From shroom stacking to sleep syncing, there seems to be a new wellness trend cropping up on our feeds daily – and it’s only set to get bigger. Health retailer Holland & Barrett predicts the world wellness market will reach $7 trillion in 2025. Navigating the wellness and self-care space can feel overwhelming at the best of times, let alone when you're trying to balance everything else. But, with 2am doom-scrolling all too often becoming part of our new normal, it’s more important than ever to carve space – no matter how small – for our wellbeing.
In 2023, as we navigate the rising cost of living and environmental concerns, self-care is looking a little different. 'My philosophy is to do less and feel more, to do whatever feels good to you that reminds you how to be with yourself, ‘ says Giselle La Pompe-Moore, author of Take It In and meditation coach. ‘Self-inquiry, reflection, inner work and therapy will not always feel good, but they lead to a life that feels easier to be in, which is always worth the discomfort that might arise on the journey to returning back to ourselves. When it comes to wellness practices, make it your own, do what feels good to you and let it be messy.’
Ahead, ten women share the self-care rituals they'll be practicing in 2023...
Chloe Pierre, author of Take Care: The Black Women’s Wellness Guide and founder of wellness community @thy.self
'Self-care is prioritising my wellbeing, health and happiness. I have a list of options and it's growing - some things are seasonal like swimming, travelling and journaling whilst others are easier to fit into my lifestyle such as a workout (either with PT sessions with Andrew or Youtube's Grow With Jo), therapy, a massage, hair appointment or flotation.
'Self-care has become even more necessary and intentional since I’ve become a mother but not as easily accessible as I’m very hands on. When I have childcare, I make sure to spend at least a couple of hours on my wellbeing because without it, I cry and feel very overwhelmed and even helpless. During challenging moments, I take impromptu walks, practice breathwork, patience and also gratitude. Sometimes I scream when I'm alone at home - apologies to my neighbours but wellness is meant to be real, not pretty.’
Dr. Ewoma Ukeleghe, medical and cosmetic doctor
‘I try to practice self-compassion every day. This can include having a quick nap (despite a super long to-do list), booking a weekly massage and saying yes to myself. The overall sentiments of wellness trends are a good thing - specifically, people are increasingly becoming conscious of their health and feeling good. With that being said, take inspiration from trends but listen to your body. Do what feels good (within healthy boundaries!). Your body almost never lies. It's so important to be able to know yourself intimately.’
Giselle La Pompe-Moore, author of Take It In, meditation teacher and multidisciplinary artist
'Self-care might feel luxurious as we often lack time and rarely give ourselves the permission to do it, but it's not a luxury, and it shouldn't be about the ways that we can buy or perform our way into looking after ourselves. You're always worthy of tending to and caring for yourself, because you exist.
'I infuse self-care into all areas of my daily life. Physically, this might look like whatever joyful movement I'm into, such as yoga and dancing around my living room, eating foods that make me feel good (aka cinnamon buns!) and plenty of mindful self-massages.
'Mentally, I have therapy each week, meditate daily and seek joy in the everyday stuff. Emotionally, I prioritise taking myself on solo dates, being in community with friends and family, affirmations and moving slower and with intention in all aspects. Spiritually, I trust and connect to my faith, which I call spirit, but it's just something beyond and within me that makes life feel rich, limitless and filled with potential.'
Stephanie Suen, founder of lifestyle brand, Homework
‘The name Homework is inspired by the need to find balance between home and work, and very much in line with the theory of Yin and Yang. I find this approach is not limiting and I can do and eat the things I love but not in excess.
'My self-care is all about taking care of my energy. This can be as simple as ensuring I don’t work through the evenings and having the strength to not say yes to every social situation. I’ve learnt to find joy in being alone with myself and putting on my favourite scent at home to help me relax and unwind. During challenging moments, I like to talk it out to those closest to me, or to take five minutes out for myself on a walk just to reset and rebalance my mind.'
Joanna Ellner, founder of skincare brand, Reome
‘I would define self-care as a slow, mindful practice that is capable of taking us out of our perma-state of fight or flight. Acupuncture, massages and facials are great, but we can access forms of self-care on a more regular basis by engaging in them at home, ourselves. Spending a little more time on skincare (but not necessarily using more products), setting the scene to further enrich the senses (I light a candle in my bathroom before my evening cleanse), focusing your attention on the sensation of touch, the feeling of your skin beneath your fingertips.'
Emma Dabiri, writer and author of Don't Touch My Hair
'I’ve worked out that I really need to mediate, exercise and practice yoga to maintain an even keel. I recently visited the heavenly The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort. It's a tropical paradise that centralises a holistic approach to wellness, focusing on movement, rest, sleep, nutritious foods...I did versions of a lot of what I try and do at home but there’s nothing quite like detox yoga sessions and guided night meditations in the balmy tropical evening while listening to the crashing waves of the Indian Ocean. I’ve practiced transcendental meditation for about eight years and it’s really my anchor. My main intention for this year is to be present. I'm thinking of inscribing a discreet “be here now” somewhere visible on my body to remind myself...'
Kim Ngo, Apple Fitness+ trainer
'The things I love to do for self-care are strength and HIIT workouts, eight hours of sleep, a meal out with my husband, smile and laugh with friends, clean and organise my home, and spend at least an hour outside in daylight. Some of these I struggle with more than others - especially when life gets in the way. My mind is often buzzing in the evening reflecting on the day or my to-do list which makes me so grateful for the meditations by my Apple Fitness+ teammates.
'Listening to your body is key! Movement should never feel like a punishment. Sometimes gentle movement is what your body needs and it’s important to listen to your body and do what feels good. Strength workouts have felt great for me throughout my pregnancy and have actually helped me on my journey.'
Samantha Jameson, founder of bodycare brand Soapsmith
‘Life is about little joys and it’s important to prioritise yourself, whether it's 15 minutes or a full day off. We’re humans and we like gifts – these don’t have to be anything expensive but if it uplifts you, it’s worth every penny. In terms of relaxation, my ideal 15 minutes is sometimes just closing my office door, chilling with no distractions and having a moment's peace. I make sure I'm enjoying the good things and tell myself that challenging times don't last forever. And if all else fails there are always mojitos!'
Maya Njie, perfumer
‘Self-care is being kind to yourself and prioritising having the time to do what you love. Not out of necessity but because it gives you joy, calm, energy, silence, inspiration, euphoria or whatever it is you’re in need of at the time.
'I feel the best when I stick to my exercise routine as it encourages a healthier diet and regular stretching which always improves my physical and mental health. I occasionally swim as it relaxes my mind and I love spending time in the sauna as a reward for working out. I bring a scented flannel and inhale blends that I make. At the moment I'm using a neroli, vetiver and cedarwood blend that I love.
'If I have a lot on my plate and it’s keeping me up at night, I reach for my cat - his purring really does help me relax.'
Sara Weinreb, founder of virtual community centre, IMBY
'Self-care to me is rest, connecting with friends, loved ones, my IMBY community, spending time in a relationship with plants, staring at the squirrels out of my window, saying no to commitments I don’t have the physical, emotional, or mental bandwidth for. It's feeding myself, decocting a herbal tea, rejecting the notion that work defines our worth.
'Since launching IMBY, I’ve learned that our wellbeing is deeply rooted in community. The way that members show up for one another has taught me more about wellness than I could ever have imagined. Creating a culture of care and reciprocity, even amongst strangers, is so powerful.
'We can’t green smoothie ourselves out of systemic oppression, a climate crisis, and macro situations we exist in that create true stress and nervous system disruption. We need to take care of one another. And, by all means, if a green smoothie feels like what you need, go for it! But it needs to be in tandem with collectivism.'
Medina Azaldin is the beauty editor of ELLE and Harper's Bazaar UK, working across print and digital features. She has more than seven years journalism experience and has previously written for Red and Good Hoousekeeping. When she's not demystifying the latest skincare ingredient, sniffing out the next big perfume trend or uncovering the science behind wellness practices, you'll most likely find her in Hatchards Piccadilly or watching a crime series with her cats. Oh, and she's a competitive cheerleader, too.
