DEBOLINA ROY
The year 2026 marks "the era of brain wealth." The thinking behind this movement is that intelligence represents a long-term financial value that needs to be proactively invested in, rather than reactively attended to. Hence, what is now being prioritized for management is "cognitive fitness," aided by neuro-nutrients and brain hacking.
"No pain, no gain" is so back, and it has totally shifted to a world of somatic movement and nerve management. In 2026, your wellness routine is defined by your ability to "downregulate" your physiology after a day of digital stimulation.
There is a rising need for "dumb" gadgets for the weekend and nighttime to alleviate the notification fatigue experienced in the use of smartphones. This aspect of the global lifestyle trends experiences a tremendous upsurge in practical hobbies such as film photography, records, and paper-based writing.
Travel in 2026 is no longer about checking off the "bucket list" sights to see and instead is all about immersing oneself and being Earth-friendly. The 'slowcation' trend has emerged to encourage travelers to linger in one place for an extended period and soak up the culture and minimize carbon footprints.