How to take care of yourself first

It’s no secret that South Africans have become more health conscious, especially after the year we’ve had.

While the topic of personal wellness was important before the pandemic, it grew stronger once COVID-19 hit. And whether you’ve started exercising more or are finally taking your vitamins, conversations around wellness have become more mainstream.

There are some great wellness trends we can’t wait to leave behind in 2020 (think quick detoxes, fad diets, and anti-masking, to name a few), but the following are worth considering as we move forward into 2021.

Better quality sleep, a key health trend

Who would have thought that sleep would become one of the top health trends in 2021? But after 2020, everything makes sense. Now that so many of us are working remotely from home, sleep is one of the biggest improvements to our daily schedules, along with putting in place a curfew at work.

Sleep is vital. There doesn’t seem to be a single major organ in the body or process in the brain that isn’t optimally enhanced by sleep — or impaired when not getting enough of it. Several international companies have started to support their teams either by implementing productivity limits or by providing on-site nap services, The Guardian reports.

Currently, the restorative industry is booming, highlighting more expensive technological sleep resources like gravity blanket to free-frequency music that promotes access to REM states. This boom fuels research and vice versa. From this upward spiral, there are indications that sleep quality has more of an impact than nutrition and exercise combined. Yes, combined.

Focus on mindful eating

COVID-19 has also proven to us that public health is essential to the economic and physical well-being of our entire country. One of the biggest topics that has come up over the past year is what we eat.

Health trends in 2021 include a notable increase in mindful eating or, as Forbes puts it, intuitive eating. There has been a noticeable increase in the number of people embracing food in all its forms, especially through recycling. Nothing new for those of us who hate to waste, it just means that “ugly” vegetables and old foods can be transformed into hearty and inventive meals – maggot cheese aside.

But getting back to mindful eating, it’s not about depriving yourself, it’s about setting a long-term goal to create a lifestyle of healthier and more sustainable eating habits. Gone are the fads of emergency diets and with them the feeling of food guilt.

When “radical self-care” is needed

Ever hear the term “radical self-care”?

Indiana University defines it as “the statement that you have a responsibility to take care of yourself before you try to take care of others.” Not so radical when you really think about it.

This includes but also goes beyond scented candles and bubble baths, alluding to doing what you really need to do to protect yourself and your own sanity before exerting energy on others. Radical self-care is really one of those health trends in 2021 for those who are just becoming more open to focusing on their mental health and making it part of their lives.

It’s a concept that has allowed us to embrace practices that keep us physically and psychologically healthy and fit, taking time to reflect on what matters to us and challenging ourselves to grow. More so, it’s about being more vocal (and less shameful) about the challenges we face and encouraging others to break the stigma and proactively explore ways to help themselves.

It’s time to send stress packets

Mention 2020 and most of us are sure to feel triggered. It was one of the most stressful years of our time and it led to a noticeable increase in mental health issues.

Active stress management is also linked to radical self-care and has led many people to consider supplements to support and manage their mental health and high stress levels (more on that below).

Nutritional supplements containing ingredients like magnesium, B-complex vitamins, herbal adaptogens, chamomile, and CBD oil have all grown in popularity. The nutritional supplement industry has seen its strongest growth in more than two decades, with a whopping 12.1% increase in 2020, according to Healthline.

Along with supplements, many have also adopted a relaxation practice when it comes to stress management, especially those now working from home. From short yoga poses to affirmations and deep breathing activities, many new tips have come out of our experience working remotely during the pandemic. We learn to center ourselves and to come out of freeze, fight or flight stress reactions on a daily basis.

Better immunity a vital health trend

Recent reports also show that there has been a 50% increase in the number of consumers looking for supplements and superfoods that boost the immune system. Products that contain ingredients like zinc, selenium, B-complex vitamins, and vitamins C and D have all grown in popularity over the past year. Just like your more alternative and natural health remedies like elderberry, echinacea, astragalus, turmeric and ginger.

The future of immune health requires more research and evidence-based approaches, with personalized nutrition leading the way.

Remember that before taking any new supplements, you should always consult with a qualified healthcare provider, especially if you are already taking medication for depression, anxiety, or other mental illnesses.