With the coronavirus pandemic shaping our entire world in 2020, it’s no wonder we’re seeing its influence extend into lifestyle and wellness trends in 2021.
“I think the pandemic will continue to lead trends for at least 18 months. Even with the vaccine, ”Jane Buckingham, founder and CEO of forecasting and consulting firm Trendera, told USA TODAY.
So what can we expect in 2021? Imagine an increase in portable fitness trackers, wellness phone apps, and an increase in work-life balance and eco-friendly products. Plus, experts expect you to hear a lot more about the Norwegian friluftsliv concept. But more on that later.
Here are some of the more sensible trends you can expect to see in 2021:
In terms of intellectual well-being and self-care, Dayna Isom Johnson, a trend expert at Etsy, says “little luxuries” and “wellness-focused rituals” will be popular. This includes such undeniable things as invigorating workouts and long baths. Another trend that Johnson says will “stand out” is convenience craftsmanship.
“This is the time to create, to develop a new skill and it can definitely serve as a form of empowerment and non-public grounding,” she says.
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Buckingham predicts that we will also see more focus on tracking wearable personal health devices like the Apple Watch and Fitbit to track and motivate movement, temperature, hormones, and enzymes.
It also predicts that there will be an increase in meditation and treatment programs like Calm that can relieve stress.
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It would possibly be the ‘hygge’ buzzword for trends from years gone by, the Scandinavian practice of comfort, but Johnson predicts that a Norwegian concept will be in full swing in 2021 called friluftsliv (pronounced free-loofts-liv). Friluftsliv, which translates to “outdoor living” in English, is an appreciation of being outdoors and incorporating outdoor activities into your life.
“It puts nature at the forefront of everything you do in your life,” Johnson said. “In 2020, I think this was the first time that many of us gave a sense of appreciation and connection to the outdoors, so I believe that by 2021 that sensitivity will continue to increase.
Buckingham sees an increased interest in the outdoors coming into people’s homes, with “more outdoors coming indoors” with things like plants and other herbal materials.
Buckingham adds that there will also be increased interest in desktop gym equipment like the Peloton and trampolines. While the trampoline trend may seem like a throwback to its childhood, upcoming trampoline workouts use smaller devices at home. Jumping on trampolines burns more calories than jogging, according to a NASA study. The strategy is already popular with celebrities like Eva Longoria and Goldie Hawn, who posted their rebound training while listening to Dua Lipa on Instagram.
Portable weights and training accessories, such as Bala bracelets, will also be on the job, making it less difficult to “exercise without taking up space,” says Buckingham.
Buckingham also sees the great outdoors as a greater interest in slow travel, which is about offering an escape and experiencing a location in an original way.
“It also has to do with, when you are successful in a destination, opting for less of the things that get your adrenaline pumping, like going to an amusement park or jumping out of a plane, opting for a more rewarding destination. For your brain and your sanity, “he explained. ” Much more than being in nature, practicing presence and savoring the little wonders of the world. “
Melissa Rifkin, a registered dietitian and nutrition influencer based in New York, predicts increased interest in chicory root as an option for coffee as a larger intestine conditioning trend.
“It definitely has fiber and a lot of antioxidants, so I think that takes a lot of push too,” he says. “It also contains prebiotic fiber that leaves bacteria in the digestive tract, which helps reduce inflammation and obtain better mineral absorption. “
Triniti Gawthrop, founder of Ami Wellness, a herbal supplement company targeting women’s wellness challenges, says she’s seeing “more and more people interested in preventive care,” especially by making links to gut fitness. for immunity.
Cherie Hoeger, CEO and co-founder of menstrual care company Saalt, predicts that 2021 will see increased demand for green menstrual products.
“Especially in this pandemic situation, many other people are more aware of disposables and the fragility of our chain of origin,” he said, explaining that his own company had shown an increase in demand for these. products.
Hoeger said his company had seen a 60% increase in sales from March to a year earlier.
In addition to sustainable products, the demand for herbs is expanding as vegan and plant-based lifestyles continue to increase.
Rifkin said he sees other people “turning more to a healthy technique for caffeine and focus,” such as opportunities for coffee and protein bars that come with mushroom adaptogens, powdered superfoods that can “help decrease stress, intellectual clarity and give more energy. “
“I think the plant you see everywhere,” added Gawthrop. “We have so many herbal substitutes now, in everything from food to cosmetics to wellness, so I think it will continue to grow as other people make herbs a component of their fad. of life.
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If 2020 has been a pivotal year, then 2021 will be about “restoring that and that function,” Johnson said.
For some, this will mean that their area will “function, be fashionable, and still feel like home. ” On that note, Etsy saw a 399% increase in searches for wall or folding desks in 2020 and a 134% increase in searches for partitions.
“Again, it’s about making sure your area is functional but distinguishable – OK, this is my painting area, this is my home area and here is the school area if you have children,” she says. . You see other people need to be able to create functional areas that they paint for them and not just, ‘Let me throw a table on my kitchen table. ‘ Array . . . People need to bring balance and stability to their painting areas. “
2021, work-life balance will not impede internal organization. Hoeger predicts that this trend will trickle into people’s prioritization tasks as well.
“I think the pandemic just exacerbated this extra because other people saw the wishes of this work-life balance and the wishes of the family circle have become more important,” Hoeger said, adding that he saw other people flock in. mass to brands that “really listen” to the wishes of their employees. “
According to Pinterest’s 2021 trend forecast, athflow, which is “when athletics meets elegance,” will be in the new year. “Athflow is professional enough for the ‘office’, stretchy enough for the yoga mat, and comfortable enough for the couch,” says the trend report, adding that the site has noticed increased interest in styles like overalls. . Cotton and fluffy clothes.
Buckingham echoed this trend, saying it predicts “a continued expansion in athletics, but also an expansion in comfortable but more glamorous clothing when you need to look while staying comfortable at home. “