Welcome back Gallivanters!

Today I am here to discuss the new health, travel, and wellness trends I’ve seen circulating for 2024-2025.

All of which are in the micro.

Micro-Needling

Last month, I got a facial and micro-needling treatment.

I’ll admit, I had many misconceptions about micro-needling as a concept, including but not limited to bruising and bleeding. Thank you late-night TikTok scrolling.

Micro-needling is a collagen induction therapy that works by creating microscopic punctures in the skin.

My face was numbed, so not only did I not feel the needle, but believe it or not I actually left feeling relaxed.

After the fact, I was told to expect a little discomfort, but the next day only felt like a light sunburn.

With the right Licensed Esthetician, the procedure can give you results (i.e. clearer skin) within 24 hours.

Micro Trips

Forget months-long backpacking trips or needing to ask for 7 days PTO. The new trend in travel is using your predesignated time off in a new creative way.

The “micro trip” if you will, involves traveling during your weekends off and on the occasional government mandated holiday. AKA, traveling somewhere only to stay 48-72 hours without taking any additional time off.

Picture this: After leaving work on Friday, heading to the airport, spending your weekend abroad and then back to work on Monday without any less of your PTO.

Some people may think traveling somewhere only to return within 1-2 days is a waste of a weekend, but I know my Gallivanters will get it.

The idea of a micro trip takes the pressure off waiting for your PTO to kick in in order to travel.

Not to self-plug, but my “A Day In…” series has some great options for what to do in your chosen destination – even if you only have 24 hours.

Micro-dosing Retirement

Speaking of awaiting your PTO request approval, welcome to the new quiet quitting.

“Micro-dosing” retirement is challenging the norm of fitting one’s personal life into two weeks PTO a year, and waiting to start life after retirement.

This new trend is aiming to combat burn-out in traditional 9-5 full-time workers.

It seems simple enough, prioritizing one’s work-life balance and not doing more than what is asked of oneself, especially tasks assigned after scheduled hours.

Others have taken things a bit further.

Many are taking leaves from their careers from anywhere between a few weeks, to six months to a year.

This action, or rather inaction, is becoming popular with both postgraduates entering their first year or so in the workforce, as well as those who have been in their industry for quite some time.

You may be asking, is it possible? Sustainable? Financially irresponsible?

The “Adult Gap Year,” as some are calling it may actually be beneficial for one’s personal health, potentially even providing one the opportunity to improve upon or enhance a CV by diversifying their personal experience through traveling.

Whatever the reasoning, it’s happening. And I think that it may begin to change the culture around work and how we live.

---

Thanks for checking out the blog!

I would love to hear your thoughts on the new “micro” trends on the rise in 2025.

Til the next one,

-Allison