10 health and wellness trends to look out for in 2021
Digital skiing, TCM and sleep recovery are just some of the health and wellness trends to take us through this year
Text: Kritika S
Right now, we’re all about out with the old and in with the new. And when it comes to health and wellness there are a lot of new trends to pick up on, especially at the start of a brand-new year. Although 2020 brought much fear, worry and anxiety, it also taught us how to pay attention to our bodies, prioritise our sleep, nutrition and exercise, and it paved the way for us to become more mindful. This year will still be tough, but as we learn what our mental health and physical body needs, hopefully we can be kinder to ourselves. Read on for the 10 health and wellness trends we’re looking forward to in 2021.
1. Getting clean
2020 was all about home cooking and now that we’ve started, we can’t stop. We’ve became aware of all the stuff we put into our bodies — from immunity boosters to anti-inflammatory ingredients. Taking this into account, we’re excited about 2021 bringing a more holistic approach to clean eating — whether that be a vegan diet, plant-based eating plan or stocking up on superfoods. Adding to the rise in Singapore of popular vegan meats such as ‘Beyond’ and ‘Impossible’, last year we also became the first country to introduce ‘lab grown chicken’ which has a high protein content and is a rich source of minerals.
2. Mental wellness not being a taboo
According to the Straits Times, more people in Singapore sought help for mental health issues amid the Covid-19 outbreak across different age groups. The pandemic created a greater awareness of mental health issues and reduced the stigma in seeking professional help according to Ms Joy Hou, principal psychologist at EmpathyWorks Psychological Wellness, who herself saw a 20% increase in clients.
3. Dopamine dressing
The more time we spent at home, the more selective we got about the quality, value and sustainability of what we were wearing. Athleisure and loungewear saw an increase in sales as people set up home offices and did home workouts. Local activewear brand Ninja by YeoMama saw a 60% growth rate after they created an activewear line. Forecasters predict 2021 fashion will focus on cosy, comfortable and relaxed clothing that boosts our happiness and feelings of safety.
4. Digital skiing
While the sports and fitness industry took a sucker punch during the initial phase of the pandemic, most gyms did a pivot by offering online classes. With the ski season off due to Covid, digital skiing is latest offering on your online class schedule. Carv is a digital ski coach who improves your technique with real-time professional audio coaching. Slip the thin insoles into your boots, clip on the battery pack, whack up the air-con and heck, you could be in Niseko. Log onto getcarv.com
5. Flexible working
It’s been a struggle to draw the line between work and home for most us, but with industry giants such as UOB announcing a two-day WFH policy post Covid-19 and Google allowing its employees to wfh until the summer of 2021, this mode of employee engagement will only continue to soar through the coming years.
6. Wellness apps
With metal health and home workouts taking centre stage, wellness apps are a logical progression. People have become accustomed to monitoring their biomeasures such as, heart rate, pulse rate, stress rate and oxygen levels using fitness trackers like Nike Training Club and Obe Fitness. Moving forward, tracking devices will become even more sophisticated giving you a more holistic approach to your wellness goals.
7. Gliding outdoors
The great outdoors has never been so big. Cycling shops claimed to have a ‘strong year’ with people rushing to get bikes and some fresh air while maintaining social distancing measures. Outdoor activities such as walking, hiking, cycling and kayaking tours were able to accommodate up to 20 people from November. However, it’s the new trend of GlideFit that takes place in a swimming pool or gym that’s looking to take 2021 by storm. Originating from America, it includes stability exercises, yoga and HIIT carried out while standing or sitting on a floating fitness mat. Watch this space ...
8. Immunity boosters
Immunity boosting supplements and probiotics will continue to be a priority in 2021. Covid-19 sparked a sudden spike in demand for Vitamin C and multivitamins in Singapore. In addition to supplements, natural alternative remedies such as turmeric, ginger, basil, goji berry also help to boost your immune system. Probiotics on the other hand have proven that there’s an essential correlation between good gut health leading to good mental health — which is another reason why people are trying extra hard to keep their microbiomes in check.
9. Sleep recovery
Disturbed sleep patterns were a definite downside to the pandemic with many of us struggling to shut off after another day of disruption and uncertainty. Thankfully, sleep assistance tools like sleep trackers will become more popular in the future. And to help you unwind better, you might want to consider a new infrared sauna blanket. This cross between an at-home sauna and a sleeping bag has been hailed as being able to improve metabolism, relieve sore muscles and strengthen your immune system. Available from higherdose.com
10. Traditional Chinese medicine
2020 saw a rise in the consumption of traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) to strengthen our immunity and this is just a start to a much bigger movement. The ancient wellness techniques of Eastern culture are here to stay — think natural Chinese herbs, acupuncture, gua cha and tai chi. We’ve heard that ear seeding — the placing of tiny beads on the pressure points in your ears to release tension — will gain popularity throughout 2021. Fans of this form of auricular acupressure, which is based on traditional Chinese medicine, include Kate Moss and Penélope Cruz.
