In 2019, wellness penetrates every corner of the consumer landscape. Our friends at the Global Wellness Institute estimate the value of the global wellness economy to have hit $4.2 trillion in 2017, growing nearly twice as fast as overall economic growth from 2015 to 2017.
And yet instead of wellness, in this report, we’ve opted to focus on wellbeing.
This report isn’t dedicated to Insta-wellness: wellness as a status symbol, wellness for the wealthy, or spaces where one fad replaces the last. From gravity boots to Goop, wellness has come a long way. But it hasn’t truly solved our problems. On a treadmill of its own invention, the wellness market has humankind sweating, but without getting from A to B. So for now, put down that CBD mocktail, climb off the Peloton and wipe the charcoal-activated moisturizer off your face!
There are tougher-than-Tough-Mudder issues out there that threaten the wellbeing of billions of consumers. When it comes to thinking about The Future of Wellbeing, we’ve chosen to instead explore the biggest threats to the happiness and health of humans in the coming years and even decades from today – and the opportunities they present for you. The trends below impact consumers of all backgrounds, of all interests, of all age groups. And there are ramifications for every industry.
Clients of our Premium service receive exclusive access to the full report, diving into all five trends – THE BURNOUT, AIR TIME, BANK OF ME, THE COMING OF AGE, and THE MALE COMPLEX – along with supporting materials. In this free version, we focus on two of those themes with a snapshot of the global innovators who already rolling out solutions, and ideas on how you can make a difference.
The health and happiness of billions of people is at stake. It’s hard to find a more compelling motive than that. Together, let’s take the grit that drives us to go for a run at sunrise, the resolve that unlocks personal bests on down days, the focus that lets us meditate on a packed subway, and apply them to these epic challenges.
1. THE BURNOUT: Often mistaken as a Millennial condition, burnout is no small matter. Millions of consumers from all backgrounds have burnt through their mental and physical reserves. It’s an epidemic and brands must join the fight.
2. AIR TIME: Until recently most people thought air pollution was a problem that had largely been solved, especially in affluent societies. It’s now clear that our air is anything but clear. Air pollution remains an omnipresent threat to health and happiness around the world. Alarmed consumers will demand reduction, prevention, and protection.
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Phew! You may feel a little alarmed if you read all this in one go. But alongside the alarm you should feel inspired to act.
Bold innovators around the world are already working to overcome these obstacles to human wellbeing. In doing so, they are changing what your customers will expect from you in the coming months and years. It’s now up to you to take stock of those expectations, and with your team, consider how you can beat them.
With your help, a world of better balanced lifestyles and cleaner air is possible. If you’re still unsure of how to begin, keep reading…
Both of the trends above and the additional trends in the full report share a unique truth, and it’s an ugly one. In most cases, lower income people are at the greatest risk.
Yes, air pollution is a threat to all living people, even Goop readers, yet the UN reports it hurts the poorest the most. A seven figure salary doesn’t insulate people from burnout, but when someone’s hourly wage feeds a household, the stakes are higher. We could go on, but you get the point!
You know by now that consumers want to spend money and time with the brands that have a lasting, positive impact on society. So one approach to work with the above trends is to ask: who is hit the hardest and how can we make the solutions more accessible?
This Trend Briefing has many hands on it. A huge thanks to the team that pulled this together with such positivity and enthusiasm, especially: Vicky Kim and Nikki Ritmeijer (for design!), and also David Mattin, Vicki Loomes, Henry Mason, Alida Urban, Harry Metzger, Harvey Gomez, Jareth Ashbrook, Jonathan Herbst and Lisa Feierstein, Livia Fioretti and Rosie Toumanian. THANK YOU!