2023 Wellness Trends
Wellness as an industry is constantly evolving and new trends emerge every year. As we continue to learn what helps us improve our mental, spiritual and physical wellbeing, new methods and tools are created. Are you curious to see what is happening in 2023? Let´s dive into the most important wellness trends for this year.
Spiritual wellbeing. After physical and mental well-being, spiritual well-being has now also gained a place on the wellness stage. Spiritual wellbeing refers to a person's sense of connection to something larger than themselves, such as a higher power, a set of spiritual beliefs, or a sense of meaning and purpose in life. Spiritual wellbeing can be achieved through practices such as meditation, breathwork, and gratitude practice.
Sleep syncing. Circadian, or sleep, syncing involves adjusting your sleep cycle to the rhythms of nature (like the sun or moon). Some studies have shown that sleep syncing can help people fall asleep quicker, as well as reduce feelings of stress and anxiety, often associated with poor sleep patterns. Our parents already told us that routine is the healthiest sleep pattern (going to bed and getting up at the same time), which helps put our bodies on a regular sleep cycle. Connected to circadian sleeping is circadian eating: eating a light meal in the evening and a heavier lunch during the daytime (we can learn from Mediterranean countries here). To help wake you up in the morning you can use an alarm clock that helps you wake up when you are in a certain stage of your sleep, such as the Philips Wake-Up Light HF3520. And no screens an hour before you go to sleep is always a good idea.
Rest and recovery. More people realize that we don´t always have to be doing something, and rest is becoming increasingly popular as a way to increase our mental well-being. Sleeping and taking a nap is no longer regarded as being unproductive or lazy, but rather as a way to fight depression and burnout.
In gyms and wellness clubs, recovery is promoted with infrared saunas, cryotherapy chambers, and cold tubs.
Corporate wellness programs. As companies are increasingly aware that a happy employee is a productive employee, corporate wellness programs are becoming increasingly popular. These go well beyond a discount at the local gym, as we see benefits ranging from professional resources and expert-led events and workshops to self-care check-ins and paid time off for mental health days.
Sober-curious living. Sober-curious living (choosing to avoid alcohol for personal or wellness reasons) is a trend that started before this year, but is still going strong in 2023. More restaurants and bars are offering mocktails and non-alcoholic alternatives. Furthermore, there are more drinks on the market to replace alcohol that use different plants and herbs to help your body adapt to stress and help with relaxation and boost your mood. Examples include Curious Elixirs, De Soi and Ghia.
Mushrooms. Functional mushrooms have high levels of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and bioactive compounds that support aspects of health, like sleep, memory, and immunity. Examples of this type of mushrooms are lion’s mane for focus and memory, reishi for stress reduction, chaga to reduce inflammation, and cordyceps to increase energy levels.
Digital wellness tools. There will be a rise in at-home access to blood testing and other tools that before we could only get at the doctor’s office. Also, we will be able to connect this information with apps and digital platforms for quicker, more efficient results. Wellness and beauty tech products to use at home, such as red light therapy devices, and microcurrent facial tools, will also become big.
City wellness. When you don´t have time to go on a wellness trip, city day spas and boutique wellness centers in urban areas are the perfect place for a mini-getaway. You can come here to escape the daily stress and relax with treatments ranging from massages and facials to cryotherapy, meditation and infrared saunas.
9. Micro Immunotherapy. Micro Immunotherapy is an innovative approach to rebalancing our immune system. With continuous exposure to elements that cause inflammation in the body (constant stress, lack of sleep, unbalanced diets, etc), micro immunotherapy helps rebalance the immune system by using the immune system’s chemical messengers at ultra-low doses. This therapy has proven to be particularly helpful for those suffering from auto-immune diseases and allergies.
10. Women´s wellness. We are seeing an increase in women´s healing circles, and other spaces for women exclusively. The stigma around women´s health issues, such as endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and fertility, is also increasingly becoming less.
11. Gut-brain connection. Although awareness of the importance of gut health has been growing in recent years, the gut-brain connection has only recently become a part of this conversation. The chemical messages between the gut and the brain are affected by our gut microbiome – the bacteria, viruses and fungi that live in the gut. As we are becoming more aware of the importance of our gut health, the importance of what we ingest and how to positively influence our gut health will only increase.
12. Facial yoga. Facial yoga, or face yoga, consists of massages and exercises that help to stimulate the muscles, skin, and lymphatic system around the face and neck. Created by Fumiko Takatsu after suffering from a car crash, it is a gentle form of “strength training” for you face and neck muscles. Some of the benefits of face yoga are strengthening and toning of your face muscles, smoothing of wrinkles and fine lines, and improving of mental health.
13. Digital detox. More and more people are becoming tired of having to constantly be on our screens. Add to that the damage associated with being on our phones for hours per day, and you can see why people are increasingly wanting a digital detox.
14. Follow your flow. Women´s bodies constantly fluctuate according to the time of the month. The female’s monthly cycle consists of four stages: Follicular, Ovulation, Luteal and Menstrual. Depending on the stage you´re in, your motivation, strength and emotional state can change significantly. Following your menstrual cycle, you truly tap into your mind and body, and recognize what it needs. For example, high-intensity workouts such as Soul Cycle, Bikram Yoga, HIIT should be done during your ovulation phase, while low-intensity exercises - like walking, Kundalini and Yin Yoga - are better for the time when you are in your menstrual phase.
15. EMDR Therapy. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy ( EMDR) is seen as becoming a huge wellness trend. This therapy works well with problems that are deeply rooted, such as childhood traumas, and people who are suffering from ongoing low self-esteem or anxiety, patterns of dysfunction in relationships, persistent low mood, or any issues that are clearly linked to trauma (historical or recent).