These 2021 Health Trends Will Boost Our Wellness This Year

The coronavirus pandemic has changed everything about our daily lives. 2020 was a year of quarantining, practicing social distancing, wearing masks and navigating the major uncertainty that threw things into a state of chaos and confusion. It was also a year of physical, mental and emotional challenges that have traveled with us into 2021.

There’s been a renewed focus on mental and emotional health in recent years — but it rightfully became a primary focus for many of us in 2020. Being in the house during quarantine, especially for those who live alone, has been tough — and that’s not to mention the other stressors that many of us have experienced, from losing loved ones to worrying about joblessness. The pandemic has caused its own different type of stress, and dealing with that anxiety will become an even more important focus as the health crisis endures.

As people look to learn more about how exercise changes their bodies, micro-tracking various biometrics has become a vital part of giving us a deep look into our daily habits. Brands like Fitbit and Apple created fitness-tracking watches and other devices that collect data on daily steps taken, calories burned and other physiological attributes. MyFitnessPal and other apps help us track our food and nutrients with the touch of a button.

Another rising trend in health and wellness is the growing adoption of principles from the holistic treatment modality called Ayurveda. This treatment originated in India, where it’s been used for thousands of years. Ayurveda promotes a healthy balance between the mind, body and spirit with a focus on getting to the root causes of wellness disruptions using natural treatments and health routines.

While some of us may still feel uncomfortable about being around others in the gym, we’re learning not to feel afraid to exercise outside — while following proper social distancing guidelines, of course. Many of us have continued to walk, jog and even participate in outdoor fitness classes that are allowing us to get and stay fit while staying safe. Plus, outdoor workouts allow us to get out of the house and get some fresh air.

At the start of the 2020 pandemic, many gyms across America shut down. Home workouts became the norm. However, working out at home doesn't quite work for everyone. Much like schools are experimenting with in-person and virtual-learning hybrid programs for students, many of us are also testing the waters — or have fully embraced exercising at home — by combining in-person and digital or home-based workouts.

"Snackable" workouts continue to be a big hit. People are exercising for shorter amounts of time throughout the day instead of focusing on one hour-long workout. According to a 2018 study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, doing several short workouts throughout the day and week is just as effective as doing one long workout — as long as those minutes add up to between 150 and 300 each week. A part of these bite-size workouts includes a focus on high-intensity interval training (HIIT), which consists of shorter workouts with short moments of intensity and brief moments of active rest to burn more fat.

In recent years — and especially during this pandemic — you might’ve started hearing people say that "sleep-care is the new self-care." The mentality of "grinding while others sleep," meaning you’re still pushing yourself to get things done, even if it comes at a cost to your wellbeing, is quickly dying. Sleep is consistently, scientifically proven to be vital for increased productivity and focus during the day, which is even more important while many of us are still working from home.

Another important trend that’s popping up is that we’re starting to get our entire families involved in health and wellness efforts. Because we’re spending much more time together, it's become even more important to keep everyone active and healthy, and that’s especially true with many kids remaining at home for their schooling. Shana Verstegen, an ACE Certified Personal Trainer and TRX Master Trainer in Madison, Wisconsin, shared with the American Council on Exercise that she’s seen increasing numbers of families in parks playing old-fashioned games such as tag and flag football during the pandemic.