If there’s anything we learned from 2020, it’s that looking after ourselves, in all capacities, is more important than ever. So, it’s no surprise that at the turn of the New Year, we were already seeing the emergence of new wellness trends for 2021. I’ve had a look around at what is being talked about in the media, in terms of wellbeing for 2021, and have gathered my findings here. Hopefully something resonates with you or inspires you to give it a go, to try and make this year a little better than the last!
1. Intuitive eating
It is believed that 2021 will witness the rise of mindful and intuitive eating alongside an increase in people turning away from restrictive diets that vilify certain foods. People will embrace food in many forms when they feel their bodies tell them to. This will include wasted food scraps and ‘ugly’ vegetables, as part of the upcycling food, making steps towards a more conscious and sustainable future.
2. Virtual fitness
The pandemic has shown people the importance of maintaining overall health, and physical fitness plays a part in this. New virtual options are commonly offered at lower price points or for free and require no commute time. With the current restrictions, it is likely that this will remain the primary way for maintaining physical fitness.
3. Radical self-care
This has been born out of the increased anxiety that was witnessed in 2020 and is all about prioritising yourself. It has been defined as an assertion that you have the responsibility to prioritise your own wellbeing over others. In practice, this will look different from person to person, but essentially involves doing whatever necessary to protect yourself, before exerting your energy on others.
4. Flexible goal setting
The pandemic changed our perspectives on goals and achievements and so it is likely that in 2021 people will set more realistic resolutions and more attainable goals. The spontaneity of restrictions and the lack of time to prepare for them has forced us to be more open and flexible, and so many people feel that setting restrictive goals is no longer conducive.
5. Green indoor spaces
There have been studies which have shown that having nature on our space can have a positive impact on our mental health. In a year where we spent limited time outside our home, reaping the benefits of nature has meant people bringing the outdoors inside. Not only does it look great, it can also have benefit wellbeing, and is sure to stick around in 2021.