Every era is defined by certain trends that contribute to people’s overall health and well-being. The 60s saw the emergence of aerobic exercises, while the 90s oversaw the rising popularity of stationary bikes and pilates. Fad diets such as the controversial Master Cleanse saw prominence in the early 2000s, as did fitness gaming and CrossFit workouts.
The 2020s wouldn’t be any different, as it has its fair share of wellness trends that are currently shaping personal lifestyles in the years to come. The decade went off with a bad start but it did manage to introduce a few trends that are making a significant impact on how we manage our trends. Let’s take a look at the biggest so far:
1. Wearable Technology
It’s difficult to overlook the emergence of wearable devices that function as fitness trackers. Before, people only relied on smartphones with fitness apps that calculate the frequency and intensity of workout sessions based on manually encoded data. As the market for wearable technology continues to grow, the decade has already been introduced to several sophisticated devices capable of gathering and analyzing fitness data in real-time.
The current generation of smartwatches now comes with sensors that not only monitor heart rates but also analyze oxygen saturation and physical movements. These functionalities are expected to broaden as the world’s largest manufacturers of smart devices develop wearables that are more portable, easy to operate, and durable enough to withstand extreme temperatures and high-pressure environments.
2. Self-Care
The need for a healthy work-life balance preceded the concept of self-care. With the first two years of the 2020s being largely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals had no other choice but to work from home, and self-care provided the means to nurture one’s mental health at a time when the lines between work and home life blurred.
People had to learn to take things slow and reconnect with the things they enjoy doing. Self-care also emphasizes identifying the early signs of burnout, taking rest days, and going on a solo vacation when it’s needed. Sure enough, these concepts have been carried over to this day as most companies incorporate self-care as part of their employee engagement initiatives.
3. Complementary and Alternative Medicine
The medical community continues to struggle in dealing with online content that offers unsubstantiated and pseudo-scientific medical approaches. Surprisingly, there has been increasing interest in exploring the use of complementary and alternative medicine.
Research has been conducted on the benefits of yoga, aromatherapy, and homeopathy in aiding existing treatment approaches to conditions like asthma, cancer, and even depression. While claims of effectiveness remain disputed, more people are opting for complementary and alternative medicine as supplements to their recovery.
4. Access to THC and CBD
Another major area of medical research focuses on the benefits that hemp and marijuana byproducts may provide. There have been promising studies that have contributed to resounding calls for legalizing CBD and THC use for medicinal purposes as well as complementary treatment for anxiety, insomnia, and depression. In the United States, over 24 states have already decriminalized recreational marijuana and 38 have laws that allow medical cannabis usage.
This would explain why, in one report by the National Institutes of Health, cannabis use among college students has increased to 44% in 2020 compared to 38% in 2015. The start of the decade also saw an increase in weed and hemp-related businesses, from dispensaries to online stores. However, the sale and use of such substances remain heavily regulated at the Federal level and patients may need to obtain a medical card through a service like Leafy Doc or a licensed professional before buying medical marijuana.
5. Emotional Support Animals
Pets have gone from being furry pals to members of our closest social circles. The pandemic highlighted the importance of pets as companions during the long months defined by limited mobility and the need to limit social interactions. The post-pandemic world has gone on to appreciate the value of emotional support animals to the lives of society’s most vulnerable sectors, such as the elderly as well as those who are struggling with a terminal illness.
Now that emotional support animals are considered extensions of the social circles of these sectors, establishments are now offering pet-friendly policies and even local governments are setting up amenities that cater to these creatures. Individuals may get the right benefits for themselves and their pets if they can obtain an ESA letter from a health provider such as a doctor, psychiatrist, therapist, or social worker.
6. Long Distance Care
Technology has made it possible to bring much-needed medical services to people who find it difficult to travel long distances for a doctor’s appointment. Perhaps the biggest trend that marked the initial years of the 2020s was the introduction of more personalized telehealth services. These provide patients with access to basic services in a more convenient and less costly way.
Telehealth may have existed before the start of the pandemic but the healthcare sector was able to improve upon existing approaches. Not only can doctors conduct interviews remotely but they can also offer other long-distance services such as telepathology, remote treatment, and remote patient monitoring.
Endnote
Who knows what trends will come to the forefront in the last half of the 2020s? For now, we can only see how the ones right now are changing the way we think about wellness and, more importantly, the way we think about living.