have been involved in overall wellness since I first dipped my big toe into energy work back in 1999. Reiki was my gateway, and I am grateful for my attunements in this relaxing energy practice which helps to promote healing. Who knew from there my interest in wellbeing would continue, and include massage, nutrition and mindfulness education as I ventured on my own wellness journey.
We have come a long way in the last 22 years from when I first delved in, with health and wellness shows, apps, coaches and tools for everyone, of every age.
The top areas most people are interested in and will continue to be through 2030 are (in no particular order):
Health
Fitness
Nutrition
Appearance
Sleep
Mindfulness
I think we can all agree that our overall health and wellness is top of the mind, especially as we still grapple with the pandemic. This has increased our concern over how healthy our immune system is, how our health affects others and the impact of social isolation on both our physical and mental well-being. I think we are all very “dialed in” and pay attention more to our overall wellness right now and this is expected to continue.
As for fitness, the pandemic changed the way we worked out. Many of us went to the gym, met and worked out in groups, and suddenly we were all online or outdoors (whether permitting). This is most likely going to continue and has given us new ways to maintain our fitness, through apps on our watches and phones, telling us how many steps we took or nudged us to get up and move. Trackers, and motivation apps are expected to become more refined and plentiful as we move through the decade. And the Peloton bike and Mirror have made huge inroads in our home workout routines, offering us a higher level of interaction and engagement, as well as more competitors in the in-door cycling arena. Expect more personalized at home fitness to increase.
As for nutrition, I know that I have seen great change since I took my first training in 2015, as the field has just exploded with new and exciting information around the gut-brain connection, sustainable eating, and intermittent fasting for longevity. How many of you have consciously decreased your sugar consumption? Or now drink (or at least tried) plant-based milks, such as oat, hemp, almond, or cashew?
I am offering for the first time in my practice, a simple pinprick blood test to check the metabolites in the gut, as a prelude to a more customized coaching experience. There is 10% off of the testing through the end of August should you decide you want to know what is happening in your microbiome.
This type of granular wellness approach is expected to become more common within the next several years as we learn more about our complex systems.
We are all interested in our appearance and that will only increase as we move through the decade. What drives this is the moment we live in, so connected online. We see and are seen at all times.
However, we are increasingly looking to our beauty products to not only enhance our appearance, but also our well-being. We want products that relax and soothe us, such as facial rollers, and reduce inflammation and increase circulation.
Look at how CBD oil is now infused in many products, and we use other essential oils to release stress and help us sleep. And collagen – I think it is in everything!
Another aspect of wellness around appearance is the trend towards acceptance. Of our body’s size, shape and proportions. This body positivity is all about neutrality and non-judgment, with overall wellness the goal, rather than trying to maintain an ideal weight or size. We will continue to invest in beauty as a lifestyle choice, without pressure to be something we aren’t.
Research has shown us how sleep (or lack thereof) impacts our health, both physically and mentally and we are all doing our best to get enough sleep. Our Fitbits and other wearables are letting us know if we are sleeping well or are restless. Right now, AI is being used by sleep researchers to help assess sleep stages and better understand sleep disorders in the greater population. If you would like to find out how to get a better night’s rest right now, contact me for a FREE sleep audit checklist.
Lastly, we come to mindfulness, which is so much more mainstream than when I was first introduced to it, through yoga. Expect mindfulness to continue to expand to all levels of our society to help combat many issues, such as opiod misuse. Chronic pain will be managed with mindfulness, rather than pharmaceuticals.
The number one health epidemic, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) is stress, and mindfulness will help address this and the costs associated with it. Additionally, mindfulness will be specialized to professions, such as first responders or doctors, who may need to integrate this practice into their career, curriculum and daily life. Mindfulness is also a way to identify and maintain a purpose-driven life and increase connectedness with others for common good.
I hope you are as excited as I am about all of the tools we have at our disposal right now to maintain our wellbeing and the developments for the future. I am grateful. You?
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