Wellness is no longer confined to spa days or luxury retreats. It has stepped into the real world, becoming proactive, personal, and deeply relevant to how we live today.

A new kind of self-care

In 2020, wellness was largely reactive. Today, it’s about prevention and intentional choices. South Africans are finding wellness in everyday moments, such as sunset walks with friends and meaningful conversations, and prioritising their mental and physical health.

A Global Nature Survey recently revealed that South Africans spend more time outdoors than any other nation, with over 92% of global respondents prioritising time in nature.

These moments of connection with the natural world are more than a trend; they’re a lifeline in an increasingly demanding world.

Wellness has also expanded to include the basics, sleep routines, step counts, healthy relationships and open conversations about mental health.

In group chats, people are swapping therapy tips instead of pretending everything is fine. There’s a collective shift toward normalising mental health struggles and seeking real, actionable tools to address them.

But the reality is that one in six South Africans lives with anxiety, depression, or substance abuse. Public access to mental health care remains limited, with only one psychologist per 100 000 people in the state system.

This gap has driven more people to turn to technology for help. A personalised approach helps individuals prioritise their mental and physical health, while also benefiting businesses.

With the rise of digital tools, wellness is now more accessible than ever before, says Jaco Oosthuizen, managing director and co-founder of YuLife South Africa. South Africans don't need more apps that push users to extreme fitness goals, we encourage people to embrace wellness at their own pace.

postpandemic

Why South Africans are redefining wellness: a shift towards authentic self-care