2022 Wellness Trends
A new year, a new trend!
Isn’t it always the way that the new year starts, alongside lots of goals, intentions, new gadgets and gizmo’s to use from Christmas, a new ‘diet’ to try etc.
As you know here at ‘Be in your element’ we know wellness is a journey and not a destination, and we understand trends aren’t always here to stay, but we have handpicked our top 8 that we feel are!
Check out our predictions for the ultimate 2022 wellness journey..…..
Turning it on it’s head
With so many great wellness activities available out there, it’s hard to know where to start right? You may have started something a few years ago, did not enjoy it and haven’t even consider it (or anything like it) again.
Well we say “have another look back out there” There is so much on offer that has been completely ‘turned on its head’…………………For example your traditional yoga, where you would do a downward dog (and at that moment wish you had taken the dog for a walk instead) maybe experiencing aches and pains, inflexibility etc. How would it sound if you were invited back to that yogi matt for some downward dog with a little dog there with you? (yup, puppy yoga really exists!)
Or how about saluting to the sun to rap music? Or strike that pose madonna style?
All of these amazing versions of yoga are out there, from Yo!ga to Voga…and everything in-between! (we are lucky enough to have them within our tribe and can vouch from experience they are amazing and you never focus on anything other then good vibes you are getting!)
Why not grab you matt and open mind and have a go!
Mindful eating
Mindful eating is a technique that helps you gain control over your eating habits and is based on mindfulness, a Buddhist concept.
Mindfulness is a form of meditation that helps you recognize and cope with your emotions and physical sensations.
Fundamentally, mindful eating involves: Eating slowly and without distraction, engaging your senses by noticing colors, smells, sounds, textures, and flavors, and so much more!
Today’s fast-paced society tempts people with an abundance of food choices and on top of that, distractions have shifted attention away from the actual act of eating toward televisions, computers, and smartphones.
By eating mindfully, you restore your attention and slow down, making eating an intentional act instead of an automatic one.
Go on grab that fork, put the smart phone down and try it!
Wellness journal
So, according to us (and BUPA- just saying!) This is another well-being trend set to surge in 2022. Similar to general diaries, a wellness diary is focused on your emotions and will help you improve your mental health (fact)
Keeping a wellness journal, or mood journal, can be a useful way to get to the root of lingering negative feelings (and increase positive ones). This allows you to recognise negative emotions and take action to help these feelings, whether it's opening up to a friend, loved one or mental professional. Writing down your feelings has been shown to reduce your feelings of anxiety and depression, too.
Mix this with the positivity that comes from writing down aspirations, dreams, goals and intentions, this journal is your go to 2022 hard back book you want read.
Sleep hygiene
In the coming year, more of us are going to be tracking our sleep to make better adjustments to our routines. According to ‘Destination Deluxe’ some households will use tracking devices such as Apple Watches, Auro's Smart Ring, or EEG Headbands, while others will turn to aromatherapy oils to complement a more restful sleep.
Sleep hygiene is all about bettering our bedtime habits, whether that's going to sleep earlier, turning our phones off in the evening, or creating a restful environment at home. When you're tired, you can't function at your best, so why not put your sleep first in 2022?
Mindful drinking
How many of you have committed to dry January? How about creating a different relationship with drinking all year round?
Put your well-being first in 2022 by trying mindful drinking — the simple concept of being intentional with your decisions around alcohol. We might indulge in a little festive tipple around Christmastime, but mindful drinking is all about having a healthier relationship with alcohol and ultimately drinking less.
It's a fairly simple trend to adopt. Each time you pour yourself a glass, as yourself why you're drinking. Mindful drinking is not about cutting alcohol out of your life completely, it simply exists to help improve your relationship with drink. And as with mindful eating, when you enjoy your drinks, take more time to savour and smell (more amazing mindful drinking tips coming in next weeks blog with our well-being warrior and mindful drinking expert Jomo Club)
Taking revitalizing walks
In 2020, we found ourselves going on walks for sanity, freedom or just purely as something we could actually control and made us feel good. But the past year has seen the rise of many new strolling phenomena: There’s the “silly little walk,” which Vogue culture writer Emma Specter described as “a solo outdoor stroll taken with no real purpose, no direction or tacked-on errand; just a vague desire to be out among the living again after a year of isolation (or, more accurately, an understanding of just how crazy you’ll go if you spend one more second in your apartment).” On the other end of the spectrum? The “hot girl walk,” a TikTok trend started by Ticktoker Mia (the hashtag has nearly 50 million views) where you go on a walk and think about the things you’re grateful for, your goals and how you’re going to achieve them, and, of course, how hot you are.
And then you have the ‘Mother Earth’ walk (which is the one we like the most) where you take in every aspect of nature that you can, stop and smell the rain, hug the tree and stop to watch the wildlife or the clouds pass you by.
Improving gut health
When it comes to making healthy choices, improving your digestion is one of the best things you can do for your well-being. With research from BUPA discovering that Google searches for 'gut health' are up by 83%, they predict 2022 will see more of us take good care of our gut. Gut health can refer both to your digestive system also known as your gastrointestinal (GI) tract – and the balance of bacteria in your gut. Your gut digests food, houses a range of bacteria, absorbs energy and nutrients, and gets rid of waste products.
If you're not sure where to start, some of the best foods to add to your diet include wholefoods, and fresh fruit and vegetables. Staying clear of processed foods is a good goal to have for 2022, as these can disrupt healthy bacteria in your gut. (Our gut expert Rachel has lots more advice to share with you on her blog here too)
Long lasting changes
And by this we mean, 2022 is not the year to start something in January giving it 100%, to then give yourself a hard time in February when you miss that morning mediation, can’t be bothered with the after work workout, or you filled the trolley with chocolate and wine instead of vegetables.
This is the year to set a long lasting journey, to then give you life enhancing results, for life!
2022 is the year to start thinking about how YOU can make this year the start of the best well-being journey of your life. So get comfortable with you and what you need and enjoy the ride!