With more and more people interested in improving their health and well-being, various aspects of wellness have seen a significant increase in popularity. And this is great news! The growing interest in the wellness world has shed light on the importance of stress, sleep, self-care, exercise, mental health, natural alternatives, and more. And as demand increases, products, services, and experiences are stepping up to meet these growing consumer needs. From advancements in technology and newly formulated health foods, to wellness-inspired products and experiences, we’re seeing a major focus on wellness! And considering spring is synonymous with renewal and rejuvenation, what better time to refresh your well-being?
Ahead, spring wellness trends that will help you feel refreshed and renewed for the sunny season ahead!
Spring Refresh: The Top Wellness Trends to Try This Season
Proactive Seasonal Allergy Support
Though beautiful, the budding flowers of spring mean one thing: spring allergies. If you’ve accepted that sniffles and sneezing are beyond your control — not so fast! By taking proactive measures with your seasonal allergy support, you can reduce (and maybe even prevent) your seasonal symptoms the natural way. Here are some ideas:
- Make an immune-boosting smoothie with ingredients like berries, dark leafy greens, citrus, and ginger
- Book an acupuncture appointment, which has been shown to help with seasonal allergies
- Diffuse essential oils like lavender, eucalyptus, and peppermint in an essential oil diffuser
- Try natural herbs and supplements like nettles, quercetin, vitamin C, and probiotics, which are all thought to help support allergy relief
- Add a drizzle of local honey to your diet to help build your natural defenses
RELATED: 5 Natural Antihistamines That May Help Soothe Seasonal Allergies
Syncing Your Circadian Rhythm
Speaking of proactive spring health hacks, syncing your sleep cycle with the season is a trend you’ll want to get behind! Sleep syncing is a simple technique that involves aligning your sleep schedule with your body’s natural circadian rhythm. When balanced, you can optimize your body’s natural processes (such as metabolism, hunger, body temperature, and of course, sleep) to improve your overall health. The result? Better sleep, improved energy and productivity, and even reduced risk for health problems such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease!
Despite losing an hour of sleep during daylight saving time, proactively syncing your sleep schedule and circadian rhythm can help you spring toward with ease.
Here are some tips:
- Maintain a consistent sleep schedule: Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day — even on weekends!
- Embrace morning sunshine: Exposure to natural morning light helps regulate the body’s circadian rhythm and improve sleep quality.
- Limit (or avoid) screen time before bed: The blue light emitted from our devices can interfere with the body’s natural production of melatonin, our sleep hormone. Try to turn off your screen 1-2 hours before bed!
- Create a sleep sanctuary: Make sure your bedroom is cool, dark, and noise-free.
RELATED: 9 Tips For Getting Your Circadian Rhythm Back on Track
Support Your Immune System: Soak in the Spring Sunshine
After a long, dark winter, we’re ready for some sun! And aside from helping to regulate our circadian rhythm, exposure to natural light comes with many benefits for our health and well-being — especially when it comes to supporting our immune system.
For starters, exposure to natural sunlight stimulates the production of vitamin D in the skin, which plays a key role in the immune system. Acting as both a vitamin and hormone, vitamin D helps to regulate the immune response, reduce inflammation, and stimulate the production and activation of white blood cells.
Plus, research has shown that chronic stress can weaken the immune system. And lucky for us, a daily dose of sunshine has been shown to reduce stress! Try sipping your morning coffee outside, taking a sun-soaked walk, or meditating in nature — all you need is 5-15 minutes!
Plant-Based Eating for Spring
As a top food trend for the second year in a row, plant-based eating comes with so many benefits for your mind, body, and the environment. And with so many fresh fruits and veggies available, spring is a great time to incorporate seasonal produce into your diet! From berry-filled smoothies for breakfast to fresh vibrant salads for lunch to dinner dishes filled with locally-grown grilled veggies, there are so many ways to load up your plate. While commonly known spring foods like berries, asparagus, and avocados are great, why not try something new?
If you’re headed to the farmer’s market, here are some lesser-known spring foods that pack a powerful nutritional punch:
- Peas
- Artichokes
- Radishes
- Rhubarb
- Apricots
- Ramps
- Watercress
- Cherimoya (custard apple)
- Pineberries (white strawberries)
- Morel Mushrooms
The Power of Spring Cleaning: Refresh to Bust Stress
Did you know spring cleaning can help reduce stress and anxiety? According to a study published in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, people who described their homes as cluttered were more likely to report feeling depressed and fatigued than those who described their homes as restful and organized. Plus, by decluttering and organizing our space, we can boost our focus and productivity! A study published in the Journal of Neuroscience found that people who worked in an organized workspace were more productive and less distracted than those who worked in a cluttered environment.
Spring Skincare to Combat Winter Dryness
After the cold, harsh months of winter, our skin can feel dull, dry, and in need of some extra TLC. And while upping your hydration game, prioritizing SPF, and adding in more moisturizing serums can work wonders, there’s a new skincare hack in town: skin flooding.
Trending all over TikTok, “skin flooding” is the newest spring skincare hack to enhance skin hydration. The idea behind skin flooding is to ‘flood’ the skin with a lightweight, hydrating serum or mist, allowing it to fully absorb before applying any additional skincare products. Based on the thousands of positive reviews and more than 2 million views, why not flood your regime with a high-quality facial mist?
Bone Broth: The Ultimate Spring Wellness Tonic
While bone broth is nothing new — it’s been consumed for centuries as a homemade medicinal — this healing broth has gained major popularity in the wellness world over the past decade. And thanks to Tiktok, it’s only growing in popularity! Currently trending as a springtime health tonic, TikTok is promoting bone broth as a nutrient-rich recipe that can help support the immune system, improve gut health, and promote healthy skin, hair, and nails. That’s (definitely) not to say we’re on board with all social media trends. BUT, this one has the science to back it up!
Best of all, it’s just as nutritious as it is simple. You can grab a store-bought brand, follow a simple recipe, or get creative and make your own! Some TikTok users are sharing recipes for bone broth infused with spring herbs like parsley and dill, while others are sharing creative ways to incorporate bone broth into other spring dishes, such as soups and stews.
Merging Mental Health & Social Connection
I think we can all agree, winter can often feel isolating. For this reason, as we head into spring, it’s especially important to prioritize social connection and mental health! By doing so, we can help to combat these feelings, and instead, foster a community and sense of ‘togetherness’.
Maybe you plan an outdoor picnic, hike, or even just have a phone date to catch up and connect with friends and family. And don’t forget about movement and mindfulness practices like meditation and exercise! Plan a workout date with a friend, go grab a smoothie together, or try a local sound bath.
Try The Trend: Healthy Spring Hacks for a Healthy You!
If you’re looking for a Spring reset, look no further! These 2023 Spring wellness trends can help inspire and motivate you in the season ahead. Whether you embrace the sunshine with an outdoor walk or workout, hit the farmer’s market for some fresh spring produce, or boost your mood and mental health with self-care and sleep care, there are so many Spring wellness hacks at your disposal. Take advantage of this fresh seasonal start!
