{"id":64,"date":"2022-04-08T09:21:40","date_gmt":"2022-04-08T13:21:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/studentwellbeing\/?page_id=64"},"modified":"2024-06-17T13:45:58","modified_gmt":"2024-06-17T17:45:58","slug":"daily-wellbeing-routine","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/studentwellbeing\/how-to-live-well\/daily-wellbeing-routine\/","title":{"rendered":"Start a Daily Routine to Support Your Health &#038; Wellbeing"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>A routine is a sequence of actions regularly followed, or a fixed program. A little bit of daily structure, or routine, can help support your wellbeing in all its dimensions. Creating a wellness routine can make it easier to stay on track and keep your wellbeing at the forefront of your mind.<\/p>\n<p>A wellness routine is a daily schedule that incorporates all of your healthy habits, such as your movement, sleep, meals, work\/study\/social life balance, and self-care activities. The best wellbeing routine will support you on the tough days and give you some extra energy and good feelings on the best days.<\/p>\n<p>Then, mix and match ideas from the list below to create a wellbeing routine that fits your goals and lifestyle.<\/p>\n<h2>Start your day on the right foot<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/studentwellbeing\/files\/2022\/04\/heart.png\" alt=\"heart icon with pulse pressure waveform\" width=\"51\" height=\"48\" class=\"wp-image-135 alignleft\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Stretch.<\/strong> Before you roll out of bed, try this stretch: Reach your arms above your head, stretch your legs out as straight as you can, and expand your rib cage with a deep inhale. As you exhale, relax. Give your wrists and ankles a roll, and then get out of bed.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Hydrate.<\/strong> Drink a glass of water as soon as you get up in the morning. This simple habit makes it easier to hit your hydration goals.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/studentwellbeing\/files\/2022\/04\/flame.png\" alt=\"flame icon\" width=\"49\" height=\"50\" class=\"wp-image-138 alignleft\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/studentwellbeing\/files\/2022\/04\/flame.png 245w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/studentwellbeing\/files\/2022\/04\/flame-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 49px) 100vw, 49px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Meditate.<\/strong> Even just a few minutes of meditation each day can benefit your overall wellness, so this definitely deserves a spot in your routine. Try a guided meditation app \u2014 like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/studentwellbeing\/how-to-live-well\/headspace-app-free-for-students\">Headspace<\/a> \u2014 to help you calm your mind and body and feel more balanced.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Eat breakfast.<\/strong> When you head to the fridge in the morning, it can be tempting to grab the first, most convenient thing you see. Create a healthy breakfast with a balance of protein, healthy fat, and complex carbohydrates to keep you energized until lunch.<\/p>\n<p><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/studentwellbeing\/files\/2022\/04\/hand-with-plant.png\" alt=\"hand holding seedling plant icon\" width=\"49\" height=\"48\" class=\"wp-image-140 alignleft\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/studentwellbeing\/files\/2022\/04\/hand-with-plant.png 245w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/studentwellbeing\/files\/2022\/04\/hand-with-plant-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 49px) 100vw, 49px\" \/>Grab your refillable water bottle. <\/strong>Not only will it help you meet your hydration goals, but using a refillable water bottle, thermos and\/or coffee mug helps reduce the amount of waste generated by single use containers.<\/p>\n<h2>Beat the midday slump<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Keep moving.<\/strong> Your workout shouldn\u2019t be the only activity you get during the day. Take short movement breaks throughout the day: walk a few laps around the block, do a few squats at your desk, or take a stretch break wherever you are.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Don\u2019t skip lunch.<\/strong> When your day gets hectic, it can be tempting to work right through lunch. Your body will feel better if you stop and eat a well-rounded meal.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/studentwellbeing\/files\/2022\/04\/mortarboard.png\" alt=\"graduation mortarboard cap icon\" width=\"60\" height=\"47\" class=\"wp-image-136 alignleft\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Schedule in mini-breaks.<\/strong> Sure, you could work for 10 hours straight and get up only to use the bathroom. But is that truly what\u2019s best for your mind and your body? When creating your afternoon wellness routine, build in short breaks throughout the day to increase productivity and creativity. Make a specific plan for how you\u2019ll spend your downtime \u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6585675\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">one study<\/a> found that engaging in physical activity or relaxation exercises during your break seems to offer a more effective energy boost than an unstructured break (or no break at all). And\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/24749966\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">another study<\/a>\u00a0found that walking, in particular, has a positive effect on creative thinking.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Create an anxiety- or stress-reducing strategy.<\/strong> If you find yourself feeling anxious during the day, have a few tools on hand to help you manage your feelings. Check out the Headspace app for relaxation and calming techniques, as well as breathing exercises.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/studentwellbeing\/files\/2022\/04\/hands.png\" alt=\"handshake icon\" width=\"58\" height=\"52\" class=\"wp-image-139 alignleft\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Take time to be social.<\/strong> Just like you need movement, water, and sleep, it is also important to support your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/studentwellbeing\/what-is-wellbeing\/social-wellbeing\">social wellbeing<\/a>. Take time to connect with other humans for conversation, laughs, support, and pleasure. It doesn\u2019t have to be a huge effort \u2014 share a meal, make a phone call, or run an errand with a friend.<\/p>\n<h2>Take care of yourself after a long day<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Restore.<\/strong> When creating your personalized wellness routine, think about adding in some gentle or restorative movement at the end of the day \u2014 like foam rolling, stretching, or restorative yoga.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Power down.<\/strong> The blue light emitted by phone, computer, and TV screens can disrupt your sleep cycle. Your wind-down routine should be about preparing your mind and body for sleep, so schedule a time to shut down your devices for the night.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/studentwellbeing\/files\/2022\/04\/head.png\" alt=\"dizzy head icon\" width=\"44\" height=\"44\" class=\"wp-image-134 alignleft\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/studentwellbeing\/files\/2022\/04\/head.png 245w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/studentwellbeing\/files\/2022\/04\/head-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 44px) 100vw, 44px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Practice gratitude.<\/strong> A gratitude practice is a great way to acknowledge your accomplishments from the day and refocus your mind. For example, you might make it a habit to write down three things you\u2019re grateful for in a gratitude journal before you end your day.<\/p>\n<p><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/studentwellbeing\/files\/2022\/04\/heart.png\" alt=\"heart icon with pulse pressure waveform\" width=\"52\" height=\"49\" class=\"wp-image-135 alignleft\" \/>Get a solid night\u2019s sleep.<\/strong> When you don\u2019t get enough zzz\u2019s, it\u2019ll be harder to accomplish the rest of your wellness goals \u2014 so make it a priority in your wellbeing routine.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A routine is a sequence of actions regularly followed, or a fixed program. A little bit of daily structure, or routine, can help support your wellbeing in all its dimensions. Creating a wellness routine can make it easier to stay on track and keep your wellbeing at the forefront of your mind. A wellness routine [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5235,"featured_media":0,"parent":16,"menu_order":2,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/studentwellbeing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/64"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/studentwellbeing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/studentwellbeing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/studentwellbeing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5235"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/studentwellbeing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=64"}],"version-history":[{"count":24,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/studentwellbeing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/64\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1357,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/studentwellbeing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/64\/revisions\/1357"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/studentwellbeing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/16"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/studentwellbeing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=64"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}