I Tried These 2026 Wellness Trends So You Don’t Have To (What Helped, What Didn’t, and What Actually Mattered)
LET’S DIVE IN. 🖤
Okay, so one of your most-listened-to episodes from 2025 was the one where I walked y’all through the wellness trends I anticipated seeing that year. And because you loved it so much, I wanted to bring it back — but with a very intentional twist.
This time, instead of just talking about trends, I actually used them.
I tested the tools.
I tried the supplements.
I lived with the routines long enough to get an honest read — so I could tell you what helped, what didn’t, and what actually mattered in real life.
Because let’s be honest — wellness can get expensive fast. And most of us don’t want to spend hundreds (or thousands) of dollars trying all the things just to figure out what actually supports our bodies, our nervous systems, and our everyday lives.
So my goal here was simple:
Less hype. More lived experience. Real feedback.
But before we go any further, I need to say this clearly — because it sets the tone for the entire episode:
Fitness and health are not trends. Consistency is the foundation — everything else is just an add-on.
No tool, tech, supplement, or biohack will ever outwork consistent movement, nourishment, sleep, and stress care. The basics are boring — and they’re undefeated.
And here’s the other lens I wanted to bring into this conversation, because it’s often missing from wellness trend discussions:
Women don’t respond the same way every week of the month.
So instead of asking, “Does this work?”
I wanted to ask a better question:
“When does this work best?”
I tested these wellness tools while staying anchored in the basics — and I paid attention to how my body responded depending on where I was in my cycle. Because a tool that feels supportive in one phase can feel overstimulating in another — and that doesn’t mean the tool is bad. It means your body is communicating.
Before diving in, I used the same framework every time:
I focused on consistency over intensity
I avoided stacking too many changes at once
I paid attention to my nervous system, not just results
I tracked my lived experience more than metrics or promises
And for each tool or supplement, I kept coming back to a few simple questions:
Did this feel supportive or demanding?
Did it calm my nervous system or stimulate it?
Did it simplify my life or add another layer of management?
Would I reach for this during a low-energy or sensitive season?
This wasn’t about doing everything.
It was about discernment.
What follows isn’t a list of must-haves or one-size-fits-all recommendations. It’s an honest look at what helped, what didn’t, and what mattered more than any single tool — with the hope that it gives you permission to be selective, curious, and kind with yourself.
Consistency is queen.
The basics come first.
Everything else is just support.
Let’s dive in. 🖤
Trend #1: WEIGHTED WALKING VEST
So with that said, I want to start with the least flashy “trend” of all — because this is where everything else builds from.
Before tech.
Before supplements.
Before data.
Movement. And more specifically — the weighted walking vest.
This is one of those tools that doesn’t look flashy. It’s not trending because it’s pretty. And it’s definitely not something you buy hoping for instant transformation.
But wow… this one surprised me in the best way.
I have a 12-pound vest, and I use it almost exclusively on my regular walks.
I have a loop behind our house — about 40 minutes, roughly two miles — and this has become one of my favorite ways to move my body right now.
Same walk. Same trail.
Just a little more intention.
HOW I USED IT
I didn’t change anything else.
I didn’t walk longer.
I didn’t walk faster.
I didn’t turn it into a “workout.”
I just put the vest on and went for my normal walk.
And I also used it during bodyweight strength sessions, especially during this season where my elbow isn’t tolerating heavy load. The vest let me increase intensity without stressing my joints — which felt like such a gift.
WHAT I NOTICED
This is where it really clicked for me.
The vest didn’t make movement harder in a punishing way — it made it more efficient.
I felt:
more engaged through my core
more intentional with posture
more present in my body
And because walking already feels accessible and regulating for me, this didn’t spike my nervous system at all.
It felt grounding.
Sustainable.
Quietly effective.
Which, honestly, is my favorite kind of support.
WHY THIS WORKED SO WELL FOR ME
Here’s the key:
This tool layered onto something I was already doing. It took an existing rhythm and gently elevated it. And that’s a huge reason I loved it.
ANY DOWNSIDES?
Truly? Not many.
The only real con is that the vest I chose isn’t adjustable — so I’m locked in at 12 pounds unless I upgrade to a more expensive option.
But honestly, that was a very intentional decision.
I didn’t want to invest in the priciest version right out of the gate. I wanted to make sure this was something I’d actually use — and not just another wellness purchase collecting dust.
For me, starting simple was the right call.
WHO THIS IS GREAT FOR
If you:
already enjoy walking
want to increase strength or bone density gently
are in a joint-sensitive season
don’t want another “high effort” workout
or are in perimenopause and thinking about longevity
This is such a solid option.
Especially if intense workouts feel like too much right now.
WHO CAN PROBABLY SKIP IT
If walking feels like a chore you already avoid… this probably won’t change that.
This works best when it supports movement you already like — not when it’s trying to force motivation.
WHAT MATTERED MORE THAN THE VEST
Just like the mask, the vest wasn’t the magic.
The magic was:
consistency
realistic expectations
and choosing something that fit my current season
This wasn’t about doing more.
It was about doing what I was already doing — a little better.
Movement is already a staple in my routine — walking, getting outside, letting my body move in a way that feels supportive. That part didn’t need optimizing, but it felt fun to find a new tool to bring into the mix to challenge myself and strengthen my body.
Trend #2: Red Light Therapy MASK
The next trend I experimented with was an addition to my skincare routine — and probably the one you’re seeing everywhere right now:
At-home red light therapy masks.
Honestly what surprised me most about red light therapy had very little to do with my skin… and everything to do with how calm it made my body feel so let’s talk about the whole experience.
If you’ve been on Instagram for more than five minutes, you’ve seen them — the Freddy Kruger looking masks, glowing faces, claims about collagen, anti-aging, dark spots, longevity… the whole thing. I would be lying if I told you I wasn’t slightly curious about owning one of these.
A couple things I was curious about:
👉 How does this feel to actually live with? Am I going to feel ridiculous wearing this? (The answer is YES ha! Full blown YES)
👉 Does it actually support my skin + wellness routine — or does it become another thing to manage, another tool to collect dust in a drawer?
👉 And when does it feel most helpful in my day to day and also in my cycle?
HOW I TESTED IT
I’ve been using my red light mask for about four weeks now.
I realized quickly that I love to use it at night — and that detail matters.
I loved stacking it into my evening skincare routine and making it a part of my PM wind down. After cleansing my face, before applying any skincare, I put the mask on and let it run its automated 10-minute session. No multitasking. No moving around. Just stillness.
And honestly?
This is where the magic has been for me.
Not in the skin results — at least not yet — but in the ritual.
It became a very clear signal to my body that we’re winding down.
I usually close my eyes — sometimes I pair it with a short meditation — and those ten minutes feel incredibly relaxing before bed.
If I’m being real, I’d probably use it every night just for that feeling alone… even though most guidelines say three to five times a week is plenty.
WHAT I NOTICED (SO FAR)
Here’s the honest update:
It’s too soon for me to speak confidently about changes in dark spots or visible aging — and I want to be very transparent about that.
What I have noticed is this:
My evenings feel calmer
My transition into sleep feels smoother
My nighttime routine feels supportive instead of rushed
It never feels like a chore
And that matters more than we give credit for.
Because a tool you actually want to use is far more powerful than one you avoid because it feels like work.
WHO THIS FELT MOST SUPPORTIVE FOR
This mask felt especially lovely during my luteal and menstrual phases — when my nervous system is more sensitive and I’m craving a little more coziness.
If you’re someone who:
struggles to wind down at night
wants a calming anchor in your evening routine
enjoys ritual and stillness
is already consistent with basic skincare
This could be a really supportive add-on.
WHO CAN PROBABLY SKIP IT
If you’re looking for:
a multitasking tool
something you can wear while moving around or reading
full-body red light therapy
or fast, dramatic results
This probably isn’t your thing.
And also — if consistency isn’t your strong suit right now, I’d skip it. Not because the tool is bad — but because it works best when it’s part of an existing rhythm, not something you’re forcing yourself to do.
WHAT MATTERED MORE THAN THE MASK
And this is the part I really want to emphasize:
The biggest benefit didn’t come from the technology.
It came from:
consistency
expectations
and where it lived in my routine
I paired it with:
retinol
night cream
a solid morning skincare routine
The mask didn’t replace the basics — it supported them.
And that’s the theme you’ll hear me repeat throughout this episode.
So for me, red light therapy wasn’t about anti-aging (not yet at least!)
It’s surprisingly been about regulation.
About creating a moment of calm that my body started to recognize and crave as a part of my PM routine.
Trend #3: Oura Ring— Wearable Sleep + WELLNESS DATA
Okay so the tools I’ve shared so far are mostly about how something feels in your body.
But this next one is about seeing the patterns. Let’s talk about wearable sleep + wellness data tools and I’m going to use the Oura ring as my frame of reference.
I’ve been wearing an Oura ring for years now — so long that I honestly forget it’s even on my finger. And because I’ve lived with it through different seasons of life, I can share both what it taught me early on… and how I use it now. I’ve used it across different seasons — training cycles, stress, travel, TTC, hormone shifts. And I think that perspective really matters when we talk about tools like this bc it gives a fuller scope.
WHAT IT TAUGHT ME IN THE BEGINNING
When I first got it, I checked my stats every morning.
I was fascinated by:
REM vs deep sleep
how often I was waking up
how long it actually took me to fall asleep
And the biggest wake-up call?
My time in bed was nowhere near my time asleep.
I thought I was getting 7–9 hours of sleep — but the data showed I was robbing myself of real rest. That awareness alone helped me make small changes that actually improved how long and how deeply I slept.
MY FAVE COMPONENT: CYCLE TRACKING
One of my favorite features — especially as a woman — is cycle tracking.
Oura pairs with the Natural Cycles app, which helped me:
track ovulation and fertility windows
anticipate cycle start dates
notice how my sleep, energy, and readiness shifted across phases
It gave me more agency. I could plan movement, food, and expectations with my body instead of working against it.
SYMPTOMS RADAR + STRESS INSIGHT
Another feature I’ve loved is the symptoms radar.
It flags:
no signs
minor signs
major signs
Basically, it lets you know when your body is under strain — sometimes before you feel sick. That gave me permission to rest early instead of waiting until I was knocked out.
You also get insight into:
readiness
sleep
activity
stress and recovery
TAGGING + PATTERN RECOGNITION
One of the most powerful (and underrated) features is sleep tagging.
You can tag things like:
alcohol
caffeine
late meals
workouts
magnesium or melatonin
white noise
solo vs shared sleep
travel, stress, or illness
and so much more
Over time, patterns become impossible to ignore. For me, alcohol was a big one. Even one glass of wine showed up clearly in my sleep and recovery scores. Seeing that consistently helped me naturally step away from it — not out of restriction, but awareness for how I wanted future me (aka morning me) to feel.
FOUR YEARS LATER: HOW I USE IT NOW
Honestly, four years in, I don’t check the app every day.
There are weeks I forget to charge it.
Weeks I don’t look at my data at all.
I’ve learned my patterns. I know what helps and what hurts my sleep. Now I use the ring as a check-in tool, not a daily report card.
CONS
A few honest downsides:
It’s a monthly subscription
It’s less robust for exercise tracking than some other wearables
Other rings offer more personalized prompts around caffeine timing, etc.
For me, the Oura ring was about learning my body well enough to trust her.
Awareness changes behavior.
Data without obsession is powerful.
And eventually, the goal is to listen without needing the app.
Trend #4: microdosing CBD + THC for Stress & Sleep Support
Alright, let’s talk about sleep support — specifically CBD and THC .
WHAT CBD + THC MICRODOSING ACTUALLY IS
Before I share my experience, I want to pause and clarify something — especially for anyone listening who’s never tried CBD or THC before.
When we talk about microdosing, we are not talking about getting high.
We’re talking about nervous system support. And I want to break down what each of these are and how they make you feel for anyone curious but nervous.
CBD (Cannabidiol)
CBD is non-psychoactive.
It does not make you feel high.
It works by supporting the body’s endocannabinoid system, which plays a role in:
stress regulation
sleep
inflammation
mood balance
Most people experience CBD as:
calming
grounding
soothing — not sedating
THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) — in microdoses
This is where fear often comes in.
In very small amounts — like 1 mg — THC isn’t about intoxication.
It’s often used to:
quiet racing thoughts
relax the body
deepen sleep
At microdose levels, many people don’t “feel” THC — they just notice:
fewer nighttime wakeups
less mental chatter
more ease
CBN
CBN is often called the “sleep cannabinoid.”
It’s commonly used for:
staying asleep
deeper rest
physical relaxation
The key thing to understand is that this isn’t about altering your consciousness.
It’s about supporting your nervous system when it struggles to downshift.
This is not for everyone.
And it doesn’t need to be.
Some people do great with melatonin.
Some don’t tolerate THC at all.
Some prefer magnesium.
Some need lifestyle shifts before supplements.
There is no moral hierarchy in sleep tools.
There is only alignment. Okay…back to my experience with microdosing —
Sleep has never come easily to me. I’ve dealt with insomnia, looping thoughts at night, waking up multiple times, and struggling to fall back asleep for most of my adult life. So when I test sleep tools, I’m not casually testing — I’m testing from a place of real need.
Before I talk about the new brand I tested, I want to be really clear about my baseline — because context matters.
I’ve been using Medterra Sleep Tight gummies for a long time, and they have genuinely changed my life when it comes to sleep.
They:
calm my nervous system + my mind
help me fall asleep and stay asleep (which is huge for me)
don’t make me groggy the next day
So when I decided to test a new brand, it wasn’t because Medterra stopped working — it was purely for comparison and curiosity.
For this episode, I tested the Cured Nutrition Tranquility Bundle, which includes:
Serenity Gummies (for relaxation and stress relief)
Dream Gummies (for sleep and restoration)
I wanted to see how these worked both for winding down and for actual sleep.
SERENITY GUMMIES
Let’s start with the Serenity Gummies, because these were a win for me.
These are meant for relaxation — not sleep — and that distinction matters.
I found them to be a really lovely way to come home from work and transition into the evening without knocking me out.
They helped me:
unwind mentally
release the day
calm my body without making me sleepy
This is where I’d reach for them:
after work
during luteal or menstrual phases when my nervous system is more sensitive
on evenings when I want to relax but still stay present
These felt supportive, not sedating.
DREAM GUMMIES
Now let’s talk about the Dream Gummies.
This is where I want to be really honest — because honesty is the point of this episode.
For my body, these did not work as well as my Medterra gummies.
I didn’t stay asleep.
I woke up more during the night.
And they had a stronger THC taste that I personally didn’t love.
That doesn’t mean they’re bad.
It just means they weren’t the right fit for me — especially as someone who struggles deeply with staying asleep.
And this is such an important reminder:
Just because something works for someone else doesn’t mean it will work for you.
Sleep support is incredibly individual.
Some people need help falling asleep.
Some people need help staying asleep.
Some people are sensitive to THC.
Some people do better with melatonin.
Some don’t tolerate melatonin at all.
This is why wellness tools aren’t “good” or “bad” — they’re either aligned or not aligned for you.
MY FULL SLEEP STACK
What I want to emphasize here is this:
No gummy works in isolation.
Here’s what actually supports my sleep — consistently:
Phone parked at least an hour before bed
No phone in my bedroom
My Medterra Sleep Tight gummy during my nighttime routine
Red light therapy mask for 10 minutes
Reading fiction until my eyes get heavy
Lights out + the “Nothing Much Happens” sleep story podcast
Sleep mask + fan for airflow and white noise
The gummy supports the routine — it doesn’t replace it.
So my takeaway here is this:
Serenity Gummies → beautiful for evening relaxation
Dream Gummies → not the right sleep solution for me
Medterra Sleep Tight → still my go-to for deep, sustained sleep
And the bigger lesson?
The goal isn’t to find “the best” product.
The goal is to find what supports your nervous system — in this season of life.
Trend #5: everyday dose - Functional Mushrooms & Adaptogen coffee
Alright, next up is one that gets a lot of hype — mushroom and adaptogen coffee. Specifically, Everyday Dose.
And I want to say this up front, because context matters — I own a coffee shop. I love really good coffee. I’m a bit of a coffee snob. So if you’re wondering whether this replaces a beautiful cup of real coffee flavor-wise… it doesn’t. Mushroom and adaptogen coffee is not trying to be coffee the way we think about coffee. If you go into it expecting your favorite latte or drip, you’re probably going to be disappointed.
But if you go into it with a different mindset — thinking of it more like a warm, functional beverage… closer to black tea than coffee — it starts to make a lot more sense.
Once I shifted my expectations, I actually found myself really enjoying it.
INGREDIENT BREAKDOWN
What I do love about Everyday Dose is the ingredient profile — because it aligns with how I’ve been trying to fuel my body in this season.
Hydrolyzed bovine collagen peptides
This provides 18 amino acids that support joints, bones, skin, hair, and gut health — all things that matter more to me in my 40s than a caffeine spike.
Lion’s Mane + Chaga
These are functional mushrooms that support focus, cognitive function, and immune health — which is very different from just jolting your nervous system awake.
L-Theanine
This is a big one for me. L-theanine is an amino acid that promotes calm, focused energy. It’s often found naturally in green tea — and it’s one of the reasons tea feels different than coffee. Instead of a sharp spike followed by a crash, L-theanine helps smooth out stimulation. You get alertness without the jitters. Honestly, I think we’re going to hear a lot more about L-theanine in 2026 — because so many women are overstimulated, wired, and tired at the same time.
HOW I ACTUALLY USE IT
I’ve found this most helpful in two ways—
In the morning, I love it warm while I do my morning routine. It’s a gentle wake-up — not aggressive, not rushed.
And I also really enjoy it iced in the afternoon, especially on days when I want something comforting but don’t want a coffee crash or disrupted sleep later.
WHO THIS IS FOR / NOT FOR
If you love coffee and never want to touch anything else — totally fine. Keep your coffee. But if you’re in a season of wanting calmer energy, fewer crashes, and more support under the surface — this one makes sense. It’s a great place to start if you’re wanting to reduce caffiene intake and gain more clairy and focus in your day. It’s less about replacing something — and more about supporting your body differently.
Trend #6: Digital Boundaries & Attention Hygiene w/ The Brick
Alright — this last one isn’t about your body at all. But it might be the most impactful wellness tool I’ve used.
Because this year, more than anything, I’m paying attention to what’s happening with our attention.
In 2025, I took forty days completely off social media. No scrolling. No posting. No checking. And I don’t say this lightly — it was life-changing. Not in a dramatic or aesthetic way. In a quiet, grounding, clarifying way.
My thoughts felt calmer. My nervous system felt steadier. My creativity came back. I could read again. I could sit with myself without instinctively reaching for my phone every few minutes. And it confirmed something I had already started to suspect — we’re not tired because we’re lazy or unmotivated. We’re tired because our attention is constantly being pulled.
Around that same time, I was reading a lot about what technology is doing to our focus, our nervous systems, and our ability to think deeply. And I could feel it in my own body — the constant checking, the mental loops, the low-grade anxiety, the feeling of being scattered even when nothing was technically wrong.
We are more distracted than ever, and we’re calling it productivity.
Here’s the thing though — traditional app blockers don’t really work for me. My work is online. I need access to certain apps for my job. And the minute something is essential, my brain finds a workaround. So it wasn’t about removing access altogether — it was about creating friction.
That’s where Brick comes in.
WHAT IS BRICK?
Brick is a physical device that blocks distracting apps on your phone — but only when you tap your phone to it. Instead of a digital setting you can override in two seconds, there’s a pause built in. If I want to unlock social apps, I have to physically walk to where the Brick is, tap my phone, and make a conscious decision.
That moment of friction is everything.
I don’t use Brick to eliminate social media entirely. I use it to contain it. When I’m working, reading, resting, or trying to be present, my distracting apps are blocked. If I actually need to post, respond, or do work, I unlock them intentionally.
And what surprised me most wasn’t how often I needed to unlock it — it was how often I didn’t.
This is what I mean when I talk about attention hygiene. Just like sleep hygiene or nutrition hygiene, attention hygiene is about protecting what you allow into your nervous system. Because what you give your attention to shapes your energy, your mood, your creativity, and eventually your life.
WHO THIS IS FOR
If you feel scattered all the time…
if you struggle to focus…
if you pick up your phone without meaning to…
if you’re tired but can’t rest —
this isn’t a discipline problem. It’s an environment problem.
Brick helps you design an environment that supports the version of you you’re trying to become.
Of all the tools I’ve shared today, this one has nothing to do with optimization and everything to do with protection. Because when you protect your attention, you protect your peace.
And in a world that profits off of distraction, that might be one of the most meaningful acts of self-care we have.
So as we wrap this up, I want to zoom us back out — because none of this was truly about trends.
It wasn’t about buying more tools, chasing the next thing, or trying to “optimize” yourself into a better version.
This episode was about discernment.
Every single tool I shared today only worked when it supported the basics — not when it tried to replace them. Movement. Sleep. Nourishment. Stress care. Presence. Consistency. Those are the foundation. Always.
The wellness tools that actually helped me weren’t the ones that demanded more effort or discipline. They were the ones that met me where I was — that felt supportive instead of performative, calming instead of activating, grounding instead of overwhelming.
And maybe the most important takeaway here is this:
If something doesn’t work for you, that doesn’t mean you failed.
It means your body is communicating.
Wellness isn’t about doing what’s trending. It’s about listening — and learning when something supports you, when it overstimulates you, and when it simply isn’t for this season of your life.
I also want to say this clearly, especially if you’re feeling behind or overwhelmed:
You do not need to do all of this.
You don’t need every tool. You don’t need every supplement. You don’t need to keep up with what everyone else is doing. One small, supportive shift can change everything — especially when it’s chosen intentionally.
The question I keep coming back to is the same one I asked myself throughout this entire experiment:
Does this help me live better in my actual life?
If it simplifies, supports, and steadies you — keep it.
If it adds pressure, guilt, or noise — you’re allowed to let it go.
Consistency is still queen.
The basics still come first.
And everything else is just support.
So take what resonates. Leave what doesn’t. Trust your body. Trust your season. And give yourself permission to choose wellness that feels livable — not impressive.
I’m really glad you’re here. And I’ll see you next week on The Self Care Sisterhood Podcast. 🤍
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