Wellness trends emphasize intentional self-care and gratitude

Personal care and mental wellness practices are being explored as tools for intentional living and managing low motivation.

Down South Suga, a Los Angeles-based beauty company founded by Darren Lewis, launched in 2024. The brand focuses on lip care as a way to integrate self-care into daily routines without the complexity of overwhelming skincare regimens. Lewis developed the products during the COVID-19 pandemic to emphasize beauty through self-expression and intentionality.

In the realm of mental wellness, researchers such as psychologists Christina Armenta and Sonja Lyubomirsky suggest that practicing gratitude can help energize individuals when motivation is low. Rather than acting as a motivational boost, gratitude may reduce the perceived difficulty of starting tasks by shifting perspective.