Wellness Trends in 2022
mental health, mushrooms, and spirituality ✨
Happy New Year! I just got back to NYC, so it feels like my 2022 has finally officially started. The energy I feel the every time I step foot into this city never ceases to amaze me. I’m really looking forward to what this year has in store!
In terms of wellness, here are some trends I think we’ll see in 2022:
Self-care as a necessity, not a luxury - So many of us got the time to integrate wellness practices into our day during the pandemic, and we probably didn’t forget how much better they made us feel. This year, especially as people prepare to head back to the office, we’ll continue to try to maintain self-care rituals like meditation, home cooking, and walks.
Focus on mental health - Even if COVID didn’t affect your physical health these past two years, it undoubtedly affected your mental health. The pandemic coupled with Gen Z’s commitment to live their best lives will bring mental health to the forefront of health and wellness this year. Stigmatizing discussions about mental health is officially cancelled— one of the good things that came out of this pandemic.
Lymphatic drainage - Tools and treatments like gua sha and lymphatic drainage massage were everywhere in 2021, helping to depuff and debloat. While it can be argued that most people are after beauty benefits, these practices are actually promoting lymphatic drainage, which is great for overall health. I think we’ll keep seeing lymphatic drainage treatments this year due to their instant results, noninvasive nature, and army of IG influencers behind them.
Skinimalism - We’re cutting down on skincare products this year. Akin to mainstream makeup trends— a transition from multiple foundation and concealer shades for dramatic contour, daily fake lashes, hyper-pigmented eyeshadow to a more natural, minimal makeup look— skincare products and rituals will be more holistic and focused on supporting the skin rather than trying to completely change it. This means we’ll see more treatments like gua sha and “facial yoga” as well as diet changes as skincare, and less medicine cabinets full of different lotions and potions.
Spirituality/energy - 2022 will be all about protecting your energy and manifesting your best life. Spiritual wellness has exploded recently thanks to TikTok and a need to cope with the constant stress from the pandemic. I think we’ll see more of this in 2022, so if you haven’t been journaling or keeping track of Mercury’s retrogrades, this is your sign to start.
Mushrooms - FINALLY, mushrooms will get the credit they deserve in 2022! Mushrooms have been used therapeutically for stress, adrenal fatigue, and immunity for thousands of years in Eastern medicine. This year, I think mushrooms will be further used for their psychedelic benefits in helping treat depression and anxiety.
Intuitive eating - It took us a while to get here (myself included), but we’re moving away from fad diets. Intuitive eating, or making peace with food and not restricting your diet, is on trend this year, fitting well with the overall self-care/self-compassion movement.
Gentle exercise - Gentle movement like long walks and yin yoga are replacing high-intensity training this year, according to Pinterest. This probably spurred from the transition to at-home workouts, where you usually don’t push yourself as hard as in a class setting.
Mindful drinking - If the emergence of low and no-alc startups hasn’t convinced you yet, the new phrase “mindful drinking” is another indication that drinking is becoming out of vogue. Gen Z is undoubtedly heading this trend, as they drink 20% less per capita than millennials.
Menstrual care makeover - It’s no longer taboo to openly talk about menstruation, but that’s not the only change we’re seeing in 2022. Eco-friendly feminine hygiene products and companies centered on understudied conditions like endometriosis and PMS are all changing the landscape of how people menstruate.
Longevity - Overall, people are understanding the big picture of health — how to live the best quality life for the longest time possible. The push for longevity is something we’ll continue to see in 2022, as the focus in health continues to shift from aesthetics and strict productivity to feeling good and long-term health outcomes.
That’s all for this week! I hope your year is off to a great start and will be filled with happiness, health, and abundance ♥️
Until next time,
Zeina