By the time tomorrow gets here, it’ll be 2025 and time to get your New Year’s resolutions (gulp) off the ground. For so many of us, that means setting goals for our health, whether that’s fitting in a certain amount of steps every day, trying out a new workout plan, opting into dry January or Whole30, sinking yourself into daily meditation, or (finally) making sleep the priority it deserves to be. But we’re not here to advise you on your resolutions (those are about what you want!). Instead, we’re taking a moment to look ahead to 2025 and predict some of the biggest trends and conversations you’ll see in health and wellness next year — which might just look similar to the goals you’re setting.
As a health editor, I’ve seen some wellness trends come and go (looking at you, celery juice), while others (oat milk, home workouts, and Pilates come to mind) have proven their staying power. While the past five years have shown you never quite know what’s around the corner — no one saw Zoom workout classes coming back in December 2019! — I’ve scoured the trend reports and my own Internet and IRL communities to inform these expert predictions on what 2025 will bring, wellness-wise. From fitness fads to the ongoing and inescapable intertwining of politics and health, here’s what you can expect to see next year.
Yoga has literally been around for centuries (literally) and hit the (Western) mainstream decades ago, beloved for the way it stretches our bodies and soothes our minds. But stretching and mobility — your ability to move well and comfortably — really took off in 2020, when the pandemic confined us to our homes and left our muscles sore and underused. In 2025, many of us are still looking for ways to feel our best and ensure our body’s functionality. According to Strava‘s 2024 Year in Sport report, which the fitness-tracking app shared with SheKnows, stretching and mobility was survey respondents’ top health and fitness goal, with 19 percent listing it among their 2025 priorities.
It helps that this kind of exercise is ultra-accessible and home workout-friendly; all you need is space enough for a yoga mat, or some comfortable flooring. These home yoga flows can help you get started.
Relatedly, more and more of us want to stay active and feeling good later in life, something flexibility and mobility can definitely help with. Getting good sleep, eating a nutritionally balanced diet, and staying socially active can also help, if you’re one of the many people who will have longevity on their minds next year. On Strava, 56 percent of respondents listed longevity as a top health and fitness goal; that number jumps up to 63 percent for Gen X. We’re also predicting an uptick of interest in preserving quality of life, not just lifespan, with many of us looking for workouts and life hacks that can keep us healthy and thriving for longer.
Strava found a 25 percent increase in weight-training workouts among women users, proving once again that getting strong is very much in. We predict this number to keep climbing next year, especially because of the strong link between resistance training, longevity, and overall health: per a 2021 study, women who strength-train two to three times a week are more likely to live longer and have a lower risk of dying of heart disease. Strength training is also crucial for bone and joint health, as well as your metabolism, while age-related muscle loss can threaten your functional mobility. Even more reason to invest in a few pairs of dumbbells heading into 2025!
Even if getting strong isn’t a top priority, you’ve probably been hearing about how important protein is for your general health. Protein is important for your metabolism, your bones, and keeping your body full and satisfied, so it’s no surprise that this macro was everywhere in 2024 — and we’re expecting the same next year! Just remember not to overdo it, especially when it comes to protein supplements (try naturally protein-rich food, like lean meats, eggs, fish, nuts, and legumes instead). Per Harvard Medicine, you can find out your daily recommended protein intake (in grams) by multiplying your weight in pounds by .36, or by visiting the USDA’s online calculator.
We haven’t stopped talking about vaccines since 2020, and the conversation is nowhere near over. With the nomination of anti-vaxxer Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as head of the Department of Health and Human Services, some experts fear that vaccine access could come under threat; RFK’s lawyer has already singled out the long-used polio vaccine as a potential target. Kennedy may also choose to go after school vaccine mandates, which are crucial for public health and children’s health.
Yet, even as anti-vax sentiments are ramping up, a recent survey shows that vaccine hesitancy has plateaued. From those opposing patterns, we predict that the vaccine conversation will get even more heated in 2025. With infectious diseases like flu, RSV, and bird flu on the rise, public health could pay the price.
The ongoing trend of prioritizing mental health isn’t going anywhere in 2025 — and we wouldn’t want it any other way. Strava reported that improving and caring for mental health was a top 2025 goal among its survey respondents, with Gen Z feeling especially passionate about it, so it’s possible that you and your kids might have this one in common! While improving mental health looks different for everyone, we’re predicting that cozy, mindful habits will grow in popularity next year. Whether that’s taking time for a slow cup of tea or coffee in the morning, a quick meditation session before bed, or a mindful hot girl walk (remember those?), these kinds of actionable self-care moments can make a world of difference.
Before you go, check out our favorite mental health apps:
This article was originally published on sheknows.com.
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