In the past few decades, culture has drastically shifted. Millennials have grown up in a time of rapid change, and they’ve responded by embracing new ideas and practices. Culture is what we do, think, and buy. It defines who we are as individuals and as a society. Culture is our future—it’s what we want to become. 

The way we live, work and play are constantly evolving, as new technologies and trends continue to emerge. This can be overwhelming for anyone trying to keep up with the pace of change. But what if there is a pattern behind all these changes? If you look at how people live, work and play today compared to even 10-15 years ago, there is no doubt that our world has changed rapidly. 

New technology has redefined the way we communicate, shop, learn and so much more. It almost feels like we are living in a completely different world than the one we grew up in. With the rate of change accelerating further every day, it’s important to understand what may lie ahead for us as humans and how this will impact large to small businesses and industries in the future.

New trends can either accelerate or hinder progress towards a more prosperous world. Lifestyle is always dynamic; it continues to evolve as different values and norms take centre stage. Keep reading to discover 10 major lifestyle trends that will define our future!

1. The future of work

As we look towards the future, one of the key areas that will see significant disruption is the way people work. The world of work has changed dramatically over the past decade, with the continued rise of new technologies enabling people to work where they want and how they want. As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to advance, we are seeing machines take on more roles that were previously only available to humans. This has led to fears about automation taking away traditional jobs and leaving many people displaced. While this is a legitimate concern, it is important to note that many of the jobs humans do have become automated over time.

Many people currently work from home and can set their hours, while entrepreneurs can pursue their business dreams from anywhere in the world. While this has given people increased flexibility, autonomy, and fulfilment, it has also led to new issues, such as isolation and a lack of social connection and a demand to work longer and harder. Much like the movie limitless, smart drugs are available from online pharmacies with a subscription. Many solopreneurs are pushed to buy modafinil online to help stay awake and focused for long working days, 

2. More women in leadership roles

The role of women in leadership positions will grow significantly over the coming decades. Women currently make up 47% of the workforce but hold less than 29% of leadership roles in business. 

More women are seeking to enter the workforce and pursue positions in business, but there is still a significant gap in the number of women who are promoted to leadership roles. This will help to close the wage gap, provide more diverse perspectives, and create a more positive work environment.

3. Commuting

Over the past decade, many people have started to work remotely, leading to a significant decline in the number of people who commute to work. This is primarily due to the rise of technologies such as AI, which has significantly impacted the way people conduct their daily activities. 

With autonomous vehicles (AVs) poised to disrupt the transportation industry, many people are predicting that the number of people who commute to work in the future will drop even further, reducing global warming. While it remains to be seen to what extent AVs will be incorporated into our daily lives, many people believe that in the future, people will increasingly forgo the daily commute in favour of working remotely. This could significantly impact commercial real estate and residential neighbourhoods, as fewer people will need to go to a traditional office.

4. Virtual reality and augmented reality

Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) are two technologies that are already changing the world as we know it. VR transports us to fake environments in a way that AR does not, lessening harmful environmental impact. AR is more about superimposing digital information on top of the world we already experience. 

Over the coming decades, both of these technologies will have a growing impact on how we conduct business, communicate, play, and even how we travel. VR will allow us to further explore new places without having to leave the comfort of our homes. VR and AR will also play an important role in education. Students will be able to explore new environments and situations without ever having to leave the classroom.

5. Housing 

One of the most disruptive trends we have seen over the past decade has been the rise of the sharing economy, primarily represented by companies such as Airbnb and Uber. This has led to a significant shift in how people book travel and accommodation, as well as how they consume other services. 

As new technologies and trends emerge, we can expect to see this disruption continue. Next-gen technologies such as AI and VR have the potential to transform the way we consume services beyond travel, including the way we book and consume housing. 

As more people look to consume services more flexibly, we are likely to see the emergence of more fully automated booking and payment solutions. This will make it easier for people to quickly access the services they need and for providers to scale their businesses.

6. Going green

The way we live our lives will change drastically as the green trend continues to take over. From renewable energy to sustainable food production, green practices are increasingly becoming the norm. There are many benefits to adopting green practices, including the reduction of pollution, more plant-based foods and a potential increase in our standard of living. 

As the population continues to grow, the need for sustainable production and meat alternatives becomes even more pressing. We will continue to reprogram everything from our energy processes to the products we purchase to reduce our carbon footprint and prevent climate change.

7. Education in the future

The education system is undergoing a major transformation as more people seek education beyond high school. This has led to a rise in online education programs and the emergence of new types of institutions focused on helping people pursue their passions and interests. 

New technologies such as AI and VR have also started to play an important role in the education system. Over the past decade, the way people learn has continued to evolve, with people learning more and more online. 

AI has started to play an important role in the classroom, helping teachers to better understand how students are learning and providing resources and support to improve learning outcomes. VR has also started to make its mark, with many educational institutions using VR to help students explore new places and environments and learn in new ways.

8. Cultural acceptance of automation and robotics

Automation and robotics will become even more widespread in the workplace as cultural acceptance grows. This phenomenon is already happening in many industries. 

Advances in technology, especially AI, will allow robots and other machines to do more tasks than humans currently perform. There are many benefits to this, including reducing human error and creating more jobs in other areas. 

However, there are also downsides to automation, including the loss of jobs in certain industries. 

9. Health in the future

Health care has seen significant change over the past decade, with more people seeking to take control of their mental health and physical wellness and new technologies providing more tools to do this. AI and machine learning have started to play an important role in the health care system, helping to improve medical research and provide better care for patients. 

While many healthcare providers have started to implement new technologies such as AI and VR, there is still plenty of room for these technologies to have a greater impact and make the healthcare system better for everyone. With the rise of new health care technologies such as gene editing, we can expect to see the way people seek and receive health care continue to evolve.

10. Consumers will demand transparency

As more people are interested in self-care and nutrition, they are also seeking natural products that are transparently produced. Many consumers want to know where their products come from and how they are made. 

There is a growing demand for transparency across all industries, including food, fashion, and beauty. This lifestyle trend is driven by the rise of the millennial generation. Millennials are seeking to make a positive impact on society and seeking authenticity in their purchases. This can be seen in the demand for fair-trade goods and organic products. 

11. Games and entertainment 

The way people consume and play games has changed significantly in recent years, with the rise of social networks, online and multiplayer games, and eSports. New technologies such as AI, VR, and AR have started to play an important role in the gaming and entertainment industries, helping to create new types of games and experiences, especially for the younger generations. 

As new technologies continue to emerge, we can expect to see the way people play and entertain themselves continue to evolve.

Final thoughts

Many top lifestyle trends will define our future and will continue to shape how we live, work, and play. New technologies and the biggest lifestyle trends are constantly emerging, giving us new tools and opportunities to do things better. We can expect the rate of change in these areas to continue to increase as new technologies are developed and integrated into our daily lives.

Virtual reality, augmented reality, and artificial intelligence are sure to have a significant impact on the world as they continue to advance. Cultural acceptance of automation and robotics could change the way businesses operate and alter the types of products that people consume. 

When you look at these trends, you’ll see how technology will continue to play a significant role in our society.