Products & Realistic Wellness Habits That Actually Supported Me This Year

This time of year is peak “wellness girl rebrand” season.
Every brand is screaming about their once-a-year sale, your FYP is full of resets and it can start to feel like you need to buy a million things in order to be the best version of yourself. I know when I start to get this feeling, I will literally have 10 tabs open all with carts full of things I want to buy to be the “best version” of myself.

So before we get into anything, let me say this clearly:

You do not need to buy a single new wellness product to start having good habits.

Routines, nervous-system regulation & feeling like the person you want to be cannot be fixed by simply purchasing all the new things. Products can support your habits, but they can’t create them for you.

WHERE I AM COMING FROM:

This year was one of choas, and as I look back on my goals from the beginning of this year I have to laugh because things are so much different than I expected.

This year we ended up leaving the city we had lived the last 6 years, my husband started a new job, I was pregnant and sick for a big chunk of the year & lived with family as we prepared for our move .

Even in the chaos, there were small tools and habits that helped me feel a bit more peaceful, grounded, and like I wasn’t completely losing myself. Looking back, this was a major growing moment, because in the past I would have just compltely let things go. I feel like I am finally learning a balance of what supporting myself looks like in different seasons.

So in that spirit, here are the wellness products and habits that actually helped me this year — ranging from some investment options to totally free tools.

I’m breaking them into sections the same way I did in the episode (which you can listen to here: APPLE | SPOTIFY | YOUTUBE)

• Tech
• Self-care
• Creative Habits
• Daily Life
• Quick Wins

As always, use this as a menu, not a checklist. Take what make sense for you and leave the rest. 🤎

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1. TECH THAT SUPPORTED MY WELLNESS

Let’s start with the category that usually has the highest price tags and the most aggressive marketing: wellness tech.

None of these are necessary, but they did support me in different seasons this year (and I am really looking forward to trying them as I enter my next postpartum season as well!)

UltraHuman Ring (Sleep + Steps)

PRICE: $479 CAD (use VE10 for 10% discount)

This was definitely the priciest thing on my list (and it was kindly gifted), but I’ve worn it for a full year now and I really do love it.

What I use it for:

• Tracking steps (in a way that’s more subtle than an Apple Watch)
• Getting a general feel for how I’m sleeping

I switched from an Apple Watch because:

• I hated getting notifications on my wrist
• I didn’t like constantly “checking” my watch without even realizing
• I wanted less stimulation and fewer reasons to look at a screen

The ring quietly collects data in the background without demanding attention, which fits my whole “less noise, more awareness” vibe right now.

Would I say you need this? No.
Could it be a helpful tool if you love gentle data and hate wearing a watch? Yes.

Brick (for Screen Time Help)

USE LINK HERE FOR 10% OFF

I’ve talked about this a lot, but the Brick has honestly been a game changer for my phone habits.

You tap your phone to it, and it locks you out of specific apps (for me: social media). I use it:

• Every evening
• One full day on the weekend

Yes, Apple already has Screen Time limits, but I always ignored / find my way around them.

There’s something about physically tapping your phone on a device that makes it feel a whole lot more intentional. You can read my full review here.

Little Automations (Alexa, Smart Lights, Timers)

This isn’t one specific product so much as using tech strategically instead of letting it overrun your life. We have an Alexa in the kitchen which I love to use to play playlists at certain times of the day! My brother also installed some smart home stuff for our lights and it has been SO nice to have those things automated. Defiently a little luxury that makes me feel so put together

A few things we set up this year:

• Alexa playing worship music at 8am every morning
• Smart light switches we can control with our voice (and that turn Christmas lights/tree on automatically)
• Lights dimming automatically at night
• Alexa playing cozy jazz every evening around dinner
• Phone Reminder for me to order groceries / journal / call a friend

Sunrise Alarm Clock (Best 2025 purchase!!)

AMAZON CANADA | AMAZON USA (US link is not the *exact* one but similar)

And of course, I can’t not mention my sunrise alarm clock. I literally cannot shut about about this thing because it truly revolutionized my life! I have really been working on breaking my phone addiction and this has been one of the best things for that!

Why I love it:

• Mine is a dupe from Amazon (not the Hatch)
• No subscription, no app, no phone required

• I use the red light at night to wind down
• I use the warm sunrise light in the morning
• It lets me charge my phone outside the bedroom
• I can easily flip it on to see in the middle of the night without big overhead lights

If you’re trying to stop sleeping with your phone, a sunrise clock makes it so much easier (and nicer to wake up to than an Apple alarm lol)

2. SELF-CARE FOR EVERYDAY LIFE

These are the things that don’t fix your life but genuinely make your everyday rhythms feel softer and more enjoyable — especially on the hard days. These are some of those “bare minimum” things for me that made life easier to show up to especially when I was in the depths of first trimester!

Matching PJ Sets

For years I was very much the old t-shirt and random pajama pants girl. It was comfortable, but it never really felt good or intentional — it just felt like I was changing into whatever was left at the bottom of the drawer. Because of this I feel like I never wanted to do my evening routine and would just be uncomfortable in my clothes until the last minute before bed.

I bought ONE nice PJ set and it totally changed the way I felt about getting ready for bed and actuallly doing my routines.

Especially heading into postpartum in the winter, having comfy-but-cute sets I can live in around the house has made home days feel a lot better.

Good Socks + Underwear

The most adult thing I’ll ever say:
Upgrading your socks and underwear is a wellness habit.

A few shifts I made:

• Aritzia ankle/crew socks — cushy enough that I don’t feel crumbs on the floor and cute enough to wear all day
• Huha underwear — soft, comfy and so breathable
• Stored all my winter socks away for the summer (made my drawers feel so much easier to navigate in the summer!)
• Threw away ALL my socks that were thin, had no pairs, never got worn, etc
• Threw away ALL my underwear that was so uncomfortable but I was holding onto because I didn’t want to not have enough

Overall, having less socks and underwear but it feeling boujee has been the VIBE

Clean Skin Towels

AMAZON CANADA | AMAZON US

These are those disposable face towels that people on the internet either love or hate.

For someone with eczema and really dry, sensitive skin, they’ve been such a luxury:

• I can gently exfoliate/remove dry skin
• I don’t have to reuse the same washcloth over and over
• I don’t have to see dead skin stuck to a cloth (I am sorry so gross but if you are a ezcema girl YOU KNOW)
• Having these in the winter feels SO nice and boojee and essential part of my skincare process
• After I am done using them I always wipe the bottom of my skin out which is a major habit stack for me

Body Oil + Aquaphor Spray

BODY OIL ($10): CANADA | USA
AQUAPHOR SPRAY ($24): CANADA | USA

This year I finally switched from regular lotion to Body oil & Aquaphor spray as my post-shower routine.

Why it’s so good:

• Oil glides on so much easier over damp skin
• It actually absorbs instead of sitting on top
• The Aquaphor spray is a dream for hard-to-reach spots like your back!

If you’re dry, itchy, or just want your post-shower routine to feel spa-like without being complicated, this is such an easy upgrade.

3. CREATIVE HABITS

My big dream for 2025 was to have this huge creative season.
Reality: pregnancy, moving, chaos. It was not my moment for that, HOWEVER, there were a few creative things I managed that genuinely helped my mental health.

One Line a Day Journal

AMAZON CANADA | AMAZON USA

Instead of a full-on journaling practice, I used a One Line a Day five-year journal.

WHY I LOVE IT

• Write one little memory, moment, or thought from the day
• Especially note small moments with my son
• It’s tiny & low-pressure but still gives you a sense of continuity
• A way to capture this season without needing a whole journaling session every night

If you’re pregnant or in the little-kid stage, I highly recommend this.

Colouring Book + Markers

AMAZON CANADA | AMAZON USA

This one started because my toddler to do more crafts and I realized I was just sitting there watching him colour his Paw Patrol books. I bought a colouring book and markers and it was the best.

WHY I LOVE IT

• It’s creative, but requires zero planning
• I don’t have to think of what to draw
• It’s an easy, screen-free, cozy evening or nap-time activity

Especially if you’re an ADHD girly who tends to go all-in on hobbies and then abandon them (hehehe could *never be me*) colouring is nice because there’s no pressure to “be good.”

A Dedicated Hard Drive for Family Photos

MY FAVE HARD DRIVE: amazon canada | usa

This might not sound like a traditional wellness habit, but for someone who lives in photo + content land, it has been huge.

WHAT I DID:

• Bought a hard drive just for family + personal photos
• Started moving them off my phone and work drives
• My photos aren’t mixed in with client work
• It’s easier to eventually make photo books
• With a USB-C phone, I can plug the hard drive straight in and move photos off my phone

4. DAILY LIFE HABITS

These are the little, almost boring things that genuinely made day-to-day life feel better

A “Drink / Wellness” Drawer

I made one small drawer into my drink & ritual drawer:

• Tea
• Matcha
• Frother
• Cute mugs & straws

Now, when I open it:

• Everything looks aesthetic
• I actually want to make myself a tea or matcha
• Hosting feels easier because everything is in one place

You can do this with:

• Coffee station
• Skincare shelf
• Bath products
• Craft supplies

Sometimes you don’t need new things — you just need to display what you already have in a way that invites you to use it.

Taking My Supplements Consistently

Nothing revolutionary here, but:

• Taking my prenatals and a few basics with breakfast
• Every day

…helped me feel like:

“Okay, even if I do nothing else productive today, I did one small thing for my body.”

It’s often the smallest habit that gives you just enough momentum to care a little bit more in other areas.

Getting (and Actually Using) a Library Card

If you want dopamine and a slow-life vibe, go to your local library!!

SOME OF MY FAVE THINGS:

• Take out stacks of nonfiction or cozy books
• Flip through them with zero pressure to “finish”
• Enjoy the feeling of “new books” without spending or storing them

If you are a hobby girl, many libraries also now lend:

• Sewing machines
• Cricuts
• Craft tools

Changing My Desktop Wallpaper Every Month

This one is so small but helps so much every time I open my laptop up to work! Once a month I:

• Make a desktop wallpaper in Canva
• Add a little Pinterest moodboard on top
• Type my monthly goals at the bottom

It takes maybe five minutes, but:

• It keeps my vision for the month visually front-and-center
• Makes opening my laptop feel intentional, not chaotic
• Feels like a tiny fresh start every few weeks

5. QUICK WINS TO HELP ME FEEL PUT TOGETHER

These are the things that are not ~deep wellness~, but absolutely contribute to you feeling like a functioning adult human.

Tide To Go Pens Everywhere

6 PACK CANADA | USA

I bought a multi-pack and stashed them everywhere! I carry them in my purse, car, diaper bag, anywhere I can think to store one. The goal with buying multiple is to always know I have one SOMEWHERE, because trust me your girl spills coffee on herself waaay too many times for this not be a needed item

A Portable Phone Charger

AMAZON CANADA | USA

My phone battery is def not thriving these days, so investing in a small portable charger has been so good for me to carry in my purse and know that my phone won’t die mid-day when I really need maps to drive home.

Hand Sanitizer (Especially for Thrifting Girlies/Moms)

I finally started buying a mini hand sanitizer for my purse and car, and it has been the best for thrifting or post changing a diaper!

Self Tanner (Salty Face)

SALTY FACE FACE TANNING SET

I am absolutely a self-tanner girl, especially from January–March when everything feels grey.

Salty Face has been my go-to because:

• It doesn’t flare my eczema
• Gives a soft, natural color
• Makes me feel like I’ve at least tried even when I’ve been sick or exhausted

Weekly Pinterest Moodboard Phone Background

As a part of my weekly routine I love to do this, especially when I don’t feel up to creating big goals or intricate to do lists. What I do:

1. Spend 5 minutes on Pinterest
2. Save 4–6 photos that reflect how I want the week to feel
3. Make a little collage in Instagram
4. Set it as my phone background

REMINDER: YOU DON’T *NEED* ANY OF THESE TO START

All of these tools and products helped support me in a year that was honestly *a lot*

But the real work was:

• Adjusting my expectations
• Letting this year be different than I planned
• Leaning on small, doable habits instead of going “all or nothing”

You don’t have to buy anything to start taking care of yourself.
Sometimes the most powerful reset is: cleaning your space, going to bed earlier, drinking some water & checking in with how you’re actually doing.

YOU DON’T HAVE TO DO PRODUCTIVITY LIKE EVERYONE ELSE

Tired of traditional productivity advice? You will love it around here. We chat all about habits and routines that are realistic for the everyday, type BC girly.

🎧 Here are some other episodes + resources you might love:

• How to break your phone addiction in 2026
• Desktop Vision Board Template (Canva)
• How to get your life together as a Type B girly

Loved this blog post?
✨ Tune into the full podcast episode “Wellness Products That Helped Me This Year” for the full conversation