When Well + Good included us among its Wellness Trends 2023 report, we knew there was an opportunity to expand on the conversation. WellSet was featured as part of Well + Good's self-care category, in which we predicted that more people will be working on their mental health like they do their bodies:
“A lot of people are saying, ‘You know what, actually it is more like a fitness regimen that I need [for mental health]. I know I should do a few of these practices per week to keep myself balanced or keep myself grounded,’” says Tegan Bukowski, CEO and co-founder of WellSet.
The concept of "mental fitness" isn't new to us. WellSet has hosted 1,000 classes since launching our digital studio in November. Members can tune into live, virtual classes ranging from self-actualization and journaling techniques to acupressure and breathwork. Whether users have 20 minutes or an hour, our daily schedule offers multiple classes throughout the day to accommodate for a variety of schedules and time zones—making dropping in for a self-care "workout" all the the more doable.
“A huge hurdle for the average person in actually doing these [mental fitness and self-care] things is showing up or setting aside the time to do it and creating that container for yourself,” especially when a go-go-go schedule makes work bleed into life, she says. “Showing up to one of our live classes I think really helps people create that time…We’re a mind, spirit, body gym."
In addition to self-care as mental health care, here's how WellSet predicts that holistic health and well-being will continue to evolve in 2023:
An expanded concept of health and well-being
Beyond physical and mental health, people will begin to understand the benefits of improving emotional health, including enhanced nervous system regulation, ability to manage feelings and reactivity, and improved relationships. Emotions are signals that point us to areas worthy of attention and introspection, and emotional health helps us become more balanced and resilient in the face of stress.
More holistic well-being being provided by workplaces
With stress and anxiety at peak levels, employees will be expecting mental and emotional support in the workplace. According to a recent Surgeon General's report about the significant role workplaces play in our lives, 81% of workers report they will be looking for workplaces that support mental health in the future. Employers will recognize the need to offer mental and emotional support beyond the traditional talk therapy and coaching models, to allow for more variety, flexibility, and accessibility to fit into busy schedules.
Individualized holistic practices
Each individual is unique and that principle also applies to the self-care practices and therapies that will help them improve their health and well-being. People will crave a broad variety of practices so they can explore and discover the ones that work best for them. Practices like self-hypnosis and EFT/tapping will come into focus, expanding well-being solutions beyond the more well-known modalities of meditation and yoga.
Expert-guided self-care
For those seeking more direction and support, guided holistic practices like acupressure, breathwork, Qigong, sound healing, and therapist-led journaling will come into focus—just a few of the classes offered in the WellSet studio and taught by our certified, world-class instructors who are skilled at making modalities accessible for beginners and wellness enthusiasts alike.
Community Wellness
Much of this wellness work will be done in community, including virtually through platforms like WellSet. "Disease breeds in isolation and as we're slowly coming back into a new normal post-pandemic, we're realizing now more than ever how powerful healing through collective wellbeing is," says WellSet Instructor Natalie Valle.