In 2020, unimaginable circumstances threatened our well-being as we adjusted to working from home and what this does to our bodies and minds, binged Netflix series and for many, felt a disconnect creep in. We had to take on a more holistic approach to our wellbeing as we adapted to a new way of living and re-evaluated our approach to life, health and wellness.

There is hope for a better year than the last, and as we have grown more accustomed to our new way of living, we mustn’t forget the lessons we’ve learnt and rituals we have created for ourselves. Take note of the things that help keep you happy and healthy and ensure to make these a priority.

Here are the wellness trends set to shape the course of 2021.

AT HOME RITUALS

Lockdown 1,2 and 3 meant that our homes became our sanctuaries, and it has become more important to create a space where we feel happy. Home is becoming the centre of our wellbeing as we spend more time at home, a place to take care of our physical and mental wellbeing.

De-cluttering, organising and deep cleaning rituals enables us to feel in control of our own environment, to make room for the things that truly make us happy, in a time where everything else seems so out of our control.

Bringing plants into the home and our living spaces is a ritual we are seeing more and more of. Research has proven that people who live around nature are much happier as it has a positive impact on mental health. Adding nature to our living spaces has the same impact as someone who lives in the country, even looking at greenery can boost your mood, concentration and creativity as well as reduce stress.

20 MINUTE QUICKIE

As we try and find time to fit in our workouts around juggling home and work life in the same space, shorter workouts have become increasingly popular. Shorter workouts give you a focused way to push and challenge your body – mixing up short but high-intensity workouts allows you to work different muscles that leave you feeling fresh and energised.

TOUCHLESS SPA

Gone are the days when you can pop into a spa without worry. Touchless spa and skin-care services are emerging as the new 2021 trend as the demand for touchless beauty treatments grow. Contactless is no longer an exclusive term for payment methods with services such as cryotherapy, compression therapy, salt caves, infrared saunas, IV drips, hyperbaric chambers, and float tanks offering a way for people to de-stress, relax and recover without the additional worry.

The Four Seasons Westlake Hotel in L.A has launched its own “touch-free spa menu” which includes a Hyperice massage, performed using a percussive device to unfurl your knots, instead of a therapist’ hands.

HOME WORKOUTS 2.0

At home workouts are by no means new, but they certainly have evolved.  The pandemic forced virtual fitness into a new realm focusing on both physical and mental health. “Exercise used to be an adrenaline hour and now it is a survival mechanism for both body and soul, as health and wellness brands continue to adapt to offer more mindfulness and yoga classes virtually for both the body and mind.” Comments Hollie Bloch, Director of events and marketing at East River Pilates. This holistic take is no doubt indicative of the unexpected impact of prolonged working from home.

Gym memberships have been swapped for wellness streaming subscriptions as updated technology influences our fitness intake. A wave of IGTVs, workshops and subscription services have flourished in the lockdown. Brands such as Movement for Modern Life, dubbed the Netflix of Yoga, offer a wide range of yoga classes for your mind, body and soul with different teachers and courses to suit individual needs. Mental wellness expert, Roxie Nafousi, offers transformative workshops to teach you how to manifest your dreams into a reality. Mediums like podcasts, IGTVs and more recently, Tik Tok videos, are tapping into the Millennial and Gen-z generation to upkeep their mental wellbeing.

SWIMMING WENT WILD

Wild swimming and cold-water immersion led by the pioneer of cold therapy, Wim Hof, has long been celebrated for its holistic benefits. Cold water swimmers experience a variety of benefits; including boosted immune system, improved circulation, treat depression and menopause, as well as reduce stress and inflammation in the body.

Cold water immersion activates the body’s natural healing powers that can relieve the symptoms of many conditions and promote a sense of health and well-being. When regularly practised, cold water immersion can even provide long-lasting changes to your body and is a great mental tool to help clear the mind, recover your energy and even bring back your enthusiasm for life. Cold water swimmer, Poppy Fordam, has reported that the only treatment that helped heal her eight months of chronic back pain, is her daily dips in cold water.

Looking for an alternative to wild swimming? Easily make this part of your daily wellness routine with a cold shower or ice bath.

KEEPING THE BLUES AWAY

Our intake of pesky blue light is at an all-time high. Digital screens are our avenue to the outside world as we work, socialise, stream and workout from home. Why is this a concern? “Seven minutes of sun exposure at 1pm is powerful enough to induce immediate tanning,” explains Dr Murad, the revered dermatologist behind his eponymous skincare brand, “spending four to eight-hour workdays in front of a computer exposes you to the same amount of energy as twenty minutes in the mid-day sun.” Much like the sun’s powerful UV rays, our laptop screens can cause accelerated ageing of the skin causing pigmentation, increased inflammation and weakening the skin’s key, protective surface which keeps free radicals and toxins at bay.

As we become more aware of the effects that blue light has on our overall well-being and look to remedy this,“the sale of blue light protective skincare and blue light glasses have increased over the last year and will continue to rise as we look for a way to protect or eyes and skin,” says the NPD Group.

TAP YOUR WAY TO FREEDOM

Tapping, also known as Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), is a powerful holistic healing technique which has been proven to resolve a range of issues; including stress, anxiety, emotional disorders and chronic pain, among others. Tapping is set to revolutionise the field of health and wellness in a time when we are looking for healthier, holistic alternatives to our well-being.

The practice consists of tapping with your fingertips on specific meridian points while focusing on negative emotions or physical sensations. Doing this helps calm the nervous system and rewires the brain to respond in healthier ways. Poppy Delbridge takes on a new approach to traditional tapping, called Rapid Tapping, “which is effective because it doesn’t require lengthy sessions and it has on-the-go approach for those who want quick and tangible results with a neuroscience backing,” says Poppy.

Take the time to look after your mind, body and soul. You heart will thank you.