Over the past two years, health and wellness have been more under the spotlight than ever, with the global pandemic highlighting the importance of taking care of ourselves – both inside and out. In today’s fast-paced world, it’s all too easy to let self care and our health take a back seat, but failing to take care of the basics can leave anyone feeling stressed out and at risk of illness.
While the rapid spread of Covid-19 undoubtedly served as a reminder of the importance of cleanliness, hygiene and overall health, the knock on effects of ongoing lockdowns, home schooling and all round uncertainty on our mental wellbeing were just as concerning as the virus itself, and forced many to take time out to reassess what was really important.
Despite the fact that since then, the pandemic has eased, the effects remain wide reaching, and with additional socio-economic and political stressors also now in play, looking after mind, body and soul remains as important as ever. Here, we take a look at the key trends shaping the way we’re approaching health and wellness today.
Personalised nutrition
Slowly but surely, the diet industry is beginning to realise that one size doesn’t fit all when it comes to nutrition – but this doesn’t just apply to losing weight. Every ‘body’ is different, and we each have varying requirements when it comes to everything from cognitive function and energy levels to skin and hair health, so it’s perhaps little wonder that in 2022, we’re shunning cookie cutter eating plans and generic guidance in favour of personalised nutrition and supplementation programmes.
The number of women consulting nutritionists for guidance is growing, and we’re investing more in health foods and supplements as a result of the new insight we’re gaining into our personal needs. Sales of women’s health supplements and sugar free multivitamins such Chewwies are at an all-time high as we seek to optimise every aspect of our health – and companies offering tailored plans are also on the rise. No longer is it necessary to fill your cupboard with bottle upon bottle of different tablets and capsules to get what you need into your body, and a simple online quiz is now all it takes to have one customised tablet designed to meet your daily requirements.
Medicinal mushrooms
Medicinal mushrooms have been a hot topic for some while now thanks to their therapeutic properties, and despite having been widely used in traditional medicines for many years now, have only begun to make their way into the mainstream over the past couple of years.
Hailed as the latest and greatest superfood, they’re even now making an appearance in our daily brew, with varieties such as reishi, chaga, cordyceps and lion’s mane the star ingredients in a new breed of coffee. Offering brain-boosting benefits including mood regulation and improved focus, as well as increased energy levels, they’re the perfect addition to your morning cup of joe – and all without compromising on flavour.
Life activations
More and more of us are turning to spiritual healing practises to find guidance and unlock our strength and purpose within with the help of trained practitioners, and Life Activations by Incentre London is one place where all of this can happen.
Differing from healing sessions, life activations are gentle, yet powerful and are designed to activate dormant aspects of our being, in accordance with the true ways of spiritual progression, and are beneficial for everyone. Life activations work on all subtle energy bodies at the same time so is very comprehensive and a great way to target any kind of blocks, whether mental, emotional or spiritual for a more positive outlook, especially during times of transformation.
A more mindful approach to drinking
The pandemic saw many of us reaching for the nearest wine bottle a little more often than we’d like, with the government’s 4pm daily briefings invariably washed down with a good glass of red. But after a period of surging alcohol consumption, we’re now re-examining our drinking habits and what exactly motivates us to whip out the corkscrew in a bid to take a more mindful approach instead.
Not only are we becoming more aware of how triggers like stress and fatigue can influence our decisions to drink, but we’re also increasingly looking for alternatives – and no- and low-alcohol wines, spirits and beers are growing rapidly to cater to unprecedented demand.
2022 isn’t necessarily about going teetotal, but there’s a definite trend to being a little choosier about when and where we decide to indulge, making for a healthier approach all-round and greater enjoyment when we do decide to treat ourselves to a civilised glass or two.
