With less than a month left of 2024 and the New Year inching closer, the trend of well-being is gaining momentum in lots of different ways. One of those ways is the “Winter Arc” TikTok Viral Trend that starts each year on October 1st and ends on January 1st. The wellness trend is a commitment to refocus our daily routines and habits before the first of the year, which enables us to lock in a healthy lifestyle and beat the temptation to eat more, be a couch potato and lax mental wellness during the cold winter months.
The Wellness Trend Gaining In Popularity
The rising popularity of the wellness trend is partly an outgrowth of an unwillingness of younger members of the American workforce to pay the price of burnout as a “normal” side effect of hard work. There’s science-backed evidence that lends credibility to the popularity of the wellness trend. And recent data show that some workers are happier and experience more well-being in some jobs over others.
Recent research also underscores the powerful link between physical activity and longevity, highlighting that consistent physical activity is one of the most important factors to extend lifespan and reduce chronic disease risk. Dr. Sajad Zalzala, a leader in longevity medicine and the co-founder of AgelessRx, embraces this principle daily. He uses a walking pad to get over 8,000 additional steps a day, directly supporting his cardiovascular health and overall longevity.
Further evidence that the wellness trend is making traction can be found in Wellhub’s recent 2024 Year in Review Trends Report that reveals how well-being is taking hold in the country. The new report analyzes global data from more than three million Wellhub subscribers across 19,000 corporate clients, uncovering key trends shaping the future of workplace wellness. Here are key findings from the report:
- “Wellness hour” has become the new happy hour. Tuesdays at 6:00 p.m. is the peak time for wellness activities across the globe, while Sunday saw the lowest level of activity.
- Employees value a hybrid approach to wellness. Employees who use both in-person and digital wellness options are twice as engaged as those who only use one or the other.
- “Sunday Scaries” are real, with employees prioritizing their wellness the least on Sundays.
- Strength training remains popular, but this year Yoga saw a seven percent year-over-year increase in usage, making it the fastest-growing workout genre.
- Nutrition and healthy habits saw significant growth, with nutrition usage up 112% year-over-year and healthy habits up 71% year-over-year.
- Public Sector employees prove to be the most active workforce. The government/public sector had the highest engagement with wellness activities, slightly edging out employees in financial services and technology.
I spoke by email with Cesar Carvalho, CEO and co-Founder of Wellhub. He told me that we’re seeing a shift in how employees approach wellness and cited a growing focus on nutrition, healthy habits and mental well-being in addition to fitness. “Our millions of subscribers are embracing this holistic approach, utilizing both digital and in-person options to prioritize their health,” Carvalho states. He also mentions that his organization partners with companies to provide affordable and comprehensive well-being plans to meet the diverse needs of their employees. “This not only leads to reduced healthcare costs, but also fosters a more engaged and productive workforce, creating a win-win situation for everyone involved.”
A Final Wrap About The Wellness Trend
Wellhub’s findings reveal a shift in how employees prioritize their well-being. The study shows how traditional wellness programs have evolved to embrace a more holistic approach with a focus on nutrition, healthy habits and emotional well-being in addition to physical fitness.
According to Carvalho, Wellhub’s data uncovers shifts in how people are approaching their well-being—fitness remains at the core, he points out, but people are going beyond the gym to embrace both mental and physical health.
“With the lines between work and personal life blurring, employees are seeking personalized wellness options that they can easily integrate into their daily routines,” he explains. “This shift is evident in the rise of after-work workouts, more people working out at gyms but also using digital apps and a focus on digital nutrition and mindfulness.”
As we enter 2025, Carvalho says he believes the implications of the wellness trend are clear, suggesting that well-being is like a fingerprint. “Everyone has their own,” he concludes. “The way employees prioritize their well-being is unique to them. And employers need to treat it that way. Offering flexible, accessible options helps employees build habits that stick, fostering happier, more resilient teams.”