A new decade has begun. It’s another chance for renewal, change, and growth. It’s good to start off a new chapter with healthy habits, positive thinking, and self-love. As humans, we are constantly striving to be the best version of ourselves. Here are the health and wellness trends of 2020 that may help you move a step closer to that goal.
Plant-Based
Whether you’re a vegetarian, vegan, or are still a meat-eater, plant-based foods and meats are on the rise. Aside from the argument of plant-based foods is better for the environment, they are also good for our bodies. Eating too much meat, especially red meats and processed meats, can increase the risk of health conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.
Plant-based meats are becoming more common. They are good alternatives for meat if you are vegetarian or vegan or attempt to decrease your meat consumption. The research and development of plant-based meats have improved, and the alternatives are becoming less distinguishable from the real thing. If you are transitioning into a fully plant-based diet or a flexitarian diet, these plant-based meat alternatives can be helpful in making the transition smoother and easier.
We are becoming a more eco-conscious society as an awareness of the reality of climate change increases. According to the World Animal Protection report, over 250,000 animals are being saved annually due to the rise of plant-based alternatives.
Mindfulness
Meditation and staying mindful were shown to be on the rise in 2019. Studies have shown that meditation improves mental health, relieves stress, and improves overall well-being. If you’re uncomfortable with the idea of meditating, it just means you haven’t found the right type of meditation that works for you.
There are many ways to meditate and no one is limited to a certain type. If you’re just starting out, any guided meditation may be helpful in beginning your journey towards mindfulness and peace of mind. Mindfulness meditation focuses on staying present and focusing on your thoughts through simple observation. It’s one of the most popular meditation techniques in the U.S. and it’s one of the easiest ones to practice alone.
There are other types of meditation practice like spiritual, focused, movement, and more. But, mindfulness meditation is the more common one amongst those that want to include mindfulness into their regular routine.
Home Workouts
Going to the gym can be a hassle and takes time out of your day. Working in the comfort of your own home has been increasingly more popular. With home workouts, you don’t have to pay for a membership, spend the time commuting or deal with other people (unless you enjoy the community).
With the internet, we have access to an array of information from our phones and computers. It’s easy to find resources to help build our own work out routines that we can do in our homes. Home fitness equipment has also become very sophisticated. If you choose to purchase them, you can build your own home gym that could rival commercial gyms.
CBD
CBD, or cannabidiol, products became bigger in 2019 and will continue rising as this new decade continues. CBD is a cannabinoid found in cannabis that is non-psychoactive. Don’t get it confused with THC, which is the cannabinoid that gets you high. CBD mainly helps with pain, anxiety, acne, and sleep.
The CBD industry is still new, but it is growing slowly. There are a variety of products that include CBD like muscle balms, lotions, and oils. They are starting in include CBD in food as well. Most CBD products have not been FDA approved, though, so you have to be cautious about what products you buy.
Circadian Health
As busy students and adults, we’ve been very obsessed with sleep; from counting the hours of sleep we need to get in order to feel rested to buying an array of products to help us get better quality sleep. Even after all this time, many of us struggle with getting a healthy amount of rest. As we enter this new decade, our focus might shift from sleep to our circadian health.
Our circadian rhythm influences our sleep-wake cycles, eating habits, body temperature, and more. If we are able to optimize our circadian health, then it will improve many aspects of our lives, including our obsession with sleep.
There are many ways to help improve your circadian health. The type of light we are exposed to and the timing of it can have a big effect on our sleep schedule. It’s good to avoid blue light, the light that is emitted from our device screens, before going to bed. It’s also good to get sun, exercise regularly, and lower stress. This could all help improve your circadian rhythm and improve your overall health and wellness.
