What are the Wellness Trends to Watch in 2023?

Self-Care Sceptics

Welcome to wellness’s anti-aesthetic era. Self-care sceptics are infiltrating mainstream conversations with books like The Gospel of Wellness and The Wellness Trap, which unpick how commerce, misplaced hope, and disillusionment with traditional medicine power the Gone are the days of polished expectations and perfect-life promises. Instead, individuals are heralding stained sweaters, ironic memes and gross but satisfying habits to compose an unfiltered portrayal of everyday self-care.

Take inspiration from American content community Sea Moss Girlies, who encapsulate this anti-aesthetic ethos for their health-conscious Gen Z followers through a thought-provoking podcast and content-based app.

Fortifying Friendships

Three in 10 people in the US reported losing at least one friendship in 2021 due to the pandemic. But with 77% of 13- to 39-year-olds globally citing that hanging out with their mates has the same wellness benefits as working out, perhaps this phrasing is a bit cynical. Maybe it’s the push to reprioritise platonic relationships itself that’s becoming a wellness trend.

Research into the impact of friendships on wellbeing indicates that close bonds may make teens more resilient, increase social mobility, and stave off cognitive decline. And doctors are even prescribing ‘social time’, so that people can benefit from interacting with others to help alleviate conditions like anxiety and high blood pressure. But how can your business use these insights?

Start by taking inspiration from the recent innovations using dating app tech to spark non-romantic connections – like Portuguese newcomer The Breakfast. Described as a “social app for modern humans”, it helps users meet people and strike up conversations. Introducing them to one new person every 24 hours, individuals can set up a breakfast date, but only during this set time period – motivating them not to miss out on a potential new friendship.

With friendship a proven way to boost physical and mental health, expect to see more self-care innovations – both ‘in real life’ and digital – that encourage greater bonding between individuals.

Wellbeing at Work

What does the future of work look like? As people take greater control over their professional lives, wellness at work is a critical pathway to ensuring greater employee satisfaction. Globally, one in four employees expect their employers to provide mental health and wellbeing benefits, viewing them as a “very important” aspect of work.

As a business, it’s important to look beyond traditional company benefits, and actually think about how work culture itself can be redesigned to support mental and physical health. Take inspiration from London-based company and Stylus Changemaker Interlude, which connects institutions with a library of science-backed, productivity-boosting breaks, whether that’s doing a drawing exercise before creative work, taking a mini cooking class, or stretching. In doing so, it’s pushing for breaks to become an accepted, integral part of work routines.

It’s also important not to overlook our built environments when striving for better inclusion and health. Workplaces can provide individuals with spaces that are conducive to getting the best work out of employees of all physical and mental abilities – whether that’s through quiet zones for increased concentration, or soft lighting for neurodivergent employees. Look to Google, which unveiled a floor of its South Korean headquarters in November 2022 that includes Braille signage, sliding doors and extra-wide corridors to enable easy movement.