Hello and welcome to The Healthy Coconut Blog. This blog is dedicated to bringing you information on trauma and trauma healing from a holistic perspective. I’m Gabbie Bodkin, a licensed mental health counselor, and this blog’s author. Today I decided to review some of the wellness trends that are making their mark in this 2024 new year.
Before we dive into my top 5 favorites, let it be known that in the category of wellness, any healthy attempt to enhance one's well-being gets a thumbs up from me. That being said, it can be overwhelming to know what wellness trends to prioritize as there are so many trends out there and only so much time in a day or feasibility in practicing each wellness hack. My recommendation is that if you find something that works for you and you can be consistent in the practice then stick with it.
Okay, here are my top 5 wellness trends of 2024:
Science-backed biohacking
According to a “Future of Wellness Survey” by McKinsey & Co, science-backed data is driving the market for wellness-related products. With an influx of information out there, you must know how to find credible sources for information. You can look for university publications, authors, or individuals who are deemed credible or experts in their field or a particular topic, or Google Scholar can be a great source of information.
2. Vagus Nerve Stimulation
Forbes magazine noted that “vagus nerve stimulation” has been viewed over 55 million times on TikTok. The Vagus nerve most commonly is referenced in trauma therapy because it helps the nervous system switch from a stressed response state (i.e. fight or flight) to a relaxed state (i.e. rest and digest). As a society more and more people are operating in a stress-responsive state more often than not and therefore brain and body connection and the ability to reset the nervous system is a desired tool everyone could benefit from learning.
3. Quest for longevity
The “I’ll sleep when I’m dead” mentality is more commonly fading away as people understand living life to the fullest and for as long as possible is more desirable than ‘hustle culture.’ Things like blue zone lifestyles, mind-body connection, gut-brain health, and prioritizing movement and sleep are now what the hype is about.
4. Decreased Social Media Use
While social media has its advantages, people are spending more time watching others live life than living their own lives. This time-warping habit has been correlated to increased symptoms of depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. This information is noted as a general conclusion based on my observations in the field of counseling as well as the observations of other leading therapists in the field. The research data on this correlation is more elusive given the evolving social media trends coupled with issues with confounding variables in experimental or case study examples.
5. More time in nature
With the reduction of social media use, people have more time to engage in wholesome practices such as spending time in nature. There is a pull towards solidarity and a reduction of noise among the daily routines and business of life. People are finding ways to incorporate walks outside, picnics in parks and just getting outdoors more regularly. One study analyzed the benefits of time in nature as it relates to both physical and psychological outcomes. Results indicate that time in nature can improve sleep quality, improve mood, and reduce stress, to name a few. Findings also suggest that benefits can be gained from any time in nature, even if it's a short duration.
Thank you all for reading this post. As always, I hope you found this information useful. This information is purely intended to inform, not to treat. If you are struggling with brain health issues or childhood trauma, speaking to a healthcare professional is recommended to receive a specific plan for treatment and healing based on your individual needs. I’m a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, and I help adults heal from childhood trauma. Follow along for more self-help tools and psychoeducation on trauma and trauma healing.
You can also check out my website, thehealthycoconut.com or Instagram the_healthycoconut for more resources or to book a free consultation with me. If you found this blog helpful, please like and subscribe to support these resources.
Safety Disclaimer:
If you find any of this information triggering or do not feel safe being alone with your thoughts, call a support person or 911 if you feel you are at risk of hurting yourself or others.
Sources:
Kross, E., Verduyn, P., Sheppes, G., Costello, C. K., Jonides, J., & Ybarra, O. (2020). Social Media and Well-Being: Pitfalls, Progress, and Next Steps. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 25(1). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2020.10.005
Zhang Z, Ye B, Yang W, Gao Y. Effect of Nature Space on Enhancing Humans’ Health and Well-Being: An Integrative Narrative Review. Forests. 2024; 15(1):100. https://doi.org/10.3390/f15010100