‘Wellness’ has become a term that encompasses everything from our physical health to our mental status, often forming a link between the two and offering a holistic approach to how we care for our bodies and minds.
Before the pandemic, there was already a thriving wellness industry. From colouring books – the mindfulness trend that became popular back in 2015 – to spa treatments and massage therapy, there was a growing interest in taking a moment to relax and unwind.
However, after the events of the last few years, the connection between our mental and physical well-being is even more apparent. Globally, the wellness industry is projected to reach a value of $7 trillion by 2025.
As a result, there are plenty of opportunities to become part of this thriving industry. If you’re considering working in the world of wellness, read on to discover more about what might await.
Working in the World of Wellness
- Mental wellbeing
- Physical fitness
- Nutrition
Mental wellbeing
We understand the health benefits of getting outside and doing exercise. We know that being restricted and stressed through Covid-19 has left us knotty and in need of soothing massages and relaxation techniques.
We also know that our mental health is just as important as our physical health. There’s World Mental Health Day on 10 October, a campaign to raise awareness of the significance of looking after our inner selves, and World Suicide Prevention Day, which takes place in September. While these events put things front and centre for a day, though, looking after our minds is an ongoing process.
A variety of professions help people to look after their mental health. For example, those experiencing low levels of stress might benefit from the expertise of a massage therapist or beautician.
For those experiencing significant signs of anxiety or depression, talking therapies provided by counsellors or psychotherapists could be the best option.
A variety of counselling specialisms include cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), guided self-help, and counselling for depression. There are also experts in relationship counselling or CBT specifically for anxiety, and many more besides.
If counselling or therapy sounds like a rewarding profession for you, you’ll need to think about the training involved. The route that you take will depend on the area in which you hope to specialise. It’s also worth thinking about all eventualities. Sometimes things don’t go to plan, so you might want to consider counsellors’ insurance which could provide protection in the event of a claim against you.
Physical fitness
If patients can be helped with their mental health, they’re more likely to look after their physical well-being, too. Helpfully, there’s something of a cycle here, as doing workouts and spending time on exercise doesn’t just help with the health of our bodies; it helps us to feel good mentally.
Whether you do an intensive HIIT workout or go for a gentle stroll, the health benefits are easy to see. You strengthen muscles, get the heart pumping, and burn off any excess energy – the latter of which can be particularly beneficial for the mind.
For instance, if you’re feeling worked up about something, you’re likely to overly focus on it, which can affect your sleep and make it harder for you to concentrate. Going for a run or heading to your favourite exercise class can redirect that energy, balancing things out a little.
A career in physical fitness could involve anything from working as a personal trainer to signing up to be a lifeguard at your local pool.
You might decide to set up your own exercise classes, teaching Zumba or dance, or you might opt to channel your skills into teaching at a climbing wall. There are also adventure holidays where you might want to oversee rock climbing. Alternatively, you could set up your own swimming school or head up a netball team.
There are plenty of career opportunities available in the world of physical fitness – it’s worth exploring the qualifications and training needed to go into the area that interests you.
Nutrition
Our diet is important for our overall health, too. Examining the foods that we eat can help with both our physical and mental well-being. For example, a quick hit from caffeine or chocolate might help for a moment, but it’s not a long-term solution.
Becoming a nutritionist is a great way to help people to direct their diets into healthy practices. You can create plans for clients to follow and work with them to develop a better relationship with food.
Alternatively, you might decide to become a nutrition blogger. This is a popular career path and one that works well in the world of social media, where you can post quick reels showing off recipe ideas and healthy alternatives to everyday favourites.
What wellness career path will you follow? Let us know below the areas of the industry that fascinate you.