The 5 Most Underrated Habits That Changed My Life

By Thalia-Maria Tourikis

One of the biggest misconceptions surrounding wellness is that it needs to be expensive to be effective.

Open any social media app, and you’re bombarded with targeted advertisements from brands promoting a new product that claims to boost your mental or physical health.

And, of course, each one of these supposed solutions comes with a price tag.

But the truth is, wellness doesn’t need to look like buying costly beauty products, getting the latest skin treatment, or trying a bizarre new diet. And it certainly doesn’t look like dropping $10k on a luxury health retreat.

Wellness can be simple and affordable.

And that has looked like adopting habits that help me prioritise and support my mental health and overall well-being. Habits that might look simple from the outside but are powerful on the inside.

And the best thing? These habits are all completely free to implement yourself.

Here are the five most underrated habits that have changed my life and have the potential to transform yours.

Habit 1 | Reading for 30 Minutes Every Morning

Without fail, I read for 30 minutes in the morning.

I’ve been doing this every day now for the past ten years. It was initially a habit I adopted to get me excited about waking up and getting out of bed. Reading gave me the passion I was missing in my previous 9-5 job.

And although I now wake up excited about the day, I’ve still kept the habit of reading in the morning.

It has supported my well-being in ways I didn’t think possible.

Reading mentally prepares you for the day ahead. It stimulates the mind and reduces stressful and anxious thoughts you might experience when you first open your eyes.

It also promotes a sense of mindfulness and boosts focus. When you wake up and dive into a book, you distance yourself from doom-scrolling and the flood of incoming emails and notifications.

Build the habit of reading in the morning, and I guarantee it will set you up for a more positive and intentional day.

And while reading isn’t exactly free (as you will need to buy a book), it’s certainly more affordable than many other wellness activities.

Here’s how to get started:

• Place a book on your bedside table (instead of your phone)
• Wake up 10 minutes earlier than usual and pick up your book
• Start small and read between 5-10 pages at a time (increasing it by five pages each week)
• Focus on one book at a time, and don’t rush the process
• Read a genre that you actually enjoy

Habit 2 | Adopting a Slower Pace of Life

After many years of living and working in London, following the hustle culture, and experiencing burnout, I’ve finally started to value calm, peaceful moments.

I’ve been practicing slow living for the past five years, and it has allowed me to focus on what’s truly important in my life and prioritise my needs.

I now find myself doing a lot less but feel a lot more fulfilled in the process. I no longer fill up my day with pointless to-dos or plan my weekends months in advance. I’ve learnt to feel comfortable with the empty white space in my calendar.

In a world dominated by hustle and constant demands, adopting a slower pace to life is a refreshing change. This habit emphasises the importance of self-care and relaxation while reducing stress and preventing burnout.

It also promotes a more sustainable approach to life and work.

Instead of feeling overwhelmed by your never-ending to-do list, you will be more mindful of your capabilities and only take on what you can handle.

Here’s how to get started:

• Stop rushing — consciously think about every action you make instead of mindlessly doing them
• Create a slow morning routine that allows you to ease into the day
• Set healthier boundaries and learn to say “no” when necessary
• Practice mindful eating
• Pause or take a mini-break after each task or work meeting

Habit 3 | Going on Long Walks in Nature

Do you know what I love most about nature despite its healing properties?

The fact that you can enjoy it for free. Head to your nearest forest, and you’re surrounded by fresh air, trees, and tranquility.

Spending time in nature is proven to provide you with peace and quiet. Nature’s calming influence helps to reduce stress and anxiety, restoring a sense of balance in your life. It also encourages you to unplug from technology, easing the pressures of modern-day life and allowing you to be present.

I usually go on a long walk at the end of my work day to clear away the cobwebs and give me clarity. Sometimes, I take a walk along the beach at sunset. Other times, I’ll take the longer route home.

But despite where my walk takes place, the outcome is always the same — I feel grounded.

So, if you’re after a habit that will work wonders on your mental and physical health, say hello to walking in nature.

Here’s how to get started:

• Start small — Begin with going on a short walk in a nearby park
• Pinpoint a time in your daily or weekly schedule when you are most available and schedule it in
• Set an alarm to prompt you into going on your walk
• Commit to just 10 minutes — You don’t need to trek for hours. Ten minutes is better than nothing
• Increase your distance by 5 minutes every two weeks or whenever feels right

Habit 4 | Regularly Detoxing from Social Media

Since starting my wellness journey, I have consciously built a healthier relationship with social media.

For me, this looks like not checking my phone as soon as I wake up, muting all notifications, having dedicated time to respond to messages and emails, and not taking my phone out of my bag when I’m at dinner.

And honesty, regularly taking breaks from social media has made me feel more optimistic, less overwhelmed, less pressured to show up online, and way less inclined to compare myself to others.

It’s remarkable how making a few changes to how I interact with social media has completely changed my overall mood and positivity. I no longer hate the algorithm or obsess over the metrics. I’m on social media to make real human connections.

Detoxing from social media significantly improves your mental well-being. You regain control over your online interactions by scheduling screen-free time and deleting unnecessary apps, and you regain control over your online interactions. Turning off notifications reduces the constant urge to check your phone, allowing you to be more present in the real world.

Here’s how to get started:

• Don’t pick up your phone at least an hour after you’ve woken up
• Go screen-free at mealtimes
• Declare your bedroom as a tech-free zone — no phones allowed
• Take up an offline hobby like knitting or painting
• Turn off all notifications

Habit 5 | Having More Solo Time

The most important relationship in your life is the one with yourself. But thanks to daily life and distractions, spending quality time by ourselves is getting harder and harder.

We tend to neglect our own needs in favour of caring for others and catering to their needs. And in the process of putting more effort into other relationships, our boundaries become non-existent, and our well-being suffers.

The problem is, “You can’t pour from an empty cup.” (Unknown)

The more attention we give to others and the less we give to ourselves, the more drained we become. The energy we have available to give to others then starts to deplete until we don’t have any more to give.

But carving out some much-needed “me-time” gives you the space to rest and recharge. It ensures that you can continue to show up daily as your healthiest self.

By nurturing the self-care habit, you can cultivate a deeper connection with yourself and promote a sense of inner peace. In short, self-care allows you the space just to be you.

Not to mention, it will significantly improve your mental and emotional well-being.

Here’s how to get started:

• Find a gap in your schedule and commit to just 10 minutes a day
• Set an alarm and once it goes off, say to yourself, “Ok, it’s time for a self-care break”
• Focus on your needs first and choose an activity that addresses those needs
• Choose activities you actually enjoy — solo time shouldn’t feel like a chore
• Stop copying what everyone else is doing online when it comes to self-care, and do what works for you

Final Thoughts

I had this realisation the other day — if you can’t master simple habits, you will not succeed.

You will crumble under the pressures of life’s demands, responsibilities, and setbacks. You will not succeed if you can’t do the simple act of building daily habits that mentally support you and your well-being.

As James Clear puts it, “Success is the product of daily habits.” So, if you truly want to live a “successful” life (placed in quotation marks here, as success is subjective), then you need to put in the time and effort daily to build habits that support your overall personal development.

You can become the best version of yourself by mastering your daily habits.

It’s also important to note that just because something works for me doesn’t necessarily mean it’ll work for you.

I’ve detailed each one of my non-negotiable habits because they’ve supported my well-being in ways that I didn’t know were possible and changed my daily life. And they have the potential to transform your day, too. But only if these habits are generally something you enjoy.

The bottom line is that if you adopt healthy habits that suit you and your personality, you’re more likely to stick with them. I recommend testing them before fully committing to them and adjusting them where needed.

Your journey should be about finding simple but powerful habits that serve you!

About the Author

Hey, it’s Thalia. I’m not like the other wellness girls you see online.

I don’t drink coffee or matcha lattes and am not a huge green smoothie fan. Give me a medium-rare steak with a glass of red wine any day, and I’ll be a very happy girl.

I’m also famous for my slow mornings. You won’t see me waking up at 5 a.m. and following an unsustainable “That Girl” routine. Instead, I mindfully ignore my alarm and choose to read a fiction book over going to the gym.

For the past three years, I’ve been empowering women to stop copying what everyone else is doing and do what works for them.

So, if you’re craving a more realistic approach to wellness, head over to my blog to find more in-depth posts that show you how to do things on your terms.