Covid-19, Health and wellness

Top 10 Wellness Trends to Watch Out For in 2023

A woman doing yoga on a rock

Pre-COVID times were definitely simpler and were marked by undisrupted routines like offline fitness sessions, regular meet-ups with the therapist, experiencing the rejuvenating gift of touch from the masseuse, and so much more.

But, the pandemic has been difficult for everyone. According to a study, about 4 in 10 adults in the US have reported symptoms of anxiety, depressive disorder, and situations linked to poor mental health outcomes like job loss and isolation. 

Whilst the fact that crisis struck in the worst possible manner and everyones’ routines were badly disrupted, the year did teach everyone, including businesses, to adapt to what hit all of us. And the wellness industry is not far behind.

The wellness trend curve has had a drastic change during the pandemic. There has been an emergence of numerous new trends that health and wellness industries have adopted. 

Listed below are the top wellness trends 2023 will see on a rise:

  1. 2023 – The new face of self-care
  2. The new era of redefined food habits
  3. The constantly evolving world of technology

A. 2023 – The new face of self-care

Below mentioned are the key health and wellness trends that have been seen in the spa and beauty industry, and will most certainly continue to be on the rise:


1. Therapeutic no-touch services

2023 is going to be the year of no-touch services. The past year has seen a rise in a number of spa trends that spa/wellness owners need to adopt for business growth. 

Customers now prefer these over traditional services. Service-based businesses like spas and massage centers are, thus inclining towards providing high-tech induced wellness experiences to their customers. 

Touchless services like celluma LED therapy, warm stone tension relieving pillow pack, salt therapy foot soak, aromatherapy, gua sha facial massage, etc. offer customers a safe way to de-stress. 

The cutting-edge technology that has been incorporated into the services provided by wellness businesses not only comes with numerous health benefits but also proves to be important during the pandemic.

Contactless services ensure that customers are able to soothe their bodies and minds without being at the risk of contracting COVID. 

This has become the new perfect way to relieve stress, now that people need it more than ever. The trend is only expected to go onwards and upwards with Americans becoming more aware of the health and safety benefits associated with it.


2. Above-the-mask beauty services

A woman applying eye makeup above her face mask

Beauty services and treatments are on the rise – but not the regular ones! The beauty industry is responding and adapting positively to the ongoing crisis and has formulated a promising technique by which the industry can assure customer satisfaction – above-the-mask services

Even though regular facials are a necessity to boost overall confidence, the mask mandate has witnessed customers’ inclination more toward above-the-mask services like microblading and eyebrow tinting.

Not only that, but people are also buying more above-the-mask makeup like eye cosmetics, and adopting a beauty routine that utilizes the same. 

Looking good is undoubtedly a confidence booster. And, during the times when everyone’s donning a mask, above-the-mask beauty is definitely bringing feel-good vibes.


3. Simple, consistent, and cheaper skincare routines

Woman following a simple skincare routine

Another notable trend that has been going around this year is the at-home skincare routine.

This trend is an amazing way to cut down on spending too much on services that otherwise cannot be experienced while staying at home. This also promises a healthier and more natural way of maintaining a skincare regime

People are beginning to embrace calculative spending on beauty, skincare, makeup, clothes, spa, etc. during these trying times. 

Instead of undertaking routines with multiple steps which involve even more product usage and money wastage, people are adopting fewer steps with lesser product usage. This can help decrease the amount of money spent on these products and have a healthier lifestyle and skincare routine.


B. The new era of redefined food habits

Towards the end of 2021, we saw regular food habits getting structured differently. Not only that, a direct cause of this trend is the environment becoming a priority for everyone. Let’s see what 2023 has in store for us!


1. Upcycling food

According to the Upcycled Food Association, the food that is upcycled is made with what would have otherwise not gone to human consumption, and these are produced using attestable supply chains.

Zero-waste is one of the latest health trends that has a positive impact on the environment, and also achieves food and water security. Most of the time, food gets tossed because of physical flaws inherited during transport, so it’s always a great option to buy locally. 

Besides, did you know that sometimes unused or thrown-away parts of food are the healthiest and full of nutrition? The answer is yes!

Here are a few simple ways in which you can reduce food wastage:

  • Make sure that the vegetables with a lesser shelf-life are consumed first. 
  • Fruit and vegetable seeds can be planted in your garden.
  • Utilizing the whole plant may come off as impractical, but it’s certainly useful. You can use the apple peels to make crisps or use the cores to make jelly by storing them in the freezer until you are ready to use them.

2. Mindful eating

Gaining control over eating habits is yet another trend that has been adopted lately. People are turning away from restrictive eating habits and focusing on having a healthier, well-balanced diet that is nutritious in all forms.

This trend comes with many health benefits. You can treat conditions like eating disorders, depression, anxiety, etc. 

Consuming brain snacks is one of the wellness industry trends that’s on the rise, considering the work-from-home scenario that’s been going on since the start of the pandemic. These snacks are basically the daily serving size of vitamins and minerals.


C. The constantly evolving world of technology

Technology continues to improve, accelerate, and merge with businesses to make them functional. This has indeed blended into every aspect of a business, and the pandemic has seen how technology has helped improve and grow businesses multifold. 


1. Social media

A woman with social media apps on her smartphone

Today, social media has become the key to the recognition of any business’s presence. It is also considered the most valuable asset for business growth.

The new normal has seen multiple industries, including the wellness industry, inclining towards social media marketing and networking to reach a wider, targeted audience.

Social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram have become the source of revenue for service-based wellness businesses because of the emergence of booking integrations. 

Now, businesses can add a “Book Now” button to their Facebook and Instagram profiles, and turn their profile visitors into paying customers. Additionally, this ensures that customers have a seamless booking experience. 

One of the biggest assets of having your business on social media is its proclivity to throw light on ongoing trends. You can stay well-informed about the trends even from the palm of your hand! 😌

Wellness-based businesses like massage centers, spas, beauty and skincare services, fitness centers, etc. can showcase their services in the form of short, attractive videos by utilizing reels. This has helped catch the attention of a wider audience and attract them to the virtual services provided by these businesses.


2. Virtual fitness

A woman preparing for a virtual fitness session

Well, the lockdown might have given back many hours to the working class, considering they saved up on the daily commute, but the underlying issue is – fitness. 

The fact that people could step out of their homes ensured that they had some sort of activity to keep their bodies active, but it surely hasn’t been the same since the pandemic.

But this year has embraced a workaround for this obstacle and that is one of the latest fitness trendsvirtual fitness.  

9 in 10 Americans who exercise regularly say they will continue with at-home workouts even after they feel comfortable returning to the gyms in the future, a study revealed

This past year has witnessed fitness studios and gyms offer virtual personal training and workout sessions to those who need it. Not only can virtual fitness classes be practiced from the comfort of one’s home, but it also cuts down on expenditure because no commuting is required in this case. There is optimal flexibility over time and one can work out as per their own convenience.

Hosting virtual sessions can be made easier with an all-in-one scheduling software that comes with Zoom integration. You can easily manage these virtual training sessions, grow your clientele, and ensure customer convenience at every stage of their journey with such a system. 


3. Teletherapy

Two women in a teletherapy session

According to a study, consumer adoption of telehealth rose from 11% in 2019 to 46% in 2020, mainly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Since the vast majority of us have been spending more time confined to our homes – in most cases, away from our loved ones – keeping our mind, emotions, and body in check has been a challenge.

And, it is predicted that the wellness culture will continue to rise in the form of teletherapy and telemedicine from here on.

Ever since the pandemic hit, many therapists have stopped seeing clients in their offices due to safety concerns. And what has been chosen as a safer alternative is teletherapy. 

“In 2023, there is likely to be an increased focus on teletherapy outcomes, including patient satisfaction, utilization, and return on investment”, states a teletherapy CEO.

Even though the ideas of regular face-to-face therapy sessions have become stagnant, virtual sessions have saved the day! Therapists have started taking one-on-one video conference sessions to meet and keep a check on their client’s well-being.

Not just that, mental wellness has been closely aligned with technology. People have started taking up activities like walking and meditating, often with certain wellness apps – which can be meditation apps like Calm, or virtual therapy apps like TalkSpace or BetterHelp.

These virtual therapy sessions can be best managed with a wellness scheduling software that comes with a virtual meeting integration. Through such a system, wellness instructors/therapists can schedule online appointments easily, send meeting links via email, send automated text/email reminders to clients, and host virtual sessions without any hassle. This is nothing but technology at its best!


4. Virtual reiki healing sessions

A woman in a virtual reiki healing session

Reiki masters are basically trained to send healing to clients wherever they are located. A distant or virtual healing session is one of the trends in the health and wellness industry which is possible because energy is not confined to a specific space or time, thus can be sent anywhere. This has indeed worked in everyone’s favor during the lockdown. 

In the virtual sessions, the reiki masters and clients usually connect through video conferencing to discuss problems and major focus areas. Once this discussion is over, they’ll hang up and work on the healing, as suggested by the master. The client lies back, relaxes, and can enjoy the rejuvenating effects similar to an in-person session. 

Distant Reiki sessions are a natural way of releasing fear and stress and can help in rebalancing the energy that lies deep within us in the stagnant form, thereby creating a positive vibe. 


5. Wellness appointment scheduling software

As we have seen in the health and wellness industry trends discussed earlier, technology has played a major role in bringing clients and this industry together, despite the distance. But one such software that has made it possible for this industry to operate in a safe environment and provide safer client experiences is – wellness scheduling software.

The wellness booking system that perfectly caters to your needs should be a multi-faceted system that covers all the bases for you.

And the right software can help you streamline your business operations by automating payment methods, accepting contactless prepayments, reducing client no-shows and last-minute cancellations. 

That’s not it! You can also amp up your marketing efforts by promoting discounts/offers online, creating and giving gift certificates, upselling with add-ons, and building a reputed brand through online reviews from happy customers. 

Now that’s what sums up a healthy and thriving business!


Closing thoughts

Health is a state of body. Wellness is a state of being.

– J. Stanford

Even though it has been a stressful year, the health and wellness industry has definitely adapted to the changes and has put forth creative trends that have been a constant support for its customers.

These wellness trends are here to stay. All you need to do is adopt the right technology, keep yourself informed about the changes, and sync your practice with the popular trends to run and grow your business effectively.

All the best! 😊


About Appointy

We at Appointy, help business owners grow and run their businesses with our online scheduling software. This blog was a part of our ‘Manage your Business’ category, where we provide expert tips, and resources, or simply talk about the challenges that small and medium businesses face every day. 

If you have any thoughts on this blog or would like to chat about your business struggles and achievements, let us know in the comments below. 

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