2020 has been a confusing and turbulent year, to say the least. It forced the entire world population to rethink how they live their lives collectively, and the fitness industry is no different. Even as things start to go back to a relatively normal condition, it is safe to assume that we will likely never go back to how things were before the coronavirus pandemic hitting the planet. 

In June 2020, it was reported by Verywell Fit that less than 50% of gym members would return to their gym in the following months. However, despite high hopes across the industry, a follow-up survey in December reported that only 15% of respondents plan on using the gym as their primary method of workout. 

These statistics clarify that the fitness and wellness trends have changed for good, and 2021 would see some innovations to these. Since it is expected that the COVID-19 pandemic would persist for at least months – if not years – following are some fitness and wellness trends that are likely to trend this year. 

Digital Fitness

After being locked inside their homes, most people had to turn to digital fitness in order to remain fit and healthy throughout the pandemics. Various fitness brands instantly caught onto the trends and started developing and releasing fitness apps, websites, and other digital platforms for people’s convenience. So it should come as no surprise that people won’t be giving up this comfort of workout at home anytime soon. 

It is estimated that even if gyms do open and start functioning like before, most people would still choose to workout digitally. This is because they have already become accustomed to app-based fitness, which is a lot safer and more convenient than having to go to the gym 4 to 5 times a week.

At-Home Workouts

This may seem very similar to digital fitness – and yes, it is tied closely to it – but this is actually more convenient. While digital fitness still requires you to follow a schedule and work with an instructor of an app (requiring constant internet access), at-home workouts can be very flexible and customizable. 

All you need to do is find a plan online and start following it according to your fitness requirements and convenience. Better yet, you can create your own bodyweight workout according to your specific needs and the muscle groups you need to work. With such convenience, it is very probably that at-home fitness will continue to be the dominant mode of exercise for a long while. 

Intuitive Eating 

Fitness and wellness aren’t all about exercise and physical activity – you also need to be mindful of what you put in your stomach. If you’re eating unhealthy junk food, the chances are that you won’t reap many benefits from your workout sessions. With all the free time most people had in 2020, and home delivery closed in most places for a significant period of time, people started becoming more intuitive of what they’re eating. 

Instead of counting calories, they started focusing on the quality of their food. Intuitive eating is all about paying attention to what’s on your plate and how it affects your body, mood, and energy levels. Once you start recognizing how food affects you, you’ll want to consume more of the foods that are good for your body and not just for your taste buds. At the same time, you start consuming less of what harms your body and health. It is believed that more and more people will take this approach towards eating in 2021. 

Emotional Wellness for All

As awful as most people found 2020 to be, there is one good thing that came out of it – the veil of stigma surrounding mental health really lifted itself. Everyone from celebrities to commoners started speaking about their internal struggles, especially during these unpleasant times. As a result, research surrounding the calming and mood-boosting benefits of meditation and mindfulness also grew significantly. 

Play Store and Apple Store exploded with apps that help one practice meditation and generally support mental health, such as Headspace, as well as online therapy platforms, such as Talkspace. One-quarter of the world’s population will suffer from a mental or neurological issue at some point in their lives. This means that about half a billion people are dealing with such situations at this very moment. However, unlike in the past where people would feel ashamed to talk about their mental health issues, it is expected that more people will be willing to seek help. Similarly, with the awareness around such issues increasing at a significant rate, more people will be able to spot signs of mental health issues in their loved ones that previously went unnoticed. 

Simpler Skincare Routine

In the last decade or so, we have seen a large number of skincare trends come on go. From the 10-step Korean skincare routines to an extensive amount of products required to use every night, skincare has just seemed to complicate itself through the years. 2020 changed all of this. The consumer audience has become more informed about skin care, leading to an increased interest in dermatologists’ expertise. 

People are no longer mindlessly consuming every skincare product that claims to improve the texture and tone of their skin. Instead, a new trend of a simpler skincare routine has begun. Such trends only require people to use products that directly benefit their skin. They’re no longer using seven different products that more or less serve the same purpose. 

Not only are these trends easy to follow, but they provide various benefits without being too taxing on you. So if you’re planning to be more fit and healthy through the next year, try practising one of these fitness and wellness trends; you’ll start noticing some benefits very soon.