Ageing gracefully: are longevity lifestyles amongst the hottest wellness trends?

Carl Jung once said: "Life really begins at 40. Up until then, you are just doing research."

It's a quote I like - not least because 40 is very much on the horizon. While I take issue with the idea that 40 is in any way old (personally, I'm just beginning), what I especially like about this quote is that it seems to reflect the mindset of modern wellbeing - or at least the trajectory amongst some.

How we think about wellbeing

At the end of 2024, anticipating what would shape the year ahead, Vogue decried that 2025’s hottest trend (driven largely by GenZ and Millennials) would be longevity, which is to say not only 'living longer', but better. It’s a worthy endeavour, and one that does seem to be shaping a good percentage of the wellness industry. Vogue cited Euromonitor International’s ‘Top Global Consumer Trends 2025’ report, and wrote:

"The data analytics firm’s survey of more than 40,000 consumers showed people are making intentional changes within their wellness routines for the betterment of their future selves, with the goal to live healthier for longer. Many now believe they’ll be healthier in the next few years than they are now (52 per cent agreed with this statement, in comparison to 46 per cent in 2023) and that’s because they're investing in “preventative, specialised solutions”, according to the report."

Innovation and investment

They noted that the world of wellness offers opportunities for individuals to take some degree of control over their wellbeing, through the routine use of digital health and fitness tracking and supplements in particular. That is coupled with a more holistic view of what wellbeing means, not only spanning exercise and nutrition, but physical, mental, emotional, and sexual health - for example.

Women's health

A growing interest in, and push for understanding of, women's health marks a notable change in focus within the last decade. That's evidenced through a variety of things, ranging from increased investment in innovation to a rise in government and private sector initiatives specifically focused on women's health needs.

Personalised wellbeing

The final standout feature of Vogue's article, was the prediction that personalisation of products and services would be at the core of consumer demand. It's true to say that this has been the thread running through wellness for a few years now, and it's considered an important acknowledgement that the ability to tailor therapies, products, and treatments to the individual, their needs, and life stage, is an essential part of delivering care.

What is a longevity lifestyle?

The key takeaway from the report is that "Wellness is no longer a trend—it’s a lifestyle."

So, what does that really mean? Is it about having wearable tech and a cupboard full of supplements? Not specifically - at least not to our minds. Where wellness is often put down to wanting to look or feel a certain way - weight loss, rest and relaxation, and so forth - this is a growing interest in wanting to feel our best for as long as possible by developing a set of habits and choices that promote a longer, healthier life.

Harvard Health writes: "Experts estimate that about 25% of the variation in human lifespan is determined by genetics. But the rest can be attributed in large part to how we take care of our bodies. And that's important because there is more to longevity than duration. Most of us don't want to just live longer — we want to live longer while enjoying a good quality of life."

Within that, they talk about key attributes such as:

• Good nutrition (i.e., low sugar, low in unhealthy fats and processed foods)
• Regular exercise
• Getting enough sleep
• Low alcohol
• No smoking
• Hydration
• Social interactions
• A positive headspace

Perhaps the late Dick Van Dyke summed it up best, credited with saying: "At 30, I used to exercise to look good. At the age of 50 to be fit. At 70 not to be padded in a bed. At 80 to live without assistance. Now, at 99, I do it out of pure defiance."

Investing in our wellbeing

At Spabreaks.com we have always spoken about spas as a gateway to wellness - a chance to feel well, reconnect with your body, learn, experience new things, or simply be. Of course, they can be enjoyed as a luxury, but they are also an opportunity to step away from the chaos of daily life and enjoy your wellbeing.

While that might sound a little idealistic, there's real value and meaning in putting aside the phone, and having nothing to do but stop, be, and listen to your own body. The power of touch therapies to help you centre yourself never fails to catch us by surprise - even when we have the privilege of going to spas on a fairly regular basis.

Spas are places that introduce us to different ideas around wellbeing as well - nutrition, movement, skincare, meditation, routine, and ritual. So, this idea of longevity makes perfect sense, because to enjoy your health and wellbeing, in all its myriad forms and at all the different life stages, with all the synaptic connections between mind, body, and emotion, is really about helping us to enjoy life.