Fitbit recently aggregated its user activity data (March–September 2020) to see how people worldwide are adapting their fitness and wellness practices during the pandemic while gyms have been shuttered and people are forced to stay at home. The data shows that people are desperate for stress relief. Meditation saw a massive 2,900% increase globally (New Zealand saw the largest spike in meditation at 9,017%, followed…
The least we can say is that the current situation (after 8+ months of the pandemic) and the difficulties coming ahead are not conducive to greater wellbeing and happier societies. Indeed, there is so much going on that makes us collectively unwell and affects our sense of subjective wellbeing. In no particular order, some obvious “wellbeing-crushers”: anxiety, lockdowns, social and political polarization, deep uncertainty about…
A new study from Swedish researchers found that people with depression and other mental health issues slept much better through the night when using a weighted blanket. At the end of the experiment, 42% of those that slept with an 18-pound blanket scored so low on the Insomnia Severity Index to be considered in remission from their sleep troubles, compared with 3.6% of the control…
An important wellness trend that stems from COVID is the rising emphasis we’ll place on the quality of air as a prerequisite for both physical health and personal wellbeing. A new Harvard study conducted in more than 3,000 US counties revealed a clear and strong correlation between higher levels of particulate air pollution and higher mortality rates caused by COVID-19. It concluded that every increase of…
Predictably, the pandemic is causing a devastating wave of mental health issues. The advocacy group Mental Health America recently reported that the number of people seeking help for depression and panic attacks has increased dramatically over the past few months. This, in turn, is leading to burgeoning numbers of individuals and digital tools offering help and advice in the field of mental wellbeing. Having examined…
A new double-blinded randomized trial from Stanford University found that six weeks of electroacupuncture (which uses a small electric current passed between needles) helped people with chronic lower back pain: They reported improvements in walking comfortably, standing for longer periods, bending and kneeling, etc. It did not seem to help with pain intensity. The researchers concluded that with back pain, it’s best to use a…
