December’s Wellness Moonshot: Express More Thanks

The Wellness Moonshot for December is to express more thanks. Science teaches us that living and leading with gratitude improves our mental, emotional, physical and spiritual health. Gratitude is part of the daily practice of virtually every world faith, according to psychology professor Robert Emmons. A heartfelt thank-you reminds us that we’re part of a human community, brings the spiritual into our lives, helps us forge more…

Wellness Evidence Study: Weight Training Reduces Anxiety

A new study from the University of Limerick-Ireland found that a basic, twice-weekly program of lunges, lifts, squats and crunches (sometimes using equipment like dumbbells) led to 20% better scores on tests for anxiety. The researchers noted that the effect was larger than expected, and with so much anxiety in the world, resistance training looks to be a promising stress-management tool. ACCESS STUDY

Meditation Up 2,900% Globally during Pandemic, According to Fitbit Data

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…

Six Wellness Trends for 2021

A panel at the recent Global Wellness Summit brought together top journalists and future-forecasters to predict the big wellness trends of 2021. Here are six trends they argued would gain serious momentum next year: A powerful new convergence between healthcare and wellness A big focus on strengthening the immune system Wellness expanding its boundaries to once-taboo issues like money, death and sex Nature, nature, nature…

Laws of Economic Scarcity: The Pandemic Crushes Wellbeing, So Wellness’s Value Surges

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…

Must-Reads from the Wellness World (Week of December 1, 2020)

The Evolving Travel ‘Experience’: Virtual, Actual and In Between–New York Times, November 12, 2020 Guided excursions have long been at the heart of travel, but like everything else, the pandemic disrupted such experiences, and many went virtual. But as travel begins to tick up, tour companies are adapting to social distancing in numerous ways. Some are complementing virtual experiences—for instance, guided chocolate tastings with chocolate shipped…