7 Wellness Trends We're Grateful for this Thanksgiving

With all the bad news around at the moment you'd be forgiven for having canceled Thanksgiving this year, but at Which Doctor we're still counting our blessings—gratitude is, after all, just another form of self-care.

The pandemic currently sweeping the globe has focused our attention on our health. How to improve it, and how to maintain it. We've never been more alert to the need to care for ourselves and each other.

With that in mind, here's a few things we've noticed amid the turmoil of the last nine months, things that will hopefully make for a healthier world over the long-term.

1. Mental Health Support Went Mainstream

Because quarantine, depression, anxiety, grief, and loneliness were, and in some cases still are, rife...but so were (and are) the opportunities to reach out and get support.

From online counselling sessions to group therapy via chatrooms, people got comfortable with discussing their fears, needs, and obstacles this year. Many also tried something new—either talking circles, meditation, art therapy, hypnosis or sound bathing. We explored the many ways to nurture our mental health, which in turn helped erode the stigma around accessing such services.

2. We Learned Just How Important Vitamin D is for Health

Last month, studies confirmed that the Coronavirus hits those with vitamin D deficiency the hardest. 

This was unsurprising news to many nutritionists who have always known the virus-fighting potential of this super vitamin. From the common cold to joint mobility, there's a bunch of reasons to get more D in your diet—especially heading into winter. We're delighted that the buzz around the sunshine supplement seems here to stay.

3. Fitness Means More Than Going to the Gym

With gyms closing in the first round of lockdowns, and many still remaining shuttered, exercise addicts have been forced to switch up their routines.

We logged on, we explored online yoga, we discovered the joy of micro-workouts, and we even got in touch with our inner child and relearned how to play. We all got out for more walks.

4. We Learned We Need to do Better for Our Elders

This was the year we kept our high-risk grandparents and other elderly relatives close—or far away as the case may be. Zoom calls, phone conversations, nursing home visits through windows—we realized just how much they meant to us, and how vulnerable they are.

Amid all the tragedy, we can be thankful for this lesson and the ability to connect with the older members of our society via technology. Heading into 2021, there will hopefully be renewed focus on protecting and caring for this generation.

5. Home Cooking Became a Thing (Whether We Liked it or Not!)

You might be more of a wimp than a whizz in the kitchen, but 2020 wasn't about to take excuses. With restaurants off the menu, people were forced to adapt, which has led to a boom in home cooking. 

Bread recipes went viral. Online cooking classes were booked solid. People joined farmers co-ops to support their local growers. Everyone got a little more aware of what they’re eating, and household budgets have become better attended to. Eating at home tends to lead to eating better and making your meals a family occasion—so it's worth the trouble and definitely something to celebrate.

6. We Turned to Our Four-Legged Friends

You may have heard that animal adoptions surged in the early days of the pandemic as people turned to animal companions to help them through the unease and isolation. Sometimes a furry therapist is best.

Animal therapy can be a great comfort when you're struggling, and we're thankful not just for our beloved companions, but also for all the people who gave unwanted animals a home, as well as the human volunteers doing amazing work in shelters around the country.

7. We Got Outdoors

Just as animals doubled as therapists this year, so did our green spaces. The lack of distractions got everyone outside, taking walks and rambles through whatever countryside was available. 

Reconnecting with the environment isn't just a great way to pass the time or get some exercise, it's also effective at boosting mood, focusing concentration, relieving stress, and making us feel more positive. With the outdoors being far safer than the indoors, families, clubs and other groups are turning to autumn picnics, and other gathering styles to facilitate connection while socially distancing. Never have we been so grateful for our parks and other outdoor spaces. 

 

If you're struggling this Thanksgiving season, Which Doctor can help. Reach out to our network of therapists or counsellors to talk to someone today, and start feeling as thankful as we do.

Catherine Morris

Writer

Catherine Morris is an award-winning journalist with a bad case of wanderlust and a passion for all things health and wellness. Originally from Northern Ireland, she worked as a news and feature writer for media outlets in the UK, South Africa, France and the Caribbean before settling in Canada. Catherine now lives in Alberta with her husband and rescue mutt and spends her time happily exploring the great outdoors with both.