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GDP and wellness make for bad bedfellows: measurements of economic growth/GDP only account for our “busyness,” or the more hours worked, the more GDP growth. The problem is working too hard entails decreasing rates of return (fewer units of GDP per extra hour worked) and causes endless suffering. By contrast, things that make us well (being with friends, exercising, etc.) contribute to people’s wellness, but not GDP. Where is the middle ground?

Read more for Malleret’s prediction: Wellness in the future will be simpler, less fancy and less expensive.

Ours are paradoxical times: on average globally, we’ve never had it so good (life expectancy, income per capita, etc.) and yet addiction, depression, anxiety and suicide rates are all up. The

scientific explanation: we produce too much dopamine (the instant “reward” neurotransmitter, whether delivered through sugar or social media) and not enough serotonin (the “contentment” neurotransmitter). We confuse pleasure and happiness.

Read more about how this leads to a prediction that people’s desire to reconnect with nature (at wellness retreats, etc.) and to exercise outside will grow powerfully. 

The recent Global Wellness Summit featured a historic line-up of integrative medical pioneers from Dr. Oz to Dr. Dean Ornish. Watch Dr. Andrew Weil’s keynote on how we can actually start helping people make healthy lifestyle choices – despite a sad lack of focus on prevention by insurers.

The second of GWI’s “Wellness at Work” Initiative’s new infographics: how employee engagement and wellness results in financially-healthy companies.