Healthy people, healthy planet
Human health is strongly connected to a healthy environment. There are many beautiful places in New Haven for you to relax and recharge, and getting outside is good for you in so many ways. Beyond spending some time outside, Being Well at Yale also has a wealth of resources to help you detox and destress. Check out the website to get started with anything from quitting smoking to being more active.
Mindfulness
Taking up a mindfulness practice can help you to be more reflective, handle stress better, and stay calm. There are lots of resources to help you get started if you’ve never meditated before.
At Yale
- Yale staff and faculty can take a free Introduction to Mindfulness Class.
- Interested in meditating in a communal setting? Try a drop in meditation session in locations all over campus.
Online
- Check out these free guided meditations from the Center for Koru Mindfulness and from University of California Los Angeles’ Health Center.
- Download the Insight Timer app, which can help you meditate anytime, anywhere.
Be Active
We know it can be hard to exercise when you work and study for many hours of the day, but with a bit of planning ahead and some good resources, you can get your work done, have fun, and stay active.
- Check out these tips from Syracuse University about how to move more, eat well, and take breaks in the workplace.
- Head over to New Haven’s great parks. You can go for a peaceful walk or participate in one of many activities like kayaking, meditation, etc. hosted by the New Haven Parks Department.
- Go for a walk or run on one of New Haven’s running routes.
- Try a local gym or exercise class. Here are just a few of the places in New Haven that offer fun fitness classes: Payne Whitney Gymnasium, Breathing Room, Fresh Yoga, mActivity, and District Athletic Club.
Stress
Stress shouldn’t control or debilitate you. You’ll find a few stress reduction tips below, but for a more comprehensive guide, look at Yale Health’s stress page.
- Are you feeling stressed and not sure how to feel better? Here’s a great list of stress reduction strategies.
- Try Mind Tools, which teaches you 72 stress reduction skills to keep you healthy.