10 Self Care Trends To Try In 2020

The world is waking up to the benefits of putting aside a little time each day, week and month for self-care. No longer is it something that gets pushed to the bottom of our to-do list every day; self-care is a priority, and we’re totally on board. Here are some of the most talked about self-care trends for the coming year that you might want to give try.

Forest bathing

Sounds fancy, but it’s actually very accessible. ‘Forest bathing’ was a term coined in Japan in the 80s when doctors began to realise the positive physical and mental effects of spending longer periods of time outside and around nature, and began recommending forest bathing as a genuine remedy to ill health. In Japan, they call it “shinrin-yoku”, which literally translates to forest bath, and though it has been around for many years, this year saw its significance grow as people realised the indisputable benefits of being around plants.

CBD skincare

CBD is everywhere, but not everyone wants to take it on their tongue every morning. Besides, there are a number of benefits to applying it topically, and in 2020 we will see more and more brands bring their products to market, offering the kind of CBD skin care you’ll want to display proudly on your dressing table. According to Harper’s Bazaar, Google searches for CBD skin care have increased by 367%, and the growing popularity of brands like Ohana CBD is clear to see. 

Virtual fitness

Forget dragging yourself out in the cold to go to the gym - it’s all about virtual fitness in 2020. Companies offer memberships that can be logged into through your devices, and allow for a variety of classes to be undertaken at home with the help of expert instruction. Whether you’re prepared to pay thousands to join the cult-like Peloton membership, or are looking for something more affordable like personal trainer Kayla Itsines’ Sweat app, you’ll find an option to suit, just in time for the January fitness rush.

Sound bathing 

Just as forest bathing lacks any actual bathing, so too does sound bathing. You might know them as gong baths, but these unique meditation classes have taken the wellness space by storm recently. Essentially, participants lie in a relaxed state throughout the session, while an instructor uses various techniques (gongs, Himalayan singing bowls, and more) to create specific frequencies of sound. It might sound a little hippy dippy, but there’s a reason so many people keep going back for more enlightening and calming experiences.

Meditation apps

Meditation is nothing new, but for those who struggle to find the time (and discipline) to sit cross-legged in their living room, apps could make this self-care activity much more accessible in the new year. Apps like Calm, Headspace and Happy Not Perfect are quickly gaining popularity, and many health professionals are now treating meditation as less of a nice-to-have and more of an essential, for good reason.

Sleep tech

It’s no secret that sleep is incredibly important for our health, but many still struggle to get a good night’s slumber. Luckily, technology is on hand to help, with apps monitoring our waking moments during the night, limiting blue light from our device screens that keeps us awake, and even offering pillows with speakers so you can listen to whatever sounds will help you nod off.

Air quality monitoring 

Our increasingly polluted world isn’t just harmful to the environment, plants and animals around us, it could also be doing silent and long-term damage to our health. Apps like AirVisual now allow us to monitor the air quality around us, and avoid areas with high levels of pollution, thus increasing our physical health and by extension our mental health. 

Plant-based living 

While veganism is still very much the topic of the moment, a lot more people are discovering the term ‘plant-based’ and loving it. Switching to a completely vegan diet is difficult, and tends to focus on what you can’t eat, while switching to plant-based focuses much more on what you can eat, and is as restrictive as you choose to be. A recent Netflix documentary The Game Changers has shone new light on this dietary revolution, and while facts and figures in the documentary are still disputed, there’s no denying a plant-based diet has the potential to improve our health in 2020 and beyond. 

The art of ‘Niksen’

The Danish lifestyle fad Hygge has come and gone, but Niksen is just beginning to popularise. If you feel you’re always busy and switched on, then this might be just what you need to relax. Niksen is the “art of doing nothing”, and is exactly what it sounds like; choosing to actively do nothing in order to restore balance and place more value on your downtime. Switch off your phone, forget the troubles of the day, and get your Niksen on.

Natural period management

Sick of your birth control making you ill? Don’t fancy putting toxic chemicals into your vagina? Us neither. Once upon a time women were told how to deal with their period using the limited methods available to us, but over the last few years we have seen a surge in women taking a more natural approach to their monthly cycle, and Yoppie is 100% here for it (and 100% free from toxic chemicals, by the way!). Apps like Clue let women be more in control of their periods, while here at Yoppie we’re helping them ditch the toxic chemicals, one tampon at a time. 

Know of another great self-care trend you predict to be huge in 2020? Shout it out in our private Facebook group or drop us a note on Insta @itsyoppie. Don't forget that our personalised period subscription box can get organic tampons (and more) delivered easily and regularly through your letterbox. Now that's an easy win for the NY resolutions.