Health and wellbeing trends 2023 – according to Pinterest’s powerful prediction tool

28.02.2023

As life returns to something more like ‘normal’ for most of us, you might be wondering what this means for the popular health and wellness fads of the last few years. Are we still using the home gym gear and pushbikes that sold like hotcakes, leaving shelves at sporting goods stores empty? What about the apps that helped us find calm in the midst of crazy, or the supplements we downed to boost our immunity?

“Australians are the sixth highest global wellness spenders, forking out an average of $4,850 per person per year.”

Movement restrictions and mandates might be a thing of the past, but Aussies are still ultra-focused on our wellbeing. A 2022 report from the Global Wellness Insitute found we fork out an average of US$3,271 (approximately AU$4,850) per person per year on our wellbeing, making us the sixth highest global wellness spenders.

So, what will we be devoting our health dollars to in 2023? Every year, Pinterest peers into the future to predict upcoming trends, including those in health and wellbeing. No, they don’t use a crystal ball! They gather and analyse months of user search data. And because people use Pinterest to plan, their predictions have been remarkably accurate – 80% have come true for the past three years.

Here are some of Pinterest’s top picks for health and wellbeing trends in 2023.

Primal movement – protecting our bodies from everyday stresses

As the name suggests, this health trend is all about getting back to basics with moving our bodies. With remote working now a permanent fixture for many, people are heeding advice about warding off tech neck and other posture-related problems.

“We’re seeking ways to stretch screen-weary muscles and flex desk-bound bodies.”

With neck pain affecting around 20% of Australian adults, this makes good sense. Millennials and Gen Xers, in particular, are searching for ways to stretch screen-weary muscles and flex desk-bound bodies. Searches like ‘neck hump exercises’ and ‘mobility stretches’ are starting to skyrocket.

As health and fitness go primal, Pinterest suggests we’ll see an uptick in low-tech, inclusive and everyday movement activities. This matches findings from the 2023 global fitness trends survey, which ranked functional training as the second hottest development this year.

Searching for ways to get more supple? Try these flexibility tips and exercises, and ideas for looking after your spine.

The fourth trimester – helping loved ones transition to parenthood

If you’ve had a baby, you know the transition from 40(ish) weeks of pregnancy to proud parenthood isn’t all sunshine and smiley faces. You’re learning to establish a new routine, not to mention deal with sleepless nights, feeding problems and what’s normal with a newborn.

The fourth trimester concept suggests creating an environment like that of pregnancy for the first three to fourth months after giving birth, which can have benefits for mum and bub.

People are turning to Pinterest for help with this, especially the so-called ‘sharing generation’ – Millennials. Searches like ‘postnatal hamper’ and ‘new parent presents’ are on-trend for 2023, suggesting we’re keen to help friends and loved ones successfully navigate the journey into new parenthood.

Some fourth trimester gift ideas include:

a potted or garden plant
gift voucher
baby memory keepers
pretty cup and saucer set
bathrobe or pajama set
magazine subscription
fitness tracker
personalised jewellery
deluxe bedlinen
candles.

Free spirits – going alcohol free with great taste

Australians have an international reputation for our love affair with drinking. But with the growing awareness of how alcohol can affect our wellbeing, statistics show fewer people are drinking on a daily or weekly basis, while more identify as ‘ex-drinkers’.

As a result, people are turning to alternatives. In fact, the low-to-no alcohol drinks market has been projected to grow by 31% by 2024.

“As more Australians embrace alcohol-free living, we’re looking for delicious alternatives.”

And this no longer just means water or soft drinks. People are mining Pinterest for creative alcohol-free drink ideas. Searches for terms like ‘fancy non-alcoholic drinks’ and ‘mocktail bar’ are climbing as Aussies seek refreshing booze substitutes.

Gen Xers will propel this trend, which Pinterest says isn’t about being judge-y, but “embracing a new way of thinking about alcohol”. People are “drinking on their own terms”, they write, whether motivated by health, a nasty hangover, or the delicious new low-to-no alcohol brews regularly appearing on the market.

Now processing – creative approaches to mental wellbeing

Mental health continues to be a hot-button topic, and rightly so. More than two in five Australians will experience a mental health concern, and the increasing uncertainty in our world has touched many lives.

It’s understandable, then, that so many psychologists are overrun and no longer taking new patients, while more people than ever are seeking help. But this may not be the only reason we’re searching for ways to improve our mental wellness.

According to Pinterest, the mental health conversation has moved to the cultural arena, and people “feel empowered to look beyond traditional talk therapy” for alternative ways to care for themselves.

As American artist Georgia O’Keefe said: “I found I could say things with colour and shapes that I couldn’t say any other way – things I had no words for.”

Millennials and Gen Z are largely behind the surging interest in creative wellbeing approaches, which include therapies based on:

writing
music
expressive art
journalling.

Vitamin seaweed – harvesting health secrets from the sea

Many people turn to the ocean for recreation and revitalisation – think surfing, swimming and long walks on the beach. Now, we’re looking to the sea for our superfoods.

Foods and minerals derived from the ocean have long been popular in many countries, including the Philippines, China, Korea and Japan. In 2023, they’ll be making more of a splash down under according to Pinterest’s forecasters.

“Eating superfoods from the sea – including fish and seaweed – can have numerous health benefits.”

Due to increasing awareness of the health benefits, going sea-green is particularly popular with Millennial and Gen X groups. For example, eating seaweed may:

help with healthy thyroid function
provide vitamins, minerals and antioxidants
support gut and heart health
help you reach a healthy weight
assist with blood sugar management.

And it’s not just the green variety of sea-based superfood that’s trending. Along with seaweed snack and nori recipes, ‘salmon bowl’ searches have exploded.

Eating fish has been linked with a raft of health benefits, including:

better brain and heart health
less risk of diseases including dementia, macular degeneration and childhood asthma
better management of blood sugar levels in people who have diabetes
relief from the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and autoimmune conditions.

Like to add some superfoods to your recipe repertoire? Here’s how to:

make delicious healthy salads – even in the cooler months
cook a perfect pesto salmon pasta or salmon and spuds
freeze and use various types of food, including salmon.

Choose your own health trends for 2023

With (almost) a full year ahead, now is a great time to take stock of what matters to you health-wise. Following health and wellness trends is one thing, but finding a routine that works for you is more important.

Whether it’s starting a meditation practice, running a marathon or spending more time with friends, creating your own health trends can help you reach your goals in 2023.

All information contained in this article is intended for general information purposes only. The information provided should not be relied upon as medical advice and does not supersede or replace a consultation with a suitably qualified healthcare professional.