From the rise of wellness retreats to the focus on working out, either at the gym or at home, to personalised nutrition plans, the dedication to our health and wellbeing has risen sharply in recent years. People are taking matters into their own hands to shake off the legacy of convenience foods, fast food, smoking habits and binge drinking to incorporate healthier practices into their everyday lives and curate a wellness regime that will help them lead a healthier lifestyle all round.
The pandemic set about a shift in many people to take a look at their habits, and those who used unhealthy habits as a crutch to get through the more difficult moments during this time are shifting gears and seeking out ways to shake them off once and for all. In 2022, the global health and wellness market was valued at $5,243.3 billion with this figure expected to reach over $8 billion by 2030, so what is it that most of us are doing to adopt a healthier mind and body in this always-on and often stressful world? We take a closer look at six luxury wellness trends that are dominating this year.
Giving up smoking
The smoking ban that made it illegal to smoke in enclosed workplaces, including pubs, restaurants and nightclubs, in England came into force in 2007 and encouraged plenty of smokers to give up the habit, and the government’s latest initiative will hope to encourage more to do the same. Smokers being encouraged to take part in the ‘swap to stop’ campaign later this year will be provided with a vape starter kit alongside behavioural support to help meet the government’s ambition of reducing smoking rates in England to 5 per cent or less. Leading vape brands like Elf Bar has seen a sharp rise in popularity as smokers switch to vapes to regain control of their habit.
Drinking less alcohol
Whether it’s a bottle of fine wine with dinner each night or something a little more excessive on weekends, drinking too much alcohol can become an unwelcome habit, especially when its side effects start to cause us problems, either within our relationships or with regards to our health.
Hangovers aren’t a fun way to spend a day off and working with one is even worse, and the odd day or week off proves just how much better physically and mentally you can be without drinking to excess. If you’re looking to give up alcohol altogether, or cut down to a more sensible amount, there are plenty of resources available with practical tips and advice on staying away, resulting in a big tick for your overall health.
Visiting wellness retreats
Gone are the days of our annual holidays solely being a two-week beach vacation on the sunny shores of a southern European destination, now travellers are seeking unique experiences dedicated to their interests and are seeking out ways to incorporate a higher degree of wellness into their trips away, too.
The global wellness tourism market was valued at over $814 billion in 2022, with this figure expected to rise by 12.42% by 2030. Whether it’s that yoga retreat in India or the health resort in Switzerland, people aren’t afraid to invest in their mental, physical and spiritual wellbeing and are happy to spend out on preventative measures for their overall health.
Skincare treatments
Skincare has come a long way from purely being marketed as a way for women to look younger and is now seen as an essential part of our self-care routines. From luxury skincare used on a twice daily basis at home to professional treatments taking place at clinics from renowned practitioners, we aren’t shy when it comes to spending the big bucks on taking care of our body’s largest organ. The global skin care market is expected to be valued at $189.3 billion by 2025, according to Statista.
Working out
While 2020 saw a sharp rise in at-home workouts – a way to get our exercise in and keep our sanity levels stable during lengthy lockdowns – it certainly wasn’t the beginning of the trend in keeping fit with workout and gym routines.
Watches and apps monitor our movement and keep us on our toes, while the breadth of options out there are seemingly endless. Workouts on YouTube, personal trainers curating bespoke programmes at the gym, investments in our own equipment to create a dedicated home gym to exercise in – there are many ways in which we can stay active in today’s technology driven world.
Personalised nutrition
Whether it’s supplements tailored to you, a rich and healthy diet as proposed by your dietician, or even a doorstep delivery of your favourite meals, the desire to tailor our diets to our exact needs and wants is getting a lot of focus in recent years. Food has always been the biggest factor when it comes having a good handle on our health and so it’s no surprise that a personalised nutrition plan – based on our genetics, lifestyle, health status, gut microbiome, environmental factors and more – is fast becoming the norm.
