Wellness Overload: What It Really Means to Be Well in 2025
Wellness is everywhere. It’s in your fridge and your feed. It’s in your smartwatch, your skincare routine, your supplements. You can track your steps, your sleep, your heart rate—and now, even your emotional state. From cold plunges and collagen to parasite cleanses and hormone panels, wellness has evolved into a full-blown identity. But somewhere in all this noise, we have to ask: What does “wellness” mean anymore?
What Is Wellness Supposed to Be?
According to a widely cited definition supported by the National Institutes of Health, wellness is:
“An active process of becoming aware of and making choices toward a healthy and fulfilling life.”
— NIH, via PMC
It’s not just the absence of illness—it’s about balance, intentionality, and aligning your daily habits with long-term well-being. It includes physical health, yes—but also emotional, intellectual, social, spiritual, occupational, and environmental health.
At its core, is about living fully. And that looks different for everyone.
The Saturated Wave
In a recent editorial titled “Does Anyone Know What ‘Wellness’ Means Anymore?”, WIRED editor-in-chief Katie Drummond takes a bold look at what the modern wellness industry has become. And frankly? It’s a lot.
The article calls out how wellness—once about basic self-care—has become a $6.3 trillion industry that often blurs the line between health and hype. Drummond writes:
“Wellness has become a catchall term for anything remotely health-adjacent—infrared saunas, parasite cleanses, collagen gummies, neurofeedback headbands.”
What began as a way to support better living has morphed into a high-tech, high-cost identity that can feel overwhelming, contradictory, and at times, misleading.
Think about it: one day you’re told to sleep more. Next, you need to cold plunge at 5am and biohack your mitochondria. It’s a full-time job just trying to keep up.
Animal Wellness: A Simpler Model
In stark contrast to human wellness culture, another WIRED article—“Animals Are the Original Wellness Influencers”, offers a refreshing take: maybe we’re overthinking this!
Across the animal kingdom, creatures instinctively practice forms of self-care that support their survival:
- Sparrows incorporate nicotine-rich cigarette butts into nests to repel parasites.
- Orangutans create herbal poultices using leaves with anti-inflammatory properties.
- Whales and dolphins exfoliate their skin by rubbing against coral and kelp.
- Monkeys and caterpillars self-medicate with certain plants when infected.
These behaviors aren’t marketed, tracked, or optimized – they’re innate. They serve a purpose. And they reflect what real wellness can look like: simple, effective, and rooted in the body’s needs.
This instinctual approach to well-being stands in sharp contrast to the overengineered solutions marketed to humans; health doesn’t need to be so complicated.
The Real Framework: Seven Dimensions of Wellness
Let’s revisit the original model, outlined in this NIH-backed review. These Seven Dimensions of Wellness remain a powerful, science-backed guide:
- Physical – Movement, nutrition, sleep, and preventive care
- Emotional – Self-awareness, resilience, and mental health
- Intellectual – Lifelong learning, creativity, and curiosity
- Spiritual – Purpose, meaning, and values
- Social – Relationships, connection, and community
- Occupational – Satisfaction and fulfillment in work
- Environmental – Living in harmony with your surroundings
Why Wellness Feels So Overwhelming
Let’s be honest: wellness today often feels like another form of pressure. The constant push to be “better,” “cleaner,” or “optimized” can lead to burnout, not balance.
What was once empowering is now performative. It’s not about how you feel, it’s about how you look doing it. If your self-care routine leaves you more anxious than relaxed, it’s time to reevaluate!
We’re not saying tech and trends are all bad. Some tools can genuinely help you understand and support your health. But when the pursuit of wellness becomes a source of stress, it’s missing the point.
Final Thoughts
The wellness industry may be loud, but real wellness is quiet.
It’s not about perfection or performance. It’s not about expensive routines or trendy supplements. Wellness is about being honest with yourself, caring for your body and mind, and living in a way that supports who you really are.
It’s isn’t about doing more, it’s about tuning in. Sometimes the healthiest thing you can do is take a walk outside. Or get more sleep. Or say no.
