Woman Rejects Trends, Shares Important Message About 'Realistic Wellness'

Instagram users are reevaluating their relationships with wellness after a viral reel reminded them to be "realistic."

Ella Denton, known on the social media app as @wellwith_ell, shared her "bad habits"openly to an audience of more than 4.1 million viewers, sparking conversations around "realistic wellness."

In the video, Denton, who was eating a burger, wrote: "I eat dessert every day. I don't journal or meditate at all because I get bored. Going on my phone is the first thing I do every morning and the last thing I do every night, I often just have toast for breakfast. I almost never stretch after a workout. I find self-help books hard to read and prefer spicy fantasy. I never meal prep.

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"Realistic wellness is still wellness."

While it may be surprising to see someone so focused on wellness highlight their own bad habits, she explained in the video's caption, "Disclaimer: I'm not trying to say that any of these things are healthy... What I'm saying is that these habits don't take away from my wellness."

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Denton's candor on the subject has caused others to reevaluate their relationship with these practices, as they considered whether their obsession with leading a wellness-led life is taking it too far.

To find out more about incorporating wellness practices into your routine without setting unrealistic expectations, Newsweek spoke to mindset and wellness expert Sonia Jhas, who shared five tips for finding your routine.

1. Create a Personal Wellness Blueprint

"Instead of trying to incorporate every trending wellness habit, focus on understanding your own needs and preferences. This helps prevent overwhelm and ensures that your wellness practice is tailored to you. Be open to reviewing and adjusting your plan as your lifestyle and circumstances change—wellness is an ever-shifting practice."

2. Integrate Moments of "Micro" Wellness

"Avoid the pressure that comes with turning wellness into a major, daunting time commitment by focusing on small, manageable practices that you can incorporate throughout your day.

"These micro-wellness moments, like a five-minute meditation in the morning or a quick stretch in the middle of your workday, add up over time and help make wellness feel less like an obligation and more like a natural part of your routine."

3. Prioritize Progress Over Perfection

"There's no such thing as a "perfect" approach to wellness. Instead of chasing perfection, prioritize flexibility and focus on the bigger picture. Wellness is about discovering what genuinely works for you and integrating it into your life—little hiccups or 'setbacks' are all part of the journey.

"There's no need to feel guilty about missing a workout or indulging in a treat (or two). Instead, ask yourself why you're having trouble following your routine and assess how you can adjust it to work within your reality."

4. Invest in Sleep Hygiene

"Treat sleep as a cornerstone of your wellness by optimizing your sleep environment and establishing a consistent bedtime routine. By prioritizing quality sleep, you'll enhance your ability to manage stress and make healthier choices, ensuring you can show up for yourself effectively and sustainably."

5. Establish Digital Boundaries

"With the constant influx of information and social media pressures, it's becoming increasingly crucial to set boundaries around screen time. Designating specific times to be screen-free allows you to ground yourself in the present moment and build deeper connections with those around you, preventing digital overload from undermining your wellness efforts."

What Do the Comments Say?

The comments section showed support for Denton's openness, as one wrote, "Honestly this was hella refreshing to see. Sometimes people just want to LIVE without constantly being bombarded with "wellness"."

"More people need to read this." added a second. "Wellness is what makes you feel at peace within, wellness is what makes you feel in tune with your body, wellness is a safe space to grow. So many people focus on perfection rather than realistic healing- slow growth is better because you're in it for a marathon not a sprint."

One user reframed her video, as they wrote, "Could look at it from another perspective. She still takes time to have a breakfast instead of skipping. Still takes time to go to the gym, still takes time to read. Everyone's obsession with perfection is so unrealistic."

Newsweek reached out to Denton for comment via Instagram.