WHAT NEW PRACTICES ARE POPULAR THIS YEAR?
Health and wellness are important for overall well-being. Many new trends in this scope have emerged that can be done from home. Here are some popular health and wellness trends to consider trying in 2024:
- Online Fitness Classes
With high-speed internet widely available, online fitness classes have become very popular. Services like Peloton, Obé Fitness, and Apple Fitness+ allow you to stream exercise classes led by instructors. You can find classes for yoga, strength training, cycling, dance, and more. This lets you work out effectively at home without a gym membership.
- Meditation Apps
Meditation can reduce stress and promote emotional balance. However, learning how to meditate properly can be difficult. Meditation apps provide guided meditations to make it easier. Popular options include Calm, Headspace, and Insight Timer. The apps have programs for beginners as well as experienced meditators.
- Plant-Based Meal Delivery
Plant-based diets have been shown to have health benefits like lower cholesterol and blood pressure. There are many new services that deliver fresh, pre-portioned plant-based meals to your door. This makes it convenient to eat a nutritious plant-based diet at home. Some top services are Purple Carrot, Veestro, and Urban Remedy.
- Wearable Fitness Trackers
Fitness trackers like Fitbit, Apple Watch, and Garmin watches let you monitor your activity levels, sleep patterns, and other health metrics. The data is useful for understanding your current fitness baseline and tracking progress over time toward your goals. Most trackers now also provide reminders to move if you've been sedentary too long.
- Telehealth Therapy
Online therapy has grown in availability in recent years. Services like Better Help, Talk space, and Online Counseling allow you to video chat with a licensed therapist from home. This makes getting mental health support more accessible and convenient than having to go to in-person therapy appointments.
- Immune Supplement Routines
Products claiming to boost immunity have surged in popularity since the COVID-19 pandemic began. While evidence on effectiveness is still limited, some people have started routines with supplements like vitamin C, zinc, elderberry, and probiotic drinks. It's best to consult a doctor before adding new supplements.
- Bodyweight Training Apps
For home exercise with minimal equipment needed, many have turned to bodyweight training apps that provide structured workout programs using just your bodyweight. This makes it affordable and space-efficient to exercise at home without bulky gym equipment.
- Sleep Tracking
Poor sleep is linked to increased risks for health issues like obesity, heart disease, and depression. Sleep tracking capabilities have been added to many smartwatches and fitness trackers. There are also apps like Sleep Cycle that analyze sleep quality. The data can identify issues with your sleep patterns so you can try improving them.
- Home Self-Care Days
With restricting routines during lockdowns, many started exploring home self-care activities like home spa treatments using face masks, aromatherapy, and bath products. Other self-care practices include journaling, practicing gratitude, and at-home yoga. Setting aside dedicated self-care time can reduce stress and improve mood.
- Virtual Fitness Communities
Though exercising at home, people have been leveraging online communities on platforms; users can follow each other's fitness activities, share accomplishments and tips, and participate in group challenges. This helps people stay motivated and accountable for their fitness routines.
While COVID-19 lockdowns popularized many home health options out of necessity, their convenience and effectiveness have allowed these trends to stick around. As technology continues advancing, we are likely to see even more innovative home-based health and wellness solutions in the years ahead.