I Took On 52 Fitness Challenges For A Year And Here’s What Happened

Digital Detox Retreats

The constant need to check emails, texts, and social media has led to burnout and stress. The American Psychological Associations' Stress in America survey found that a fifth of U.S. adults cited technology use as a significant source of stress in their life. Constantly being plugged in can affect both our mental and physical health. Taking a conscious break from screens to reconnect with ourselves and others will become a necessity in 2025. Expect even wellness retreats to offer more phone-free spaces and adventures. (See The White Lotus season 3, episode 1!). Whether it’s an hour a day or a weekend getaway, we allow our minds to rest and reduce the overwhelming feeling caused by information overload.

Saunas Everywhere

At-home saunas are the latest self care status symbol and will continue to trend into 2025 as they become more affordable (this portable sauna from Target is only $150!). Urban saunas, floating saunas, even speed-dating saunas are bringing this ancient tradition back and making it more accessible. Sauna blankets help improve circulation, detoxification through sweating, and relaxation of muscles and joints. A regular sauna routine can help reduce stress, promote better sleep, and boost heart health. The heat is also good for skin and your body's recover post-workout. Community saunas and bathhouses are also gaining in popularity, especially among younger generations who prefer the social aspect with phones and other distractions.

Train Travel

Trains are competing with spas and resorts to offer wellness-focused journeys. London's LNER Wellness Train offers activities like knitting, macrame, doodling, meditation, and games. The Golden Chariot in South India offers a spa and fitness experience while the Royal Scotsman has a Dior Spa Carriage and offers views of the Scottish Highlands for a low-stress travel experience.

Gentle Workouts

High-impact exercises can often leave our bodies feeling strained. By incorporating gentle exercise into your fitness routine, you allow your body to move in a way that reduces stress and tension. Workouts like yoga, pilates, or walking, help you become more in tune with your breathing and heart rate, which helps you feel calm. It's a great way to reach your 2025 fitness goals while also improving your mental health.

AI-Driven Wellness Devices

Biohacking wellness trends like tracking sleep, nutrition, and exercise are helping people optimize their health and potentially their life span. According to a recent McKinsey report, more than 60 percent of people have said it’s extremely or very important to purchase longevity products, and 70 percent are planning to buy more products in the future. Wearable robotics are continuing to drive this trend, and allowing more people to turn their healthcare into a lifestyle, rather than waiting for an annual checkup. People are also using at-home diagnostic tools and e-health services to manage their health at home.

Smarter Supplements 

According to SuperAge, supplements are getting smarter, more personalized, and adaptive to individual needs, thanks to AI, biomarker testing, and genetic insights. Formulas targeting menopause, hormonal balance, and fertility are becoming a major focus for women's health too. Shop immunity supplements, nootropics (for focus and memory), multivitamins and more on Amazon's health and wellness site.

Wellness Gardens

Wellness gardens are the perfect escape from the bustle of daily life, and can promote health and wellness with thoughtfully curated elements like aromatic plants, water features, and comfortable seating. Greenery, soothing sounds, and sitting outdoors in nature can encourage you to be more mindful and less stressed while homegrown food, herbs, and edible flowers nourish you for the season.

Functional Medicine

Functional medicine is a personalized, science-based approach to healthcare that focuses on identifying and addressing the root causes of disease rather than just treating symptoms. It considers genetics, lifestyle, and environmental factors to create individualized treatment plans, emphasizing nutrition, gut health, and holistic wellness for long-term health and disease prevention. Functional foods are nutrient-rich foods that provide health benefits beyond basic nutrition — so foods filled with vitamins, minerals, fiber, antioxidants, or probiotics to support digestion, boost immunity, or reduce inflammation. Examples include fermented foods like yogurt and kimchi, which promote gut health, or fatty fish like salmon, rich in omega-3s, which support heart health. Next time you food shop, look out for these foods and incorporate them into daily meals to enhance your overall wellness and help prevent chronic health conditions.

Light Therapy

An estimated 10 million Americans are affected by Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), according to Psychology Today. Designing your home for better natural light, especially in winter, can help regulate the body’s circadian rhythm, improving sleep quality and energy levels. Use sheer curtains in active spaces like the kitchen, living room, and home office, and open up blinds to allow as much natural light in, stimulating vitamin D production to keep bone health and immune function in check. Mentally, natural light has been shown to boost mood, reduce stress, and alleviate symptoms of depression by increasing serotonin levels. It can also improve focus, productivity, and creativity while you work. For long winter nights, invest in a light therapy lamp too.

Wellness Journaling

Wellness journaling helps you track your physical, emotional, and mental well-being. By documenting your daily habits, moods, and goals, you can start to see patterns, manage stress, and focus mindfulness and on your personal growth. Check out this Papier journal for tracking your 2025 wellness goals.

Smart Indoor Air Monitors

Improving indoor air quality is so important for a healthy home. According to the EPA, Americans, on average, spend approximately 90 percent of their time indoors, where the concentrations of pollutants can be 2 to 5 times higher than they are outdoors. Open windows when possible or use air purifiers with HEPA filters to reduce allergens, dust, and pollutants. Houseplants like snake plants and spider plants can also help purify the air naturally. Regularly clean and vacuum to keep dust mites and mold at bay, and avoid using harsh chemical cleaners that release volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Invest in a smart air quality monitor to give yourself peace of mind.

Water Filtration Systems

Home water filtration is becoming a vital wellness trend, as people seek cleaner, safer drinking water. Advanced filtration systems remove contaminants like chlorine, lead, and bacteria, and eco-conscious designs, such as reverse osmosis and carbon filters, improve water quality while reducing our reliance on bottled water. Shower filtration systems are a great way to keep chlorine, heavy metals, and other impurities out of your tap water, which can cause dryness, irritation, and dullness. Have dry skin or scalp? Shower filters help maintain skin’s natural moisture barrier and can be gentler on sensitive skin.

Sleep Divorcing

A sleep divorce, when you sleep in separate beds or rooms to get a better night's sleep, can save your marriage. While it may sound extreme, many couples find that it improves both their sleep and relationship. Snoring, differing sleep schedules, or constant tossing and turning can keep you and your partner up all night, leading to fatigue and irritability (never great for communication). Sleep divorce is about prioritizing your health and theirs, and many couples report feeling more refreshed, connected, and happier in their relationships as a result. Not ready for a sleep divorce? Try this Scandinavian sleep method.

Modern Pilgrimaging

Modern pilgrimages, where you or you with a group travel to a sacred or meaningful site, nature retreat, or cultural landmark, with an emphasis on mindfulness, inner growth, and personal transformation, are forecasted to grow in 2025 as more people seek community and the great outdoors. Many people seek these experiences as a way to disconnect from daily routines, practice meditation, or explore new spiritual perspectives.

Dry Brushing

I always think of Gwyneth Paltrow when I think of dry brushing. She showed us during her typical Goop-inspired shower routine that she never takes a shower without one. It simply involves brushing your skin with a natural-bristle brush to exfoliate dead cells and stimulate circulation. It can help improve skin texture, unclog pores, and promote lymphatic drainage, which supports detoxification. Regular dry brushing may reduce the appearance of cellulite, increase energy, and leave the skin feeling smoother and more refreshed. For best results, brush before your shower for max benefits.

Sexual Health

Sexual wellness is becoming less taboo for 2025. As conversations around sexual health become more normalized, products and services like sex education, therapy, and health-enhancing products will become more accessible. Trends include the rise of personalized sexual health solutions, such as tailored supplements and tech-enabled devices for a better sex life. Platforms offering education, therapy, and community support will also grow, empowering us to explore our sexual wellness in a holistic, shame-free way.

Wild Swimming

Water wellness, a growing trend in 2025, emphasizes the health benefits of hydration and water-based therapies, like hydrotherapy (hot baths, cold plunges, steam rooms) to relieve pain, improve circulation, and reduce stress. Float therapy (a float tank filled with Epsom salt water), mineral baths using magnesium and sulfur to detoxify the body, and swimming in hot springs for relaxation, muscle tension relief, and improving circulation are giving rise to the therapeutic benefits of our natural waters.

1. It Can Help You Examine Your Relationship With Social Media & The News

Do you have a healthy relationship with social media and the news, or have you been doom scrolling? I'll be the first to say I've had to set strict limits for myself because it's been too easy to stay glued to gossip sites and what's happening in the world. While it's always great to be informed, there is a such thing as information overload that can affect us mentally and emotionally.

Make an effort to find activities to occupy your time sans scrolling endlessly on Instagram, TikTok, or other news platforms.

2. It Allows You To Be Honest With Yourself If You're An Overthinker

Have you been allowing overthinking to make you feel stressed? If so, you should try writing down or repeating a few phrases to help you calm down. They're such a big help if you have anxiety because they remind you that you can be present in the moment instead of existing solely in your head.

3. It Opens You Up To Asking For Help

This should be in all caps, but I don't want you to think I'm yelling at you. It's just, I know what it's like to be hyper-independent while embodying the traits of a "strong woman." But, there's some things you can't #GirlBoss or #LuckyGirlSyndrome your way out, and it can be devastating if you don't like asking for help maneuvering a tough event.

I'm still processing an emergency situation I was in after what was supposed to be a routine doctor's visit, so I've been out of my element whenever I lean on my family and friends for emotional support. I usually like to deal with sad or scary situations by myself, but not all things are meant to be shouldered by ourselves.

What I can tell you is that asking for help and receiving it makes life a little more peaceful because there's no extra burden of hurting while trying to portray a role society claims it loves.

4. You'll Become Comfortable Journaling Your Thoughts

I sound like a broken record, but I feel strongly about journaling your thoughts. It's a way of processing things that have happened and how you feel about them. Also, it can be a place where you create lists of goals, books you want to read, hobbies you want to try, and more!

5. You'll Give Yourself Permission To Rest

If you can, push the pause button on being available to everyone for a couple of days. Even if you're an extrovert, it never hurts to occasionally stay in bed and do nothing. Take it from someone who has a hard time resting: you're not "lazy" if you're not always going somewhere or talking to someone.

It's completely fine to reset your mind, body, and soul.

6. You'll Begin To Do Nice Things For Yourself 

Buying myself flowers is one of my favorite things to do in my soft girl era. Instead of waiting for a man to surprise me with a bouquet outside of Valentine's Day, I regularly adorn my home with tulips or sunflowers. They bring a touch of beauty and greenery to my space which helps on WFH days that feel challenging.

7. It's A Great Way To Rediscover Your Love Of Reading 

Can you think of the one book that makes you laugh, smile, and cry tears of joy? If so, that's the book you'll want to keep near your nightstand. It'll help you break up with your dependence on screen time while also giving you a chance to let your imagination fly. The added bonus is that you'll fall back in love with reading!

8. You'll Genuinely Find Ways To Nourish Your Body.

Being a soft girl isn't just about looking good or reaching for fun things, it's also about nourishing your body with healthy meals. Sometimes we eat and drink things that our digestive system doesn't like, so I'm recommending that you make small changes to your meals.

You can create your own Mediterranean bowl à la Cava or aim to eat more fruits and veggies during the week. Whatever you choose, just remember to start small!

9. You May Even Adopt A Sober Lifestyle

Whether you know it or not, there's great joy in grabbing a non-alcoholic beverage with your bestie in the city. You can catch up about life, share your dreams or whatever's troubling you, and sip the greenest beverage that beats the idea of eating green eggs and ham. That's right — I'm talking about matcha.

Is it the pretty green hue we can't stop staring at or does it really taste that good? Let's compromise and say it's both!

10. Solo Activities Won't Feel Daunting

You don't have to be the next Frida Kahlo to enjoy a paint class! I personally like to engage in coloring or painting because it helps me find something else to focus on. Though it seems simple, the art of having a fun hobby you're not trying to perfect or gain profit from sparks your inner kid's joy.

11. The Beach Will Actually Feel Relaxing For Once

You deserve a mini vacation that includes putting beach towel down on hot sand near the ocean so you can read your newest TBR pick. It's soothing feeling the sun on your skin while a gentle breeze blows which is why I recommend everyone try to experience it a few times per month.

Is Ryan Gosling going to be in Star Wars?

Star Wars: Starfighter comes to theaters on May 28, 2027. #StarWarsCelebrationpic.twitter.com/dsbVb3VdBY

— Star Wars (@starwars) April 18, 2025

Yes, Ryan Gosling is going to lead a brand new Star Wars movie called Star Wars: Starfighter.

The movie was announced at the Star Wars Celebration in Tokyo, and both Ryan and Shawn showed up IRL! The Fall Guy proved he has what it takes to maintain that cool-guy vibe (just like Han Solo honestly), and I hope Starfighter has the same urban sci-fi adventure I love to see in Star Wars.

Where can I watch Star Wars: Starfighter?

Star Wars: Starfighter is coming to theaters May 28, 2027.

The movie's coming just after Avengers: Secret Wars, but it's not the next time Marvel and Star Wars could duke it out in the box office. Avengers: Doomsday is coming to theaters May 1, 2026, ahead of The Mandalorian & Grogu, which premieres May 22, 2026. Yes. That's a lot of Pedro Pascal, thank goodness.

What is the Star Wars Starfighter movie?

Star Wars: Starfighter is a brand new Star Wars movie that's set apart from any of the trilogies we've seen so far (although it looks like it's part of a brand new trilogy!). The movie is a "standalone adventure taking place approximately five years after the events of 2019's Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker."

But even though the final movie ended on a peaceful note, Ryan Gosling's character is sure to be in for some kind of crazy adventure. "This is the perfect place to start this journey for us, because it's such an incredible reminder of why we're going to make this movie and who we're going to make this movie for," Ryan said at the Star Wars Celebration (via Entertainment Weekly). "[The] script is just so good. It has such a great story with great and original characters."

"This is a standalone. It's not a prequel, not a sequel. It's a new adventure," Shawn added. "It's set in a period of time that we haven’t seen explored yet."

When is Starfighter filming?

Filming for the movie is scheduled to begin the fall of 2025.

What is a Starfighter?

A starfighter in Star Wars is a small but armed starship used in battle.