Our Stress Relieving Wellness Trends article lays out the new trends that focus on personal stress relief with emotional, mental and physical well-being in mind.

‘Wellness’ has been a huge buzz word for a long time now, but since the pandemic it’s accelerated like never before. An increasing number of us are consciously trying to be healthier and happier – which is awesome.

But it can get tricky when there are so many products, services and influencers shouting about the ‘best’ way to look after ourselves.

Which is why, in this article we cover a wide array of topics affecting stress relief. Such as technology, lifestyle, community and popular innovations that are at the forefront of wellness as we enter 2022.

This article is ideal for those seeking to better understand modern approaches to stress relief, the pro’s, cons and key insights so readers can think for themselves and consider what makes sense for them for their own wellness journey.

But first, what is wellness? Here at Wellness Theory we believe wellness is about feeling energised and excited about life.

It’s about knowing how to navigate the highs and the unavoidable lows that can happen on life’s journey – with ease.

It’s unnecessary to compound unhealthy stress and experience the all but too common symptoms of a racing mind, explosive emotions and health issues that stress can bring.

Wellness is about thriving in our relationships, work, passions, environment, finances, spirit, personal growth, and impact.

But unfortunately, unhealthy stress gets in the way of wellness.

Which is why we’re sharing the hot topics of 2022.

This might seem like an eclectic mix of trends, but the this is how the wellness space is shaping up for the future. And unless you’re aware of them and reflecting on how they could affect your wellness journey, the likelihood is that you’ll get sucked into to the ones who market themselves the best.

And we don’t want that for you –

So, here goes, the top stress relieving wellness trends to look out for in 2022. 

The internet is getting bigger and bigger. The ‘Metaverse’ (a virtual reality space where we can interact like we do in ‘real’ life) has arrived and this is just the beginning.

More and more immersive digital spaces are being created which means we need to learn to navigate the physical world with the digital world.

Trend: Over the last few years, wellness apps have become increasingly popular and now, they’re evolving even more to offer immersive experiences. Including gamifying altered mindset, consciousness expansion, emotional relief and meditation pairing.

Insight: According to Cigna’s 360⁰ Well-Being Survey, in the UAE 22% of residence face unmanageable stress. Experiencing heightened stress levels, restlessness, and other mental health issues—whether that is due to an accelerated working environment, global civil unrest, the ongoing pandemic, among other things.(Ref1)

It’s encouraging individuals to take charge of their health. And given that the average UAE resident spends six hours per day glued to their smartphones (according to a nationwide YouGov/Omnibus survey*) often an app is the first place they look to feel more relaxed and restored as it’s easy and accessible.(*Ref 2)

Pro: Convenient, provides short-term relief, entertaining and provides basic education.

Con: More screen time, not getting to the root of an issue and not receiving personalised support.

Trend: Smart health hubs are now being designed for the home so we can keep track of various health-related metrics. These hubs can monitor medication, stress and sleep pattern-tracking. Here’s some of the most popular ones, Google Nest, Amazon Halo, Whoop, Fitbit Sense and Apple Watch Series 6.

Insight: We are familiar with relying on technology to help us maintain fitness routines, but it doesn’t stop there. There’s a demand for technology to seamlessly integrate into our routines for stress management and overall health too. Trackers now include physiological responses such as heart rate data, blood oxygen monitors and skin level moisture – helping us manage our wellness even more efficiently.

Pro: Health insurance companies are starting to offer better plans based on real-time data and it’s improving self-awareness.

Con: Losing mind-body connection and relying on tech to tell us how we feel. Most of these devices rely on Bluetooth which can be a detriment to health.

Trend: Tech fatigue is real. With countless zoom meetings, the dopamine hits of social media, the rise in gadgets, and the constant binge-watching of entertainment is causing us to be increasingly more exhausted. Combined with “doom scrolling", which is a psychological phenomenon where users scroll through bad news headlines on the Internet, even though the stories are creating unhealthy feelings is contributing to poor mental health and leading to burn out.

Insight: In order to mitigate this and be more productive in the long run, companies are introducing special features and products that will enforce them to take breaks, block distractions and be mindful of their energy levels . Entertainment production companies like Netflix and Disney are intentionally slowing down their rate of release to combat this too.

Pro: More time, increased concentration spans and more purposeful action.

Con: Not getting to the root core of why we want to doom scroll and binge in the first place.

How we spend our time has been put under the microscope. With the need to post “our best life” on social media, combined with the intensity of the pandemic, a lot of people are putting more thought into their lifestyle more than ever.

Here’s the top stress relieving wellness trends for lifestyle.

Trend: After spending so much time indoors, time outdoors has become a priority. Outdoor adventure activities and tours are seeing a surge in popularity, including cycling, hiking and forest bathing. Bringing the outdoors inside with house plants has also become essential for most too. The earthy tones and oxygen released promote stress-relief, plus they look good too.

Insight: Wellness has taken on new meaning since the pandemic. Looking to unplug and reconnect with the natural world is bringing us back to our ancestral roots. Time in nature is proven to boost our wellbeing which leads to better mental, emotional and physical health.

Pro: Lowers blood pressure, lower stress, heart rate, reduces inflammation, encourages movement and improves sleep.

Con: We can’t think of any!

The average life expectancy in UAE is now 78 compared to 40 years ago when the average was 68*. We’re living longer now than ever before thanks to medicine. However, the quality of life is now the main focus of longevity. The goal is to optimise our human experience to facilitate longer & better lives. *(Ref 3)

Trend: Coined by Dan Buettner, Blue Zones are identified as regions of the world where a higher than usual number of people live much longer and are happier and healthier than the average. The wellness industry is drawing inspiration from lifestyles in Blue Zones in order to provide unique enriching, longevity-enhancing experiences. This includes longevity focused diets, longevity focused wellness retreats and blue zone focused organisations.

Insight: The boom of the health and wellness movement, has led many to strive for a healthy mind, heart, body and soul which is creating happier, confident and energised individuals. Taking preventative measures for ageing is the natural evolution for wellness if we want to live even longer, and live well.

Pro: Live happier and healthier lives as we get older. Recognising ageing doesn’t have to mean deterioration.

Con: Blue zone approaches may not be suitable for everyone.

History shows that to-date alcohol plays a significant part in approximately 2 billion people’s lives. With over 76million people affected by alcohol use disorders including alcohol dependence and abuse*. Alcohol is a common crutch for dealing with stress, anxiety and depression. (Ref 4)

However increasingly more people are realising that alcohol is doing more harm than good for health and overall happiness. It’s proven that alcohol actually increases stress rather than relieves it.

Trend: There’s a new wave of bars creating a buzz without the booze. Since the Dry-January movement started in 2013 many are taking the challenge to lean into sobriety for life. Sober bars are popping up in major cities around the world and providing healthier alternatives. Socialising no longer needs to include a hangover.

Insight: Going alcohol-free isn’t just about stopping the drinking. It’s about transforming your relationship with what it means to drink. Learning who you are without alcohol is freeing and creates a new level of confidence, health and happiness.

Pro: Learn how to deal with raw emotions in a healthy way, socialising and connecting no longer needs to have conditions. Plus, it lowers cholesterol and stress levels.

Con: It might take time to adapt to an alcohol-free life personally and socially.

It’s time to stop boosting our immune system and start balancing all our health systems through consistent balance - so we don’t need to be boosted. It’s well-known that the systems in our body do not work in silo. When one system isn’t functioning well, it has a knock-on effect to all the systems in our body.

We’ve become obsessed with popping pills, superfoods, chewing gummies, guzzling drinks and dissolvable discs, eating magic jelly beans, and even using iv-drips to boost our wellbeing. Rarely do these support long-term change to our well-being. Often, they are taken with a ‘quick-fix’ mentality and do not support our systems significantly.

Trend: Evidence backed approaches to immune health, metabolic health, microbiome health, lymphatic health among many others combined with personalised attention is the future of sustainable wellness.

Insight: The industry is over-saturated with supplements and ‘magic bullet’ fix marketing. Which is causing beginners to be overwhelmed with options and unsure where to begin. By tuning in to our bodies internally instead of the external noise, we’ll be able to realise our personal needs.

Pro: Individuals start tuning into their own bodies effectively without the need to google or check social media for what they need. Plus we can focus on the functionality of our whole being which supports sustainable health.

Con: It can feel overwhelming to begin. It may take more time, energy and attention.

Trend: Natural alternative foods and technology has been on the rise for years but adaptogens are enjoying their time in the spotlight now. Frist identified back in 1947, adaptogens have become the latest natural remedy for stress relief. Adaptogens include herbs, mushrooms like ashwagandha and rhodila. They impact the release of cortisol in the body, and improve resistance to the physical and emotional effects of stress.

Insight: Reconnecting with natural sources is helping our bodies to remember what they are truly capable of. Aside from the stress busting properties of adaptogens they naturally improve overall feelings of wellbeing.

Pro: Less chemically processed products which are often just money-making scams are left on the back foot.

Con: Potential to become too dependent on external supplementations to deal with stress versus getting to the root cause of the presenting issue.

After spending so much time in isolation and restricted social situations in the last couple of years, we’ve remembered just how important community is. We are tribal by nature. Which is why when we don’t feel part of something, or like we belong, it’s natural for our stress levels to rise and unhappiness to set in. Here’s what’s happening in the wellness world to combat this.

Here’s the top stress relieving wellness trends for community.

Trend: Dating is often hard for a multitude of reasons but the soul purpose is to feed our need of connection. We’re seeing a significant rise in dating coaching and online platforms which are designed to coach individuals through the dating process whether it be in person or via digital apps.

Insight: Because of demand, dating coaches and platforms have had to start niching down so they can stand out from the crowd. Which has led to very specific support and matchmaking services like ‘vegan matchmaking’ and ‘digestive health specific’ dating apps.

Pro: Easier to meet people with similar interests, saves time, convenience, creates a comfortable environment to express personal information.

Con: Choosing our mate based on pre-existing conditions, without giving a ‘non-vegan/IBS sufferer’ the chance for compassion and understanding could limit us.

Unfortunately, in this day and age, we are still seeing a lot of discrimination when it comes to gender and sexuality. But the good news is – this is shifting!

Trend: Traditionally the LGBTQ+ community has been underserved when it comes to health and wellness. However, we are seeing more emphasis on more diverse well-being trainings, products and services centering around this community. For example, gender dysphoria therapy, transgender telehealth services , and social wellness via non-profits, tech and entrepreneurial spaces too.

Insight: Members of the LGBTQ+ community have needs and experiences that conventional health and wellness services have difficulty addressing. This has led to individuals not receiving the support they need with unique stressors they’re experiencing. But now, there’s better equipped and specialised services to take care of the LGBTQ+ community in respectful and adequate ways. In turn, allows individuals to feel comfortable and better supported as they work through and resolve their everyday stressors.

Pro: Inclusivity, equality, improved health, support and wellbeing.

Con: Potential to create even more separation and lack of understanding in the Non-LGBTQ+ community.

Trend: Pop-up experiences that are focused around social causes is a growing trend. But this is the first time we’re seeing mental health at the forefront. Creating opportunities for individuals to come together to understand and explore mental health is building a sense of community to those who need it most. Useful service providers are expanding their reach to support communities and educate people.

Insight: Community-building is crucial in reaching and helping people who’re suffering from emotional, mental and physical stress. Creating friendly spaces to share and support each other is building momentum for healing and long-term health and well-being.

Pro: Easier for people to get help, support and understanding for themselves or their loved ones. Useful service providers are helping more and more people in need.

Con: Can be intimidating to attend such a public space to get help and could deter those in need.

When it comes to stress relief there are hundreds of services, modalities and practices which can work. There is no one-size fits all approach which is why it’s essential for us to explore what works for us as individuals.

Here are the popular innovations at the forefront as we move into 2022.

Tangible therapy is the use of physical objects designed to relieve stress and anxiety.

Trend: Infrared sauna blankets, anti-stress seating, rhythmic music gloves and weighted robes are just a few of the objects on the market that are designed to provide touch-based therapeutic comfort. They are said to ease stress and anxiety.

Insight: We’re living in a time with heightened stress levels related to work pressures, household responsibilities and major world events which is causing people to look for relief in different ways. Before seeking professional help for growing stress, depression and anxiety, many are looking for gadgets and alternative options that can help them relieve stress fast.

Pro: These objects can help to relieve milder stress symptoms.

Con: We’re continuing to give away our natural healing abilities to external objects which can serve as a crutch. We can easily become reliant on them and neglect to understand what’s really going on inside which needs our attention.

Trend: Breathwork used to sit on the woo-woo side of wellness. However, there is even more science to back up claims that it positively impacts our physical, mental and emotional well-being. As we move into 2022, there are even more breathwork retreats and festivals popping up. Although breathing techniques are ancient practices, they are becoming more trusted today with holotropic, rebirthing, Hoff-style retention, pranayama and shamanic breathwork to name a few.

Insight: Our breath is the one gift every human being has access to in any given moment. When we choose to use it consciously, in a way that serves our overall well-being, not only can we be free from unhealthy stress – we can thrive.

Pro: Improves immune function, reduces inflammation, relieves stress, anxiety and depression, boosts energy and vitality, aids creativity and intuition, increases mindfulness and enhances feelings of connection and joy.

Con: When performed without a basic understanding of mental, emotional and physical status, it can have adverse effects and create even more stress. Always seek an experienced breathwork instructor for guidance.

Trend: CBD, cannabidiol, the herbal compound is quickly becoming the go-to supplement for 2022. It’s been on the rise in recent years with its oils but now we are seeing cannabis cafes popping up too. Alongside cannabis inspired menu’s, other edible products like gummies, lollies, baking goods and drinks are available. We’re even seeing it infused CBD in wellness apparel too!

Insight: Research* shows the herbal, non-intoxicating CBD helps with anxiety, stress, insomnia, chronic pain, arthritis and addiction. A lot of money is being invested into research and the expansion of CBD products, this is just the beginning. (Ref 5)

Pro: Positive impacts on mental, emotional and physical health such as: reducing chronic pain, anxiety, headaches, lowering cortisol, lowering blood sugars, supports cognitive health.

Con: It still has a negative connotation to ‘pot’ and ‘weed’. There are many illegitimate brands claiming they are healthy CBD products when they are made of fillers. *Always do you research & seek an expert before taking supplements/medications.

Trend: Brainwave entrainment like binaural beats, healing instruments like singing bowls and tuning forks, neurological music therapy and soundscapes for guided meditations are leading the way in sound therapy.

Insight: Research* is showing the various forms of sound therapy are dramatically reducing tension, anger, confusion, fatigue, anxiety and depressed moods. Companies like Wavepaths are using AI to make sound therapy accessible, enjoyable and personalised. When practiced safely sound therapy can allow us to explore personal growth, consciousness, and transformation. (Ref 6)

Pro: Promotes calmness and relaxation, unlocks creativity and flow. Improves emotional reconnection and mental states.

Con: Excludes those with hearing problems, it’s possible to trigger past painful memories, emotional flooding can occur, can be overstimulating for those already suffering.

Trend: Stress and sleep go hand in hand and as stress levels have increased so have the profits of the sleep services industry. It’s worth $49.4 billion and is still growing rapidly. Sleep coaches, sleep influencers, sleep apps are at the forefront.

Insight: It’s becoming popular knowledge in the mainstream that good quality sleep can reduce stress levels, yet due to the fast-paced, ‘always-on’ nature of the life, people are struggling now more than ever. Creating healthy sleep routines and cycles can be the difference between burn-out and brilliance.

Pro: Coaches keep us accountable. Sleep optimisation reduces stress, anxiety, irritability, boosts recovery, strengthens the immune system and allows us to problem solve effectively.

Con: Sleep coaches cost money. There’s no one-size fits all approach so following the latest influencer may not be right for you.

Trend: Education industries and Hollywood are paying attention to wellness. For wellness to be accessible to all – it has to be highlighted where our attention is. A fantastic example of this is Athleticon, founded by Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and Dany Garcia, which is a digital community and live event at the intersection of athletic, wellness and entertainment.

Insight: We are moving into an era of celebrities who are responsible about their influence. It’s not all about making money – it’s about making a statement and leaving the world better than they found it. They’re using their fame and resources to do good in the world. We’re seeing authentic role models who care about well-being. Another amazing example is Lady Gaga with the Born this way foundation,

Pro: Young people have positive role models to aspire to. Due to the global audiences these stars captivate, they impact billions of lives.

Con: Comparing our state of wellness to that of celebrities can create a cycle of stress in itself.

Final Words.

These are the stress relieving wellness trends to look out for in 2022. They reflect the ongoing conversations and latest research in wellness and stress relief.

We challenge you to think about what wellness means to you for the year ahead. The best wellness practices are the ones that get done.

Remember to keep it simple, listen to yourself and what works for you.

Fed up of tackling your stress and wellness alone?

Maybe you’ve been on a results rollercoaster for years? Getting results and losing them again?

Why not break the cycle this year and finally get to the root cause of what’s preventing you from lasting change?

If you want to make 2022 the happiest and healthiest year yet – let’s talk.

Until next time,

Be Well. Mean Well. And Make a Difference that Lasts.

Love Charlotte & Jonathan