Published December 30, 2025 05:55AM
Each year—or month, for that matter—an onslaught of wellness trends surface, each promising to improve your quality of life. Mindfulness hacks, tips and tricks for boosting energy, new ways to unwind…the niche world swirls with suggestions.
With its attention to the breath and intentional movement, yoga is intrinsically tied to wellness. But there are certain other wellness practices that inspire our curiosity. This year, sleep quality took center stage, tech breaks were encouraged, and one editor committed to plunging her face into ice water every morning for a week.
Rather than asking you to overhaul your existing routines, the following wellness practices remind you that taking care of yourself should always be a priority—and feel like a blessing rather than a chore.
5 Wellness Trends We Tried in 2025
Choose the wellness practices that feel supportive to you rather than burdensome.
1. Sleepmaxxing
Whenever the Internet decides that rest is trendy, our ears perk up. So when 2025 introduced “sleepmaxxing” into the modern lexicon, we couldn’t wait. The term describes numerous efforts to (you guessed it) maximize your sleeping hours. This means taking everything into account, including your routine, environment, screen time, diet, and more—a truly comprehensive approach.
This may sound excessive, but as sleep touches every aspect of our lives, experts note that there’s some merit to the trend. “The quality of sleep takes priority over the quantity,” says Nicole Moshfegh, MD, clinical psychologist and author of The Book of Sleep. “Sleep disruptions can prevent you from reaching deep, restorative sleep, which is key to feeling truly rested.”
Just try not to get too obsessive about your bedtime routine since stress can quickly undo all your doing.
2. Best Time to Stretch
Yogis know that stretching is an essential part of any day. But when is the optimal time to loosen up your tense and taut muscles?
As it turns out, the best time to stretch is whenever works best for you, your body, and your routine. “If you find yourself to be an early riser with time to spare before obligations take over, then stretching in the morning can be great,” says Joe LaVacca, founder of Strength in Motion Physical Therapy. “If you find it easier to establish a routine in the evening after work, or before bed, then that will work, too.”
The takeaway? When you have a moment and feel the urge, drop into that Standing Forward Bend or Downward-Facing Dog and hang out for a minute or two. Your body will thank you for the purposeful pause.
3. Phone in Another Room at Night
Most of us seem somewhat aware that our dependency on our phone is…not good. And sleeping with all of the world’s information inches away? Probably not the best route to rest.
“Although the research is still evolving, there are several well-documented reasons why keeping your phone near you at night can be disruptive,” says Nicole Moshfegh, MD, clinical psychologist and author of The Book of Sleep. Blue light, notifications, and a general temptation to reach for your device all contribute to the issue.
I kicked off the year by stashing my phone in the bathroom each night rather than sleeping with it on my bedside table. The results were instant—almost alarmingly so. I experienced an immediate uptick in my dreams, more regulated rest, and the end of first-thing-in-the-morning email checking or doomscrolling. It’s one of the best decisions I made in 2025.
4. Tummy Time
What started as a body-building hack for babies became one of our go-to yoga poses in 2025. Namely, because TikTok introduced the masses to the concept of adult tummy time, which is moments spent on your stomach, your torso partially propped up by your forearms, and purported key to better posture. (Those in the know will recognize this as Sphinx Pose.)
Some influencers practiced the pose dynamically, staying upright for a few breaths before lowering down, while others sustained the position while working or scrolling with the help of a well-placed pillow.
Lauren Glisic PT, DPT, CSCS, and co-founder of Athletic Lab in Los Angeles, notes that dropping into the posture calls for minimal effort and no equipment yet can support breathing, spinal health, and, yes, posture.
5. Face in Ice Water
Most people who start their mornings by freezing their faces do so for the de-puffing. But it turns out that routinely dunking your face in ice water has the potential to benefit your mind, too.
One editor spent 7 days submerging her face in chilly water each morning. (Spoiler: she has since stopped.) Although she found the activity uncomfortable and slightly inconvenient (expect the possibility of a morning mess as well as water up your nose), she did notice a subsequent increase in productivity and a decrease in mindless scrolling on dunking days.
