Subjective wellbeing is all about expectations. For years, philosophers, psychologists and some economists have been arguing that a “well-lived,” happy life is one without too many expectations, hence the formula: wellbeing = reality – expectations (attributed to two economists (Baucells and Sarin) who published Engineering Happiness in 2012). Tailoring expectations is perhaps the trick: Many people in Finland and Denmark, consistently ranked as the world’s…
Q&A: Harvard’s Dr. Steven Lockley on the Future of Wellness: Our Natural, Internal “Circadian Time” Becomes as Important as Artificial Clock-Time The GWI has a new Q&A with Dr. Steven Lockley of Harvard Medical School (one of the world’s top experts on circadian rhythms) and circadian tech pioneer, Timeshifter CEO Mickey Beyer-Clausen on how the future of health and wellness is solutions that make our…
The exceptional severity of recent and current heat waves and/or droughts affecting several areas across the globe (from the West Coast of Northern America to the Russian Arctic and Madagascar) is yet another wake-up call for policymakers and civil society. Climate change is accelerating, and so are policies susceptible to mitigate its risks. Listed companies should start preparing to disclose in a standardized manner the…
Physical activity is intrinsic to wellness, and it is no surprise that fitness has long been a major segment and a key driver of the wellness industry. In Move to be Well: The Global Economy of Physical Activity, GWI estimated that global consumers spent an estimated $108.6 billion (an average of $384 per participant) on doing fitness activities in 2018. When most people think about…
The recent landmark court ruling ordering Shell to accelerate its decarbonization plan and the remarkable related battle that just pitted Engine No.1 against ExxonMobil (in which the small activist fund holds a mere 0.02%) is further proof the writing is on the wall for all large greenhouse emitters. The wider lesson: Any company in any industry unprepared for the accelerating radical energy transition is bound…
Practices such as yoga and tai chi have commanded a following for thousands of years, but the mass, worldwide adoption of mindful movement is a relatively recent phenomenon. Over the last couple of decades, many of these ancient or long-standing practices have been co-opted by the world of fitness, adapted to appeal to modern gym-goers. Alongside this trend, our concept of exercise and fitness is…
