5 winter wellness trends for your Winter Arc

With the new year quickly approaching, many people start to think about the resolutions they’ll be setting for the year to come. But what if you didn’t have to wait for a “new year” to set new goals?

This is where the “Winter Arc” trend comes in. A Winter Arc is all about spending the last three months of the year focusing on self-improvement. Those who participate in the challenge focus on developing healthy habits that contribute to our overall physical and mental health.

What is a Winter Arc

The Winter Arc refers to a 90-day challenge where participants set habits and intentions to help them reach personal goals. Many people start the challenge in the last three months of the year, when typically, the weather starts to cool off and the days get shorter. Maybe you want to learn a new language, start waking up earlier, establish a morning routine, improve your cooking skills or become more productive at work. It can even be on a smaller scale such as meal-prepping each week, establishing a workout routine or starting a daily journaling habit.

The idea is that these small changes gradually add up, paving the way for you to achieve your bigger goals and aspirations.

Although many people start their Winter Arc in October for the final three months of the year, you can begin this path to wellness at any point in the year —including January.

Ready to start your “Winter Arc?” From the carnivore diet to exploring a sober curious lifestyle and getting better sleep, we’ve curated a list of winter’s most popular wellness trends to help you get started on your Winter Arc.

1. The power of good sleep

Sleep hygiene is a combination of healthy habits, including your sleeping environment and your behavior, which can help you get your best night’s rest. A good night’s sleep is something we all strive for. Quality sleep is essential for how we feel and function throughout the day. Waking up refreshed instead of groggy can make all the difference in our focus and productivity levels.

Much like maintaining a balanced diet, staying hydrated and staying active, quality sleep plays a vital role in supporting our overall health and well-being. Sometimes, even if you’re following all the suggested habits for a good night’s sleep to improve your sleep quality, there could be other reasons that impact your rest each night and you might not even realize it.

Some common ways you may be sabotaging your sleep include:

• Caffeine and alcohol consumption
• Eating too late in the day
• Irregular sleep schedules
• Late-night screen time
• Stress and anxiety

Maintaining good sleep hygiene is one of the most important ways you can set yourself up for a good night’s rest.

2. The carnivore diet

Diet trends are nothing new, and it may seem that every season, there is a “trending” way to approach food that will revolutionize your wellness. You may have seen the carnivore diet taking social media by storm.

The carnivore diet, also known as the "zero carb" diet, is a restrictive eating plan that advises the consumption of only animal products and a few other items. There are no rules or guidelines for portion sizes or calorie intake.

Similar to the keto diet, the premise is that by cutting out carbohydrates, the body will burn fat for energy.

Proponents of the diet also claim that it can:

• Help with inflammation
• Improve mental health
• Stabilize or lower blood sugar levels

While it can be tempting to try the latest diet trend, a gradual lifestyle change approach is more manageable than tackling a trendy diet that is drastically different than your usual diet. Eating a balanced diet with a variety of healthy foods is more sustainable and is likely to be more beneficial to your health in the long run.

3. The sober curious movement

Every winter, especially as the new year approaches, many of us look for simple ways to improve our health and wellness. A trend that comes back every year? “Dry January.”

More and more young adults are hopping on the trend of taking alcohol-free challenges like Dry January or “Sober October.” These month-long breaks from drinking aren’t just about cutting back—they’re also about reflecting on existing habits and exploring a healthier lifestyle.

The goal of Dry January is to eliminate alcohol for the entire month. It may seem like an impossible challenge at first, especially if you are a social drinker or enjoy a glass of wine at dinner, but you’ll quickly see the health benefits of Dry January.

After the holidays, your liver gets a well-deserved break and you may experience weight loss, a brighter skin complexion, better sleep and a general improved sense of well-being each day.

4. Gut health

Gut health is everywhere. From products targeting gut health, such as prebiotic sodas or probiotic supplements, to #GutTok garnering over one billion views online, gut health is a staple of wellness culture.

One of the most popular gut health trends is the rise of prebiotic sodas. You’ve likely seen the pastel cans with flavors replicating that of soda lining the shelves at your local grocery store.

These fizzy, sweet beverages have been making waves in recent months, claiming to have lower sugar content than traditional sodas and featuring gut-friendly ingredients designed to support better digestion and overall health.

With benefits such as improving gut health and constipation and helping lower inflammation, these sodas can be a convenient and delicious way to incorporate more fiber into your diet.

5. Managing your cortisol levels

You may have seen many people talking about the relationship between cortisol and stress, specifically about “cortisol face” or “cortisol belly.” Cortisol, often referred to as the “stress hormone,” is produced by your adrenal glands. This vital hormone plays a key role in managing your body’s stress response and helping to regulate essential functions such as metabolism, blood sugar levels and inflammation.

While higher levels of cortisol can lead to fatigue, weight gain, sleep disturbances, mood swings or digestive issues, the good news is there are plenty of effective strategies to help you manage your stress and get back to feeling your best.

Understanding how to lower cortisol naturally by reducing stress can help improve your energy and boost your overall well-being.

No matter when or where you start, it’s important to remember everyone’s Winter Arc can look different. Any form of self-improvement, big or small, can have a lasting impact on our overall health and well-being—it’s never too late to start your Winter Arc. And while it can always be tempting to want to try the latest wellness trends, but make sure to connect with your primary care physician first before trying anything new.

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