Now that the end of the year is almost here, most people’s thoughts are turning to what 2020 may bring. After all, it’s not only a new year but also a new decade. Many desire to craft New Year’s resolutions that focus on health and wellbeing topics, in particular.

If you’re looking for some inspiration around goals to set for next year and strategies for making them happen, consider some of the key health and wellness trends for 2020.

Brain and Mindset Changes

For decades, mainstream health and wellbeing have been focused more on pure physical fitness than mental fitness, but this is changing. 2020 will see the term “physical intelligence” bandied around more. This phrase relates to our ability to detect and actively manage the balance of the prime chemicals in our body that dictate how we think, behave, speak and feel. We can use various techniques to alter mood, emotional response, happiness levels, etc.

In 2020, there’ll be more concentration on ways we can improve our mindset and make changes to perform better and feel happier and calmer. This includes utilizing not just the breath and meditation, but also more specific techniques to target stress, anxiety and state of mind, such as posture, communication techniques and exercises.

Workouts are now revolving more around changing cortisol levels, not just boosting fitness or weight loss. Fitness routines that address stress levels and target biochemistry in the brain are on the up. Research provides more information than ever about how serotonin, adrenaline, endorphins, brain reward systems, neuroplasticity and epigenetics affect us, so fitness providers are incorporating this knowledge into targeted workouts. In the U.K., for instance, new gym ROWBOTS says it offers the first mental health workout that targets the mind to create more positive internal belief systems and long-term change.

Plus, some mental health charities are partnering with fitness centers to deliver “gym for the mind” classes. Workouts like boxing, dancing, and martial arts are surging in popularity as increasing numbers of people notice the stress-relieving and empowering benefits that can come from these types of exercise.

Rise in the Use of Medical Marijuana and CBD Oils

In 2019, there was an explosion in the use of marijuana for health benefits such as pain and stress relief. This happened especially in the United States, where numerous states legalized medical marijuana, and countless dispensaries opened. This development made it easier than ever to get access to such products in all formats.

This usage is set to grow further in 2020 as it becomes ever more mainstream. Many people who haven’t tried the substance before will turn to it for its wellbeing potential. Plus, current users are likely to experiment more with different varieties and product types, including the stronger Bruce Banner strain in rollies and homemade edibles as well as CBD oil manufactured into various substances. For instance, CBD is now being added to everything from water, tea, juice, and coffee through to face masks, energy bars, and chocolate.

Ecotherapy

Ecotherapy is another term you’ll likely hear often in 2020. This phrase is about the healing power of nature and refers to any outdoor activity that positively impacts a person’s health and wellbeing. Ecotherapy includes things like gardening, walking, swimming and horseback riding.

Being outside more often means we move more frequently and increase our levels of oxygen, and it also helps us to get away from devices and technology. Plus, nature is soothing in general. All of this means that stress levels decrease, and wellbeing rises. Ecotherapy is increasingly prescribed for stress, anxiety, depression and other mood-related conditions.

Analyzing Data to Improve Health

The use of data has grown exponentially in the last five to 10 years and radically changed the way many businesses and government departments operate. In 2020, increasing numbers of people will use data to track a wide variety of details about their bodies and how well they’re operating.

Using science and technology, we’ll be better able to analyze our wellbeing and then complete biohacking (altering our biology) to “upgrade” ourselves. Biohacking is more accessible on a mass scale than ever. We can use information gathered from tests on blood chemistry, genetics, hormones, gut microbiome, urine, saliva and psychology. Plus, more and more tech-driven wearables are also giving us real-time insights into statistics about our heart rates, pulse and more.

Whether you’d like to completely overhaul your health in 2020 or simply make a few tweaks to your wellbeing, the above developments are worthy topics to put on your list of resolutions.