Following the Covid-19 pandemic, health and wellness have taken center stage worldwide. People’s awareness of the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle was already on the rise prior to this, being driven by factors such as easy access to information, advances in the medical field, and a shift towards preventive medicine. But there’s no denying that the health crisis sped up the process and served as the catalyst that turned wellness into a global phenomenon.

Fortunately, the pandemic eventually subsided and people were able to resume normal life. However, people’s interest in embracing healthy habits and achieving greater overall well-being lingers on, taking new shapes and forms as time goes by. From plant-based diets to CBD and mindfulness, we’ve seen many trends come and go over the years as the world of wellness continues to evolve.

Looking at things from a purely financial perspective, wellness has transformed into a thriving industry, one estimated at over $5.6 trillion and projected to hit $8.47 trillion by 2027, to be more

precise. Statistics also reveal that the U.S. is the fifth biggest spending country in the world on health and wellness, with a market valued at $1.8 trillion. Wellness has become a priority for nearly 82% of US consumers, prompting them to spend an average of $5,300 per year on wellness-related products and services.

Since things move so fast in the wellness world, it’s worth keeping an eye on the trends that are shaping the future and fueling the development of this burgeoning industry.

More science, less speculation

Back in the day, people would jump on any new wellness fad that was promising to help them improve one or more areas or aspects of their lives. But time has passed and consumers’ demands and expectations have changed; they have become wiser and more selective when it comes to their lifestyle choices and the practices they embrace.

Nowadays, people aren’t as eager to try wellness products and services unless they are backed by hard data and scientific studies. Fed up with all the hyped-up wellness solutions of the past, many of which proved rather ineffective, consumers are more cautious about what they spend money on, taking more time to do in-depth research and learn about the science behind the promise.

For example, hydrogen-rich water has been gaining ground as a global wellness trend lately, with pioneering companies like ocemida.com providing professional devices that generate hydrogen water. This trend wasn’t driven by mere hype as providers made sure to inform the audience of the potential health benefits they can expect and the scientific evidence backing these claims. This science-centric approach allows consumers to assess the effectiveness of different products/services and find solutions that provide real results.

Doing nothing

The wellness mania of the past years has taught us there are many things one can do to improve overall health and well-being. However, this year things are moving in the opposite direction as people are discovering that sometimes the best thing they can do for themselves is do nothing at all.

The dolce far niente lifestyle that Italians have mastered is now sweeping across the world, introducing people far and wide to the sweet and simple pleasure of idleness. This, obviously, falls in direct contradiction with the hustle culture which has been the default mindset in modern society until recently, and which is now suffering a slow but certain death.

But there’s another interesting trend rising that’s somewhat correlated with the popularization of the doing nothing philosophy, namely sleep tourism. That’s right, people are going places not to engage in all sorts of activities and check as many sights and attractions as possible, but to relax and recharge. The fact that tourists are prioritizing self-care and rest and seek wellness retreats when booking their trips says a lot about the current state of society where people are constantly tired, overworked, and burned out.

Unlocking the secrets to longevity

People are not only seeking to live better; they’re also interested in living longer. There’s been an overwhelming interest in longevity research in the past years across different fields, including biotech, healthcare, and wellness. As the world’s population is aging, especially in developed countries, scientists are looking to uncover the secrets that can keep people healthy and happy for longer.

This is not about going on a quest for the philosopher’s stone and achieving immortality, but about making certain changes and developing specific habits that enable people to optimize their health and therefore increase their lifespan.

There are various areas of research that work towards finding practical solutions to boost longevity such as genetics, senolytics, nutrigenomics, and AI-powered healthcare. But there’s also a particular focus on studying blue zones diets – the nutritional habits and eating patterns in areas of the world where people live longer than average. If you want to learn more about it, the series Live to 100, Secrets of the Blue Zones, on Netflix can provide some valuable insights.

Sound bathing

This might sound a bit odd (pun intended) but sound baths are becoming a thing. Forget about soaking in a bathtub filled with warm water and all sorts of aromatic oils. That’s for wellness rookies. Now you can try bathing in sound to restore your senses and promote mental well-being.

The concept is fairly simple, as the name implies and it links back to another popular wellness practice, meditation. Participants sit in a room surrounded by sounds produced by different traditional wind and percussion instruments at certain frequencies.

This deeply immersive experience allows one to enter a state of deep meditation, providing therapeutic and restorative benefits. People practice sound bath meditation mainly to unwind and release stress.

The path to wellness starts now

Although these are the main trends making waves in the health and wellness realm at the moment, there are many other exciting practices to keep an eye on and try in the relentless pursuit of well-being.