Tom Rasmussen is a writer based in London. Their recent book,

 is a personal and analytical look at the history, present, and future of marriage and other formations of relationships.

We’re witnessing the ‘wellnessification’ of absolutely everything. Beyond boosting their physical health with fitness and nutrition, people are looking for a path to being well in all aspects of their lives, including their finances, careers, activism, spirituality, home design, tech usage, and so much more. The global health and wellness market is expected to reach over $8,945.3 billion by 2032, while self-improvement and the quest for reprieve and relaxation have become integral to all areas of our lifestyles.

Wellness was once for the elite, expressed through a Goop-like look and lifestyle. But now a more fragmented definition of wellness is on the rise, encompassing people’s diverse backgrounds and distinct needs. In a society ruled by high stress and burnout, what was once considered a baseline are now status symbols: sleep is a luxury, glucose monitors signal exclusive healthcare, and sob parlours offer curated spaces for catharsis. People are embracing more radical forms of wellness, employing minor plastic surgery and weight-loss drugs as a means of control over their lives.

Wellness is rapidly reaching new demographics across generations. Exhausted by the permacrisis, Gen Z is rejecting more traditional, buttoned-up wellness movements in favour of little treats, girl dinner, ‘bedrotting’, or ‘rat snacking’ as forms of self-care with a sense of release. At the same time, longevity is becoming a priority as Gen X and Boomers rethink wellness to suit their needs. Some are taking up clubbing as a way of keeping an active lifestyle, while others are looking for nuanced approaches like menopause diets to support the changes that come with age. A desire for more bespoke wellbeing is driving an increase in health hacking – whether through technology or prioritising socialising with peers.

Being+

Talia Richard-Carvajal is the head pastry chef at Hart in Copenhagen.

Tania Nichols is a clinical psychologist and the clinical supervisor for Butterfly’s National Helpline.

Australia

Health and Fitness

Mental health

Physical health

Interview with Tania Nichols conducted by the author

Stanford.edu

Women’s Health

The Guardian

American Society for Nutrition

National Library of Medicine

InsideOut Institute

Just Food

Chronicle

Interview with Talia Carvajal conducted by the author

Study Finds

Phys.org

Butterfly

The pandemic exacerbated eating disorders among Australians. Amid an era of permacrisis where constant and regular disruption is to be expected, there’s a need for increased conversation and more support when it comes to the ability to talk about health, wellbeing, and negative self-image.