From mindful drinking to meditation, over the years there’s been many a wellness trend that we’ve hopped onboard with. And 2023 will be no different, as a whole host of new wellness trends will make their way onto the self-care scene.
We consulted a handful of health experts, wellbeing influencers and trend forecasters to find out about the wellness trends that’ll dominate 2023. So, whether you’re looking to spruce up your self-care routine or dip your toe into the world of mindfulness, we’ve got the inside scoop on all the up-and-coming wellness trends to have on your radar over the next year…
Wellness trends 2023
Ayurvedic medicine returns
If you grew up in the early noughties, you might be familiar with the term ‘Ayuverdic medicine’ which was a hot-topic in the wellness world at the time. Ayurvedic medicine – or ‘Ayurveda’ as it is sometimes known – is one of the world’s oldest holistic healing systems and was developed more than 3,000 years ago in India.
Ayurvedic medicine is based on the belief that health and wellness is hooked on the mind, body and spirit, with the main goal being to promote good health, rather than fight specific illnesses.
“We’re seeing a resurgence of interest in remedies and ingredients of the past, with many once dismissed as old wives’ tales by Western medicine now experiencing a rise in popularity as they’re being combined with scientific scrutiny,” explains Alex Glover, senior nutritionist at Holland & Barrett.
“Take the ancient Indian medical system of Ayurveda, which believes that health problems happen when our mind, body and spirit are out of kilter,” he adds, noting that next year we can expect to see more “natural ingredients” being incorporated into our wellness routines as these have “been at the core of Ayurvedic practice for thousands of years.”
Get ahead of the trend now by picking up Ashwagandha, which Glover points out “can support emotional balance, relaxation and general wellbeing.” Similarly, Curcumin (the main compound in turmeric) is another natural ingredient to add to your basket as it “supports mobility and flexibility and is widely used in joint supplements” as well as potentially “helping the body counteract the effects of chronic stress.”
Rest, rest and, oh, more rest
In 2023, there’ll be less #girlbossing and more #girlresting. Yep, naps are in… officially! “My therapist said ‘if you’re resting but you’re guilting or shaming yourself for not being productive the whole time, that’s not rest’, and she told me that’s why I’m chronically tired,” one person wrote on TikTok, as someone else wrote: “Reminder that it’s okay to have days off. It’s okay to rest your body. It’s okay to be unproductive.”
Someone else simply said: “No girlboss, no girlslay, just girlresting.”
Spotlight on superfoods
If, like us, you spend approximately 92% of your life on TikTok, then you’ll probably have seen the #seamossgirlies hashtag on more than one occasion. Yes, it’s true, the likes of sea moss and mushrooms had a moment in 2022, but that’s nothing compared to how big they’ll be in 2023.
In fact, according to the experts at Holland & Barrett, we can expect to see superfoods take center stage in the next couple of months, meaning sea moss and mushrooms – among other superfoods (more on that in a minute) – will become a regular in your weekly shop.
“We’ll be eating the rainbow with plant-based foods, functional mushrooms and adaptogens – all of which can help your body deal with stress,” says Rachel Chatterton, head of food development at Holland & Barrett, when asked about what’ll be on our plates in 2023. “People are moving towards foods that multi-task – from helping to relieve stress, to helping with better sleep and relaxation, energy and immunity.”
As for how we can get those superfoods into our diet, Chatterton explains that “superfood sprinkles” will be big. “From earthy fungi to underwater finds, nutrient-packed sprinkles go mainstream as we turn to micro algae and water-based plant protein,” she says. “Spirulina, the algae superstar, is back – expect to see it added to smoothies and raw juices. It’s highly nutritious and some studies show that it may improve cholesterol and reduce blood pressure.”
As well as spirulina, sea moss and mushrooms, other superfoods expected to become a staple include kelp and dates. Yum!
“The craze for dates isn’t new – they’ve been cultivated and enjoyed since the days of ancient Mesopotamia,” the experts over at Whole Foods Market tell us. “Now, thousands of years later, the dehydrated fruit often referred to as ‘nature’s candy’ is having a major renaissance as a sweetener – not only for at-home bakers, but also in the form of pastes and syrups, and hidden in everything from ketchup to overnight oats. With a classic caramel note we can all get behind, dates are having their moment.“
It starts with the gut
We all know that maintaining a healthy diet and active lifestyle is a sure fire way to keep our body fit, but looking after our insides is important too. Whilst the thought of caring for your gut doesn’t sound as sexy as getting your sweat on at the gym, it’s something we should all be focussing on in 2023.
As for how to give our gut the love it deserves, Holland and Barrett’s Chatterton explains that fermented foods are an easy way to start your gut-health journey. And that’s not all, in 2023 we can expect to see chickpeas having a moment – specifically chickpea flour, which can be used in baking among other things – as well as seed spread and alternative milks. Take chia seed milk, for example, which Chatterton says is a “nutritionally supercharged option, containing omega-3, calcium and MCT (medium-chain triglycerides).”
Orgasms. Multiple orgasms
PSA: sex is self-care, which is why 2023 is alllll about having orgasms – and lots of them! In fact, the sexperts over at Flo Health have given an insider tip on the world of pleasure in 2023, revealing that searches for ‘multiple orgasms’ have risen on the app and as such, will be the sexual delight du jour! As for how to have yourself a multiple orgasm sesh, Flo Health’s General Practitioner and Medical Director, Dr. Claudia Pastides, tells us: “Generally, multiple orgasms are reported to occur in two ways – it’s either a repeated orgasm or a sequential orgasm.”
“[A repeated orgasm] basically means there are breaks in between the orgasms. You have one orgasm, then your arousal drops to some degree; there’s a little break, followed by more stimulation, and then you orgasm again,” adds Flo Health’s sex therapist, Jordan Rullo. “[With a sequential orgasm], you can think about this as just one long orgasm, where your arousal does not decrease. It can last anywhere from 20 to 60 seconds, bringing these continual waves of orgasm with no break in between.”
To have another orgasm after your first one, here’s what you need to do. “Whatever stimulation you used, try to keep doing that. Does that help you reach an additional orgasm — or does that feel way too stimulating?” says Rullo. “If it feels too stimulating, try slowing down or taking a break after your initial orgasm before gradually building back up. Research shows that for partners who achieve multiple orgasms this way, that break in between orgasms is typically no longer than three minutes. So give yourself a one to three minute break before slowly starting to rebuild.”
“[If neither of those work], then you’ve really got to get creative!” she notes. “Ask yourself, ‘What’s a totally different type of stimulation that I wasn’t using before?’ Like if the first orgasm was with manual stimulation or penetration, for the second one, maybe you want to pull out a vibrator.”
“Unfortunately, there’s no playbook for this. But equally, there is no right or wrong approach, so do whatever feels comfortable and pleasurable for you,” Dr Pastides reminds us. “Whatever approach you take, try not to overthink the end goal. Expectations can lead to pressure, and pressure can lead to anxiety — which dramatically reduces our ability to ‘function’ during sex.”
“Instead, try to be in the moment and tune into the physical sensations of sex,” she continues. “Think less about the end goal and more about how pleasurable it is.”
Move with your menstrual cycle
With the increase in popularity of period tracking apps like Flo, more and more of us are getting in tune with our menstrual cycle. In 2023, that’s expected to continue as women and people who menstruate adapt their workouts according to the various cycles of their period. It’s something we’ve already seen start to trickle out on TikTok, where beginners to the trend can find plenty of useful tips about understanding how to pair your workouts to your period.
Sober curious and curioser
With the country locked down in recent years due to the pandemic, some people turned to midday cocktails to pass the time at home – which unsurprisingly proved not to be good for our health. In fact, government statistics revealed that there was a 58.6% rise (between March 2020 and March 2021) in people reporting that they were drinking alcohol at higher-risk levels.
It’s no wonder then, that in a post-pandemic world people are reevaluating their alcohol consumption – and Gen Z are leading the way.
Next year, we’ll continue to see sober curiosity and mindful drinking becoming more commonplace, with teetotal celebrities like Bella Hadid and Miley Cyrus acting as sources of inspiration.
