More Americans are eager to take control of their health and prioritize self-care as rates of stress and burnout continue to soar. The new year is a perfect time to form a healthy habit, whether sleeping more soundly, clocking more steps, or reducing stress. To help you reach your goals, we assembled a panel of experts, including behavioral health scientists, doctors, wellness entrepreneurs, and health tech founders, to determine which products—none of which are associated with their personal brands—help them feel their best physically and mentally at home and at work. Here are the 25 wellness products they can’t live without in 2024.
Mindfulness and stress-reduction tools
Ten Percent Happier
Incorporating mindfulness into the day is an expert-backed way to lower stress and anxiety. Morra Aarons-Mele, a public speaker on workplace mental health and author of The Anxious Achiever, uses the Ten Percent Happier app and recommends it for those wanting to start a mindfulness practice. “Every day, I use guided audio meditations to get centered and tune in. I also use them for sleep,” Aarons-Mele says. Dan Harris, former ABC News anchor, founded the brand after experiencing a panic attack live on air. The app gives people tangible resources to boost sleep and energy while reducing stress and anxiety through guided meditations, challenges, and expert-led courses. Aarons-Mele loves listening to meditation coach Sebene Selassie each night before bed as part of her wind-down routine: “You get to know your favorite meditation coaches and build a relationship with them.”
Price: Free; $8.33 per month after a seven-day free trial to access the full library of content.
The BestSelf Self Journal
The BestSelf Self Journal functions not only as an organizational planner but as a personal notebook with prompts. It includes habit trackers, space for nighttime reflections, and tips for gratitude practices to keep you organized and centered. Dr. Nina Vasan, a clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at Stanford School of Medicine and founder and executive director of Brainstorm: The Stanford Lab for Mental Health Innovation, first learned about the product from her own patient who loved it. “I use it myself and have gifted copies to many patients and friends,” she says. “It is beautifully laid out to help you think about your goals in life and then figure out what you need to do monthly, weekly, and daily to reach [them].”
Price: $24.99
Insight Timer
Burnout, stress, and anxiety are commonplace at work and home. Liana Douillet Guzmán, CEO of Folx Health, a health care provider designed to serve the LGBTQIA+ community, says Insight Timer has been a game changer for her family. The product, which began as a meditation timer, is the Apple App Store’s No. 1 free meditation service, offering thousands of guided meditations for anxiety and stress relief, among others. “The app offers a huge selection of thoughtfully curated mindfulness offerings, and has become a nightly bedtime ritual for my daughter and me,” Guzmán says. Insight Timer provides sessions on yoga, confidence, self-affirmations, and sleep, and users can listen to calming music.
Price: Free
The Five Minute Journal
Pursuing a journaling practice has proven health benefits, but like any habit, maintaining it can be a challenge. Dr. Uché Blackstock, an emergency room physician and author of the forthcoming Legacy: A Black Physician Reckons With Racism in Medicine, loves The Five Minute Journal from Intelligent Change. The notebook is full of prompts intended to be answered in just five minutes each day. The journal uses positive psychology to curate prompts and is touted by celebrities Lily Collins and Emma Watson. It also includes an inspirational daily quote at the top of the page. “I fell in love with The Five Minute Journal last summer, and I still use it almost every day,” Blackstock, one of Fortune’s 13 top health innovators, says. “I usually journal before I go to bed, and the journal provides me with a daily opportunity for reflections, affirmations, and manifestations.”
Price: $29
ACT Coach
Morra Aarons-Mele, author of The Anxious Achiever, likes to track her emotions, which helps her better understand any patterns in her day and regulate negative feelings and thoughts. Her go-to is the ACT Coach app. “When I feel my moods or emotions are a bit all over the place, I log them and use online tools to practice exercises I know will help,” she says. ACT, which stands for Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, was created by the Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD to help people manage symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. It provides users with breathing, walking, eating, and mindfulness practices, as well as exercises to help people cope with negative thoughts and feeling overwhelmed. The app offers a mood tracker, which Aarons-Mele uses to monitor changes over time. “This can be helpful to reference or share with my psychiatrist or therapist,” she says.
Price: Free, and the premium version is $9.99 per month.
Gratitude Glass Jar
A gratitude practice has proven benefits from lower stress and anxiety to increased happiness, but sticking with it can be challenging. For Dr. Nina Vasan, the Gratitude Glass Jar is the perfect way to make feeling thankful a habit by reminding you to write down something you’re grateful for each day. She loves rereading her entries when she needs a positive boost. “What I’ve loved about gifting it to my friends is that they have all found different, creative ways of implementing it in their lives.” One friend reads them all on New Year’s Eve, she says, and another uses it to engage children in the practice.
Price: $49.99
Enoki Cedar Candle by P.F. Candle Co.
Lighting a candle is a popular staple in self-care rituals. The Enoki Cedar Candle by P.F. Candle Co.—which smells of “rich earth, petitgrain, sandalwood, and rosemary”—is a key wellness product for Dora Kamau, a mindfulness and meditation teacher at Headspace. Kamau lights this vegan, soy-based candle every day before her morning meditation and says the natural scents “help me feel calm, grounded, and connected while I practice.”
Price: $24
Fitness gear and tech
Whoop
For the data-obsessed, this digital health-performance tool tracks sleep, recovery, strain, stress, and personal habits with just a wearable band and an app. Strain tracking gives you a score for your body’s overall exertion and helps alert you when it’s time for recovery. “It gives me a great snapshot of my overall health and wellness and helps me both maintain and build mindful daily habits,” says Joey Gonzalez, global CEO of Barry’s—known for its high-intensity interval class, Barry’s Bootcamp—who uses the product as part of his exercise regimen. “Getting a baseline understanding of where I was at with my sleep, stress levels, recovery, and fitness has been so helpful in realizing where I need to pivot and how my body can perform more optimally.”
Jahaan Ansari, cofounder and CTO at Gainful, says Whoop has helped him adjust his sleep, mindfulness habits, and exercise routine when necessary. “I’m obsessed with data, continuous improvement, and feeling my best, so using Whoop allows me to optimize my days and weeks,” he says.
Price: Whoop is $399 for a 24-month membership and $239 for an annual membership, which comes with the band and hardware; the first month is free.
Future
Jahaan Ansari loves a curated exercise program that helps him stay in shape—and accountable. He also uses Future, a personal training platform that connects users with coaches via an app. After members meet virtually with a trainer to discuss fitness goals and preferences, they receive personalized workout plans and exercise demos in the Future app, where you can also track progress. “Having a one-on-one relationship with an expert personal trainer helps me stay consistent, learn new workouts, and make progress towards my fitness goals without the usual plateaus,” Ansari says.
Price: $199 per month, and the first month is $99.
Concept2 RowErg
When Bala Sarda, CEO of VAHDAM India, a global, sustainable tea and spice manufacturer, cannot make it to the gym, he relies on his rowing machine, the Concept2 RowErg, for an equally challenging at-home workout. Rowing is a great full-body exercise that helps increase strength, boost endurance, and improve posture. The connected machine is used by Olympians and athletes alike and made our list of top recommended wellness products last year. Users love its performance metrics that track progress in real time and connect to Bluetooth for app sharing and competition on their leaderboard.
Price: $990
Cloudultra 2 Running Shoes
An avid runner, Michael Chapp, the COO at Oura, which produces the Oura Ring, recommends Cloudultra 2 sneakers, which he says are perfect for trails. “They’re comfortable, provide the traction I need, and slip on easily,” he says. The ultra-cushioned, supportive shoe can be worn on all terrain and has a super-cushioned sole for support with a five-millimeter heel drop.
Price: $179.99
Recovery tools
Fit King Upgraded Cordless Calf Massager
For Biquan Luo, a biomedical scientist and CEO of LumosTech, finding ways to improve blood flow and help her muscles relax is imperative. She recommends the Fit King Upgraded Cordless Calf Massager. “These calf massagers have become an integral part of my routine, relaxing muscles post long hikes and boosting blood flow after extended hours at the desk,” she says.
Price: The calf massager is $59.99 (originally $89.99), and the leg massager is $89.99 (originally $119.99).
Theragun Pro Plus
Barry’s CEO, Joey Gonzalez, works out 12 hours a week. For him, it’s essential to prioritize muscle recovery. His go-to tool is Theragun’s Pro Plus massager, a percussive device incorporating near-infrared LED light, vibration, heat, and cold therapy to relieve soreness and restore muscle strength. It can also connect to the Therabody app for guided recovery sessions and breath-work tips. This latest edition comes with five attachments to target different muscle groups. “Think of this device as the one-stop shop for a deep tissue massage and heat therapy,” Gonzalez says. “I like to use this both before and after my workouts since it helps me warm up, but also relieves my knots and soreness post-class.”
Price: The Theragun Pro Plus starts at $599.
Plunge
Cold plunges are an increasingly popular self-care habit. It’s the preferred way to start the day for many leaders who say it gives them mental clarity and calm. That has been true for Jahaan Ansari, cofounder and CTO of Gainful. “Using The Plunge has been a key part of my health routine for both the physical and mental benefits. I feel more focused and more confident, and I use this mental acuity to successfully tackle the challenges of the day,” Ansari says.
Price: The Plunge is $4,990; The Plunge All-In, a larger, cooler version, is $8,990.
CranioCradle
With a sedentary lifestyle comes poor posture and a risk of back and neck strain. To combat this, Morra Aarons-Mele, author and mental health speaker, recommends the CranioCradle, a small block you place under your head or neck to help ease back and neck pain. “Lying on it can loosen up the occipital muscles, which, for me, get so tight and painful and cause headaches,” Aarons-Mele says.
Price: The Original CranioCradle is $49.95; the new CranioCradle for deep tissue (and best for athletes) is $49.95.
Pulsetto
The vagus nerve helps the brain, immune system, and heart communicate. It allows your body to move between fight-or-flight and the more relaxed parasympathetic mode. For those like Dorothy Kilroy, chief commercial officer at Oura, meditation doesn’t calm the body as it does for others. She uses Pulsetto, a device worn around the neck, to stimulate the vagus nerve and help her manage stress. The product comes with an app loaded with various programs to optimize sleep, combat burnout, and more. “Pulsetto aids in enhancing my heart rate variability (HRV), providing a simpler and more effective way for me to stimulate my vagus nerve and achieve relaxation,” she says.
Price: $549.99 (on sale now for $199).
Sleep
Eight Sleep Pod Cover
Rebecca Robbins, a sleep scientist at Harvard Medical School, tells Fortune that sleep tracking is one of the biggest wellness trends this year. More people aim to find ways to improve their duration and quality of sleep, as one-third of adults do not get the recommended seven to nine hours each night. Two expert panelists recommended the Eight Sleep Pod cover, an adjustable-temperature mattress cover designed to improve sleep quality. Kat Cole, president and COO at Athletic Greens, uses the product. Members of Eight Sleep have access to sleep metrics on the app and can use it to adjust the temperature as needed. “Keeping my bed cool relative to the environment, weather, and my own body temperature fluctuations is a key piece of my sleep quality,” she says.
Price: The Pod 3 cover for all mattress sizes is $2,195; the Pod 3, the latest edition, for a 10’ by 11’ mattress is $2,095, and the Pod 2, an earlier version, is $1,795 for a 10’ by 11’ mattress. To access sleep health reports, automatic temperatures, and thermal and vibrational alarms, a pro membership is $15 per month.
Somo Sleep Fitness Mask
When Michael Chapp, COO at Oura, travels, he notices light’s negative impact on his sleep quality. To regulate people’s circadian rhythm, keeping light out when sleeping and getting light first thing in the morning is essential. Chapp began using the Somo Sleep Fitness Mask a couple of years back to block out light when needed and says it’s a game changer. “It’s really comfortable and designed with a dome shape to promote airflow and minimize disturbances,” Chapp says. “For those looking to get better sleep—especially when traveling—I couldn’t recommend it more.”
Price: $60
Oura Ring
Oura, which is a top recommended brand for the second year in a row, has sold over 1 million of its Oura Ring sleep trackers. The wearable provides users with sleep, stress, and activity data through its app. Bala Sarda, CEO of VAHDAM India, has been wearing the Oura Ring and tracking his sleep for over a year. “Due to my hectic routine over the last few years, I had a very poor sleep routine,” he says. “The first step in fixing anything is to track it. It is very effective and helps me track my daily sleep and also the impact of my daily activities on my sleep.” Don Saladino, a celebrity personal trainer, has been wearing his ring for three years. “I like the data points, specifically the readiness and looking at how my body has recovered so that I can better approach my training and life in general,” he says. Dora Kamau, a mindfulness and meditation teacher at Headspace, uses the ring to optimize her sleep in order to perform well during her day. “Since I started marathon training, I’ve been using my Oura Ring to track and optimize my sleep so I’m able to recover and be well rested,” she says.
Price: The Oura Ring starts at $299.
Lavender Linen Spray
Lavender oil may help reduce stress and can play a role in cultivating a calming environment. It also may promote sleep, which is why Dr. Nina Vasan uses lavender linen spray at night. “I spray my pillowcases with it, and the comforting smell helps me to sleep better,” she says.
Price: $12.99 on Amazon
Nutrition
NutriBullet Blender
The NutriBullet blender is a go-to for quick and nutritious smoothies. People can make filling and healthy breakfasts when pressed for time, using a mix of fruits, vegetables, and protein sources. Bala Sarda, CEO of VAHDAM India, relies on the blender, especially after he exercises. “The NutriBullet blender is perfect for whipping up some smoothies for that post-workout energy boost,” he says.
Price: The NutriBullet is $69.99; the NutriBullet Pro 900 is $109.99
Health tracking tools
Tiny Health
Gut health has proved a buzzy topic in the past year, with the hashtag #guthealth amassing over 6 billion views on TikTok. The gut microbiome plays a crucial role in our overall health and is made up of trillions of microbes that communicate with our immune system. A strong, healthy gut equates to a strong immune system and brain. Colleen Cutcliffe, a biochemist and cofounder and CEO of Pendulum, is a fan of Tiny Health’s gut microbiome testing kit for families. With Tiny Health, you can test and track each family member’s microbiome, meet with specialists to discuss the results, and access resources on gut-related health issues like allergies, eczema, and constipation.
Price: Tiny Health’s testing kits are $199 for the baby gut health test, the adult gut health test, the vaginal health test, and the child gut health test. The price is $348 for the family bundle kit.
Levels
Monitoring glucose levels can help people (even those without diabetes) understand how their food choices and activity levels affect their blood sugar. Multiple panelists say they use the Levels continuous glucose monitor (CGM), which also made Fortune’s top wellness products list last year. The CGM is attached to the arm through a small vein and transmits data in real time to the Levels app. “Knowing how your microbiome processes different foods and sugars is key to optimizing metabolic health,” says Colleen Cutcliffe, cofounder and CEO of Pendulum, who recommended the product.
Price: $40 per month or $199 per year.
Family and caregiving tools
GoodRx
Over a third of Americans struggle to pay for prescriptions. To make ends meet, some ration their pills or skip out on days altogether, which can have massive negative health consequences. GoodRx’s digital platform helps patients compare drug prices at different pharmacies and obtain coupons to reduce costs. Dr. Nina Vasan habitually checks the platform whenever she needs a prescription medication. “This is especially helpful if you are paying out of pocket for any prescriptions,” she says.
Price: Membership is free; the Gold membership is $9.99 per month, and the family plan is $19.99 per month.
Ameda Breast Pump
Biquan Luo, a biomedical scientist and CEO of LumosTech, is a first-time mom and entrepreneur who often pumps while at her computer. She credits the Ameda breast pump for helping her successfully multitask. “Its simple parts make assembly and cleaning a breeze, eliminating unnecessary complexities for new moms,” Luo says, who used an older version of the product. “It’s the most compact among plugged-in pumps I’ve tried, taking up the least desk space.” The latest version, the Ameda Pearl hospital-grade breast pump, has 72 speed options and can be taken on the go. Ameda also sells a cheaper, portable, manual version.
Price: The Ameda Pearl hospital-grade breast pump is $849.99; the Ameda Joy and Joy PLUS hands-free pumps start at $134.99; the Ameda portable manual breast pump is $33.69
