What's New in Wellness: 2025 Mid-Year Check-In
It’s hard to believe we’re halfway through 2025! At Nest Health Connections, we’re constantly tracking the evolving world of wellness—so we can bring the most relevant, practical, and inspiring tools to the people we serve. This year has been full of fresh ideas, modern takes on ancient practices, and a continued shift toward holistic, preventative well-being.
Here’s a look at some of the biggest wellness trends shaping 2025 (so far):
1. Red Light Therapy Goes Mainstream
Once limited to elite athletes and dermatology clinics, red light therapy (RLT) is now popping up in offices, wellness lounges, and even home saunas.
“There’s growing evidence that red light therapy supports mitochondrial health and reduces inflammation,” says Dr. Michael Hamblin, a leading researcher on photobiomodulation at Harvard Medical School.
Benefits being explored:
Muscle recovery
Joint health
Skin rejuvenation + wound healing
Reduce inflammation
Improved mood and energy levels
2. Nervous System Care is the New Self-Care
Stress relief is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity. In 2025, more people are turning to nervous system regulation tools to help manage burnout, anxiety, and mental fog.
From mindfulness practices and vagus nerve toning (with practices like breath-work) to contrast hydrotherapy (aka hot and cold immersion therapy), nervous system care is becoming part of our daily hygiene.
“When we regulate our nervous system, we regulate everything—from digestion to decision-making,” says Deb Dana, author of The Polyvagal Theory in Therapy.
💡Try this: Start your day with getting outside, putting your face in the sun and 5 deep belly breaths.
3. Analog Wellness Routines
The pendulum is swinging back toward tech boundaries and analog joy. From slow journaling and sketching to unplugged nature walks, people are rediscovering calm through screen-free rituals.
A recent study published in Nature Human Behaviour found that just 60 minutes in nature weekly is linked to lower anxiety and increased emotional resilience.
📓 Try a “tech-free morning” 1–2 days a week—just you, your thoughts, and some movement.
4. Personalized Nutrition Meets Whole Food Simplicity
Yes, AI nutrition tools and gut microbiome testing are exploding—but so is the desire to get back to basics. Cooking with local, seasonal, and real food is more than a trend—it’s a wellness pillar.
“The simplest way to improve your diet is to cook more at home and focus on real, minimally processed foods,” says Dr. Mark Hyman, MD, author of The Pegan Diet.
Our Nest cooking demos bring this to life each month—offering education around the importance of whole food cooking, blood sugar balance, and joyful cooking routines. This continues to be some of our favorite content month after month!
Nest Health Connections Cooking Demo - how to start are sourdough starter and bake bread with Kristin + Courtney, May 2025
5. Micro-Retreats & Accessible Wellness Escapes
People are opting for wellness in smaller, consistent doses. Think:
Half-day hiking getaways
Nature-based office wellness events
Community sound baths or yoga in the park
The Global Wellness Institute reports that wellness tourism is up 18% in 2025, especially in the form of short, local resets.
Want help planning one for your team? Nest has you covered. We have experiences in planning everything from local hikes and wellness days to week-long, international experiences!
Nest Health Connections Awake + Alive Retreat in Nosara, Costa Rica, May 2025
6. Mental Fitness Becomes Everyday Practice
There’s a growing awareness that our mental fitness—like physical fitness—requires regular, intentional training. Journaling, reframing exercises, and mindfulness practices are making their way into the workplace in 2025.
Organizations are also investing more in mental health programming—not just during crisis moments, but proactively.
“We’re not just managing stress—we’re cultivating psychological resilience,” says Dr. Laurie Santos, professor of psychology at Yale and host of The Happiness Lab.
Where Wellness Is Headed
The takeaway? Wellness in 2025 isn’t about more—it’s about meaningful. We’re seeing a deep return to the basics: nourishment, nervous system care, rest, connection, and nature.
At Nest, we believe in making these trends accessible—by bringing education, experiences, and connection into workplaces and communities everywhere.
YAY Wellness!! Week of Wellness hike with our client Marco, June, 2025
Want to bring these wellness practices to your team?
Let’s talk about custom programming that fits your culture.
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Written by Kristin Markey, Founder + CEO of Nest Health Connections