We pulled together helpful insight from our experts on how to stick to your routines and make the most of them. Whether you’re a planning veteran or just getting started, let the pros who help the pros make your life easier, too.
"The simple act of setting an intention can help you feel in control of your routines."
From Jen Sygo, Performance Dietitian
Plan
The simple act of setting an intention can help you feel in control of your routines. Take the guesswork out of your day. Wake up and say: “I’m going to have a solid breakfast”, like yogurt, or oatmeal with fruit. Follow that up with a plan for lunch and an easy mid-afternoon snack. Round it out with an idea for a dinner to make with your family or for yourself. It doesn’t have to be more complicated than that.
Prep
Following your planning phase up with prep keeps routines easy. Cooking for one? If it’s easier to buy things pre-chopped and ready to go in single servings, do it. At work and know you won’t have time to have a balanced lunch? If there’s a great smoothie place you can walk to and buy a nutritional option, that’s a good investment.
From Alex Auerbach, Senior Director, Wellness & Development
Stay in touch with the moment
We’re booked with meetings and we’ve got so much on the go. It can start to feel like we’re going through the motions with our daily routines. Remember that when we set out on these routines, they are in service to ourselves and our families. Recitals, practices, time spent with friends: all these things connect us to what’s meaningful in the moment. Try and remember that if you feel like putting them off.
"Remember that when we set out on these routines, they are in service to ourselves and our families."
Tap into what matters most
Figuring out what values our routines support is important. Time with family and friends, exercise and eating right to feel good, prioritizing rest – these are just some examples. It will make them not just automatic, but purposeful. Valuable to our health, recovery, and for our loved ones.
Jon Lee, Head Strength & Conditioning Coach
Strive for variety
When I see that guys are getting stagnant, or a little bit complacent, I like to switch things up. We’ll switch from weight training to core stretches with a medicine ball, for example. Or find something a little more challenging to push them out of a rut. You can try the same in your own exercise routines if things are beginning to feel stale.
"When I see that guys are getting stagnant, or a little bit complacent, I like to switch things up"
Get creative
If we’re on the road, I have to get creative with workouts depending on the facilities and equipment available to us. Whether you go to the gym to work out or like to go for runs or exercise outside, look around you and challenge yourself to use things in new ways. Do short sprints instead of a long jog or try out a new machine.
Looking for more health advice? Put your wellness first with Lumino Health’s Provider Search from Sun Life.
