How do we live a healthy life–mind, body, and soul? Each year, new research emerges and our understanding of what wellness means deepens. The various factors, from environment, nutrition, technology use, movement, and social factors, all play meaningful roles in well-being. Below are some top wellness trends that are helping many live their best lives in 2026–and you may find a few worth adopting in the New Year.
Rucking
If you haven’t seen your friends and neighbors walking around the neighborhood or on the trail wearing a weighted vest yet, you soon will. The practice is commonly referred to as “rucking,” and while it has been popular for decades in the military, it’s becoming mainstream. The benefits of getting your steps in and giving yourself a bit of a challenge can have a major impact on your heart health, weight management, stamina, and bone density, while lowering stress levels and boosting mood. What are you “weighting” for – go out and ruck!
Red Lights at Night
Research abounds about the negative effects that blue lights from screens (like computers, tablets, and phones) have on the body’s natural circadian rhythm. Turning off the screens at night and using red light lamps, booklights, and even opting for red light filters on your phone are showing promising improvements in restoring the circadian rhythm and helping to improve sleep through natural production of melatonin.
Analog Wellness
If you’ve heard the term “touch grass” you’ve heard the rallying cry of the analog wellness trend. This is the idea you should unplug and engage in activities unrelated to technology. By putting the devices down and opting for non-tech activities like reading a physical book, taking a walk, or making art, the goal is to de-stress and retrain the brain to find joy in the activity itself rather than on small, nearly constant dopamine releases frequently produced from online scrolling. Benefits include reduced digital stress, improved sleep, and promoting deeper focus.
Making Room for Mushrooms
Adaptogenic mushrooms are having a major moment. The popularity of these fungi is on the rise as people are turning frequently to mushrooms and plants used as adaptogens as a way to bring the body into homeostasis. Available both as supplements in various forms like powders, capsules, and tinctures, and as ingredients in foods and beverages like soups and teas, adaptogens are believed to help regulate stress and alleviate anxiety and fatigue. Popular choices include lion’s mane, cordyceps, and reishi, and adaptogenic plants like ashwagandha and Asian ginseng.
Wearable Tech for Personalized Preventative Care
Wearable technology like the Oura Ring, Apple Watch, and Garmin Forerunner continue to evolve into powerful personal health dashboards. These types of devices give users individualized data from sleep quality and quantity, to heart rate, mobility, calories burned, stamina, and more. Knowledge is power and the more you know about your unique metrics, the better you can work with healthcare professionals and trainers to take the exact preventative approach you need.
Less Alcohol, More Hydration
The sober-curious movement continues to trend. It’s getting easier to cut out or cut back on alcoholic beverages. There is a wide availability of mocktails at bars and restaurants right here in Reno, and you can easily find alcohol alternative beverages featuring CBD or adaptogen drinks at grocery stores. As science continues to show, swapping out even just one or two alcoholic beverages a week can have major health benefits, including improved sleep, more consistent energy, and reduced inflammation.
Group Wellness
Health is more enjoyable–and more sustainable–when shared. Group wellness experiences are replacing traditional social outings, whether that means a Pilates class, a moonlit snowshoe hike, or a forest sound bath. Research shows that when you talk about your wellness goals with other people, you’re more likely to stick to your plans, and meaningful social connections are a major component of longevity.
Gretchen Lewall, owner of Your Body Pilates, emphasizes the importance of balance and variety in workouts to overall wellness: “Many clients have cut back on how many intense workouts per week they’re completing by adding 2-3 days of Pilates into the mix to balance their bodies’ needs.” Your Body Pilates offers small class sizes and private class opportunities for friends or partners who want to work out together.
AI for Weight Loss
If you’re looking to lose weight, hitting a daily calorie deficit and tracking your macronutrients has never been easier, due to rapidly evolving AI technology. Using AI, many apps are available that let you snap a photo of your food and get an estimate of total calories and macronutrients like protein, fats, and carbohydrates. The apps also help you track your weight and enter a goal with a timeframe to calculate the amount of calories and macros you should aim for each day to sustainably meet that goal.
Meditation for Wellness
Mental health is taking center stage in the wellness world. Meditation practice has been incorporated and is more accessible than ever. Meditation is now available as part of group wellness activities like sound baths and yoga, and as individual activities, including guided practices over streaming platforms like Netflix, or even through audiobooks and podcasts designed to help you learn meditation tools and techniques. Turning inward through meditation has been linked with brain plasticity and with the prevention of some symptoms of Alzheimer’s.
Hormone Therapy for Everyone
Hormone therapy specifically related to healthy aging is becoming increasingly widespread and gaining popularity. Hormone imbalances can begin in your 30s and both men and women can benefit from hormone therapy and feel improvements with fatigue, irritability and anxiety, sleep issues, sexual health, and more. Local providers include New Theory Medical and Dolce Vita Wellness and Medical Spa, both of which offer assessments and services for hormone therapy and for weight loss and metabolic wellness. Their medical experts can give you a complete look at your individual metrics and suggest a plan to address your needs.
The Rise of Protein
Protein’s importance has long been understood for immune response, anti-inflammatory benefits, the body’s ability to build muscle, cognitive function, weight management, and more. Optimally, you should be aiming for about 1 gram of protein per kilogram (2.2 pounds) of body weight. This recommendation has contributed to a boom in protein-rich snacks and beverages. Local providers, like Mother of Macros and Protein Jungle, offer surprising protein-added recipes like smoothies and pastries, and national brands like Starbucks are jumping on the trend with protein milks and cold-foams. For a treat, try the Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Latte, which boasts 27-29 grams of protein per drink. While it’s important to jump on the protein train for longevity and wellness, be sure not to neglect a well-balanced diet with plenty of fiber and micronutrients, too.
Micro-strength Workouts
Often referred to as “exercise snacks,” short 10–15 minute strength sessions sprinkled throughout the day are gaining momentum. These micro-workouts boost mobility and increase overall movement without requiring a dedicated 45–90 minute gym session—which, in today’s fast-paced world, can be difficult to fit in consistently. Research shows that smaller, more frequent bouts of exercise can significantly improve cardiovascular health, support recovery, and make daily movement more accessible and enjoyable.
Mouth Taping
Your partner’s open-mouth snoring isn’t just irritating; a new trend suggests it may be contributing to poor sleep quality and bad breath, too. A new trend of taping your mouth closed at night to encourage breathing through the nose is said to improve sleep quality, improve morning breath, and of course, create a quieter sleeping environment. While some folks swear by it, experts urge caution, especially for anyone who experiences difficulty breathing or who has sensitive skin. Be sure to consult a doctor first and use high-quality products if you decide to give it a go.
"By putting the devices down and opting for non-tech activities... the goal is to de-stress and retrain the brain to find joy."
“Many clients have cut back on how many intense workouts per week they’re completing by adding 2-3 days of Pilates into the mix,” - Gretchen Lewall