6 Wellness Trends Everyone (Including Me) Will Be Trying in 2021

1. Athflow Is the New Athleisure

Coined by the folks at Pinterest, athflow is the confluences of athleisure and elegance. “Flowy pants, casual jumpsuits and oversized outfits will replace athletic clothes as the new go-to loungewear.” Athflow is professional enough for the home office, stretchy enough for the yoga mat and comfy enough for the couch. Searches are up for oversized outfits, soft outfits (by 185 percent!), cotton jumpsuits and more. Rather than living in spandex leggings in 2021, opt for something a bit more elevated but no less cozy. We’ll be stocking up on matching sets from Naadam, cashmere jumpsuits from Everlane and pretty much anything and everything Eileen Fisher.

2. Manifestation

Amidst the kookiness of 2020, it seems we’re all just looking for a little positivity in our lives. According to Pinterest data, searches for manifestation techniques are up by a whopping 105 percent. Think of manifestation as bringing something tangible into your life through attraction and belief. It’s similar to the popular Law of Attraction, a philosophy of the New Thought Movement (a mind-healing movement that originated in the United States in the 19th century and is based on religious and metaphysical concepts). Basically, it states that if you focus on the good and positive things in your life, you’ll attract more good into your life. On the flip side, if you're frequently focused on the negative, that’s what will be attracted into your life. Adherents say the Law of Attraction can help with everything from getting your dream job to manifesting a romantic partner, while detractors dismiss the concept as metaphysical pseudoscience. (We're currently manifesting a smooth and speedy rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine—but that's just us.) Whether you’re on board with the idea or are just looking to be more positive (which many of the law’s principles focus on), here are five ways to use the Law of Attraction to achieve your goals.

3. Mental Fitness

A survey in JAMA, which included 1,441 respondents from during COVID-19 and 5,065 respondents from before the pandemic, found the prevalence of depression symptoms was three times higher during the COVID-19 pandemic than before, and all you have to do is look around your own household or social media feeds to find people who are struggling to stay positive and connected to their emotions. In 2021, look out for mental fitness to become just as important than physical fitness. This might mean turning to text or meditation-based therapy apps like Calm, Headspace or Shine, a mental health app from Marah Lidey and Naomi Hirabayashi that's bridging the gap in the wellness sector when it comes to the lack of resources for BIPOC. Or it could mean adding positive affirmations to your morning routine. Basically, expect to see people putting a greater focus than ever on maintaining and improving their mental health. (According to PitchBook data, venture capital funding of U.S. mental health startups totaled $1.37 billion through the third quarter of 2020, which outpaced the $1.06 billion in 2019.)

4. Aesthetically Pleasing Home Gyms

You may not have cared about the aesthetic appeal of dumbbells when they lived at your gym and not in your living room, but now that they’re constantly on display, you’re starting to think otherwise. Companies are coming out with fitness equipment that doubles as chic decor, like the sleek wooden dumbbells above (from $229) that also come with matching resistance bands by Kenko. Or the U-bend design by Equipt ($129) that we genuinely mistook for art. Even the Mirror, a smart mirror that doubles as a virtual fitness studio, has seen a major boost in users. Expect to see more innovative equipment designs hitting your Instagram feed in the near future.

5. Touchless Relaxation

Spa services like facials and massages have long been used as a form of self-care. Since the pandemic began, however, folks have been wary of any treatment that involves being touched—especially on the face—by a stranger’s hands. That’s why people have opted, and will continue to opt, for touchless spa services. Think: cryotherapy, salt caves, infrared saunas and more. Basically, anything that will make us feel more relaxed and grounded without any unnecessary physical contact.

6. Climatarianism

With the issue of climate change on everyone’s mind, 2021 will likely see plant-based diets become the status quo. Experts agree that food production is a significant contributor of global greenhouse gas emissions, and according to one recent Yale University study, 94 percent of Americans say they are willing to eat more plant-based food, while more than half say they would eat less red meat. Beyond reducing our carbon footprint with dinner, PureWow’s food editor, Katherine Gillen, predicts consumers will be shopping more mindfully, looking to add more locally sourced ingredients and sustainably packaged goods to their pantries. Additionally, data from Instacart shows that searches for local, women-owned and BIPOC-owned retailers and brands are steadily increasing.