Health Update: What If 2026 Was About Health, Not Hustle? – What Experts Say

New year, new you? How about a healthier you first? Instead of diving headfirst into the new year, consider easing into 2026 by evaluating your health goals and discovering products that can help you progressively achieve them.

Our community has a unique set of health challenges, like chronic stress due to unjust societal treatment, hormonal imbalance, and high blood pressure, to name a few. Luckily for us, there are specific wellness items that address stress, rest, hormone health, movement, nutrition, and longevity.

From recovery tools and supplements to ritual-based wellness and rest-forward practices, these items reframe wellness as sustainability and not perfection. Check out the wellness essentials below to propel you forward in 2026 by prioritizing self-care. These items will instantly help you level up while grounding you in the process.

Sometimes life gets stressful and overwhelming. We’ve all been there. Our vagus nerves are the longest cranial nerve, which extends through our necks and into our chest and abdomen. It connects to multiple organs, including the heart, lungs, liver, spleen, stomach, and intestines, and kidneys. If damaged, it can cause several severe issues like an elevated heart rate and blood pressure, loss of reflexes, and increased anxiety, which is why it’s important to take care of our vagus nerves. The Truva 350 Nerve Stimulator provides gentle, non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation in quick 2-minute sessions. The benefits of the device are stress relief, improved sleep, enhanced focus, and improved gut health.

Apple Watch Series 11

Price: $399

Get serious about your fitness goals this year, but on your own terms. The Apple Watch 11 lets you track important health metrics, including your sleep score, blood pressure, signs of hypertension, and overall vitals like your heart and respiratory rates.

Golde is a Black-owned, female-founded wellness brand specializing in superfood products for health and beauty, founded in 2017 by Trinity Mouzon Wofford. Now who doesn’t love matcha? Golde’s Pure Matcha is delicious and a godsend for anyone who is trying to wean themselves from coffee. Their original superfood latte blend paired with 100% pure, shade-grown matcha for a gentle boost of jitter-free energy. This vegan, gluten-free product supports gut health and immunity.

Sensitive Feminine Wash

Price: $10

Their washes are gynecologist-approved, clinically tested, and pH-balanced. The brand offers a wide range of naturally derived personal care products, including washes, wipes, menstrual products, and body wash, for those who need them. I love their sensitive wash product and use it often, as it helps balance your pH, boost moisture, and soothe while gently cleansing your most delicate areas. All of their washes are science-backed, dermatologist-tested, hypoallergenic, gentle, and safe for the skin.

A Better Period – Hormone Support Vitamins

Price: $46
$41.40

My Happy Flo is more than a product; it’s a purpose-driven brand that helps women take charge of their reproductive health, with compassion, science, and sisterhood at its core. The My Happy Flo Period Relief Vitamins are a holistic product that addresses nutritional gaps, promotes hormonal balance, and reduces risk factors for reproductive health complications. It includes seven vitamins and minerals, including iron and Vitamin D.

Restore 3 Sunrise Alarm Clock

Price: $169.99

It’s time to stop all of that doom scrolling right before bed. Instead of using your phone as an alarm, invest in a quality alarm clock, like the Hatch Restore 3 Sunrise Alarm Clock. 𝖱𝖾𝗌𝗍𝗈𝗋𝖾 𝟥 𝗂𝗌 𝖽𝖾𝗌𝗂𝗀𝗇𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗈 𝗁𝖾𝗅𝗉 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝖻𝗎𝗂𝗅𝖽 𝖺 𝖻𝖾𝖽𝗍𝗂𝗆𝖾 𝗋𝗈𝗎𝗍𝗂𝗇𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗊𝗎𝗂𝖾𝗍𝗌 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝗆𝗂𝗇𝖽 𝗌𝗈 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝖼𝖺𝗇 𝗌𝗅𝖾𝖾𝗉 𝖻𝖾𝗍𝗍𝖾𝗋. It’s easy to prepare your mind for rest with the Hatch Restore 3, which offers customizable light and sound pairings from Meditative Gold to Unconventional Meditation. The sunrise alarm clock is designed to support your circadian rhythm, allowing you to feel refreshed and energized in the morning.

For all my Pilates and workout enthusiast girls out there, these Bala Bangles are perfect for taking your workout to the next level! The 1LB Bala Bangles come in fun colors and include a carrying case. The bangles add a constant, yet comfortable, resistance to your workout. They are also versatile; they can be worn on wrists or ankles for athletic and recreational activities.

The Five Minute Journal

Price: $32

2026 is all about gratitude! Start transforming your life with the Five Minute Journal. Even on the busiest days, spend only five minutes practicing gratitude to boost positivity, reduce anxiety, and improve well-being. It’s the most straightforward, science-backed way to a happier you.

Amethyst + Alchemist Bath Salts

Price: $42

Unwind with Homebody’s science-backed bath rituals for the nervous system. Rebecca Grammer-Ybarra founded Homebody after experiencing extreme burnout. Each pouch is a complete sensory ritual: bath soak, mineral bath salts, oil, and bath bombs. The blends are designed to work on the mind, body, and nervous system.