Wellness isn't just about hitting the gym or eating salads all day long — it's a holistic approach that touches every part of your life, from how you sleep to how you connect with others.
The good news is that if you want to start a holistic routine, you don't need to overhaul your entire lifestyle overnight! Building a wellness routine from home can start with just a few simple habits and the right environment to support them.
Living at AMLI Aero, our San Diego apartments in Kearny Mesa, puts you in a unique position to achieve this goal because the community's design naturally supports multiple dimensions of wellness, from physical fitness spaces to serene courtyards, social gathering areas and more. Here's how to take advantage of your surroundings and build a wellness routine that actually works!
AMLI Aero’s guide to holistic living
Understanding holistic wellness
Before diving into specific habits, it helps to understand what wellness really means.
Wellness is a holistic integration of physical, mental and spiritual well-being, and it's about fueling the body, engaging the mind and nurturing the spirit. While it always includes striving for health, it's more about living life fully. It also looks different for everyone, and there’s no single right way to do it!
Experts in the industry have identified eight pillars of wellness: physical, nutritional, emotional, social, spiritual, intellectual, financial and environmental. That might sound like a lot to manage, but the key insight is that these pillars are interconnected, and when you improve one area, it often positively affects others.
The approach is multi-dimensional and encompasses far more than just diet and exercise because it's positive and proactive, creating health and well-being rather than fighting sickness. For apartment living, this means your home and community spaces can become the foundation for addressing each of these dimensions.
Why routines matter (and how to start small)
If you've ever tried to adopt healthier habits and failed, you're not alone. The problem often isn't a lack of motivation, but rather your method of approach. Having an established, repetitive schedule can help remove stress and anxiety from your day, and by following a routine, it becomes easier to establish healthy habits like exercising, meditating or studying.
Here's the science behind it: habits require very little mental energy, and once a behavior becomes routine, your brain can conserve energy to focus on the important decisions in life. That's why building small habits can lead to big changes over time.
The key to any good wellness routine is to build it to work for you rather than copying what everyone else is doing. Figure out what optimal health looks like for you and create a wellness routine based on that! For example, if you prefer to work out late at night, then hit your apartment’s in-house fitness center at the end of the day rather than forcing yourself to work out before work just because everyone else is, too.
If you're just starting out, keep it simple and choose just 3-5 healthy things that you can start doing daily to nourish your mind, body and soul. You can always add more later once those initial habits feel natural.
Building your morning wellness routine
How you start your day sets the tone for everything that follows, and a well-balanced morning routine supports your physical, emotional, spiritual and mental well-being. You don't need to wake up at 5 a.m. or spend two hours on self-care to accomplish this, because even 30 minutes of intentional habits can make a real difference in how you feel.
Hydration first
Start with a glass of water, since your body has been fasting overnight and will benefit from early relief. Hydration helps wake you up, aids digestion and gets your metabolism moving, so keep a glass on your nightstand and make it the first thing you reach for each morning.
Gentle movement
You don't need a full workout to feel good in the morning, and just 5 to 10 minutes of intentional movement can make a big difference in your early energy levels. Stretching, light yoga or even a short walk helps connect your body to the present moment and clears that morning fog.
Here at AMLI Aero, you can step onto your private balcony or patio for those gentle morning stretches, and the expansive windows in each apartment bring in natural light that helps regulate your circadian rhythm and boost your mood. A quick trip to the dog park can be a relief to both you and your pup!
A moment of mindfulness
Even just a few minutes of meditation each day can benefit your overall wellness, and you don't need special equipment or training to get started. Simply sit quietly, focus on your breath and let your thoughts settle. Apps like Headspace or Calm can guide you if you're new to the practice and need a helping hand.
Nutritious breakfast
One of the most important steps to starting your day off right is to eat a healthy breakfast that supplies your body with plenty of protein, complex carbohydrates and healthy fats. This combination gives you sustained energy rather than the crash that comes from skipping breakfast or grabbing something sugary. Having a fully-equipped kitchen with plenty of space to cook and store your food means creating these meals and snacks is easy!
Practice gratitude
Starting with a grateful mindset triggers the release of dopamine and serotonin, which are the chemicals that help us feel happy and motivated. Take one minute to write down or mentally note three things you're grateful for, and remember that they don't have to be monumental, either — sometimes the little things make the biggest difference!
Physical wellness at home
Regular physical activity has many benefits for both your physical and mental well-being, making it one of the most important things you can do to maintain your health. The key is finding activities you actually enjoy and will stick with over time.
Instead of seeing exercise as a chore, consider it an opportunity to move and celebrate your body. Whether it's dancing, swimming or yoga, the best exercise is the one you'll actually do consistently and one you enjoy.
Using AMLI Aero's fitness spaces
The indoor/outdoor fitness center at AMLI Aero gives you plenty of exercise options to choose from: HIIT zones, free weights and cardio equipment are available when you want an intense workout, and the open-air yoga space lets you combine movement with that fresh SoCal air. Having these luxury amenities steps from your front door removes one of the biggest barriers to exercise, which is the inconvenience of getting to a gym!
The benefits of swimming
Our rooftop pool isn't just for lounging, though relaxing poolside is perfectly fine too. Swimming offers unique wellness benefits that other exercises don't provide.
The weightlessness experienced while swimming helps release muscle tension and promotes a sense of physical relaxation that translates into mental calmness. The rhythmic nature of swimming combined with controlled breathing mimics the effects of meditation and can be deeply calming.
Studies have shown that swimming can help reduce stress and anxiety by calming the mind, and the repetitive strokes and rhythmic breathing act as a form of meditation that requires swimmers to focus on the water and their movements.
Swimming is also low-impact, making it suitable for people of all fitness levels, and when performed regularly, it can lead to enhanced muscle strength, improved cardiovascular health and mental relaxation.
(Plus, having a jumbotron next to our rooftop pool means you can get in some easy exercise alongside some well-earned lounging and well-earned movie watching!)
Why outdoor yoga works
There's something about practicing yoga outside that amplifies its benefits. Practicing yoga in nature can lead to increased mindfulness and help you get into a more meditative state, and scientific studies show that being in nature positively affects our bodies by reducing cortisol levels, muscle tension and demands on our cardiovascular systems.
The open-air yoga space and serene interior courtyards at AMLI Aero provide ideal environments for this practice, and even if you're a beginner, starting with simple stretches in these spaces can help you build a consistent habit.
Research also shows that yoga strengthens parts of the brain that play a key role in memory, attention, awareness, thought and language. Think of it as weightlifting for the brain!
Work-life balance for remote workers
If you work from home, creating boundaries between work and personal life is essential for your wellness. The proximity of your office to your living space can blur the lines between work and personal time, which can potentially lead to burnout if left unchecked.
Create a dedicated workspace
Work from a neat and clutter-free space in your home that's specifically dedicated to work, and choose a spot where you're able to work productively while keeping that space distinct from other parts of your home so you can unplug when you're done.
AMLI Aero offers several workplace options beyond your spacious studio-3 bedroom apartments, including the co-working lounge, leasable private offices, coworking area with built-in desks and lounge pods for private work. Working in these spaces instead of your couch or bed helps your brain distinguish between "work mode" and "rest mode." Our 2-story live/work units are perfect for having separate living spaces and work spaces!
Set clear boundaries
Define specific work hours and communicate them to your household so that you have time to relax and recharge at the end of the day. A consistent routine can help you enjoy work-life balance, reduce the chances of burnout and lower feelings of stress.
Take wellness breaks
Make space for free time between meetings and take short movement breaks throughout the day. Walk a few laps around the building, do a few squats at your desk or take a stretch break whenever you need to reset.
At AMLI Aero, you can break up your workday by visiting the interior courtyards, taking a quick dip in the pool or walking to the entry courtyard's putting green. These brief mental resets can boost your productivity when you return to work.
Mental and emotional wellness
Your physical environment plays a significant role in your mental health!
Exposure to even a little bit of nature has been shown to lower stress hormones, and studies show that just 20 minutes in a park or green space decreases stress markers significantly. Natural settings calm the nervous system while the sounds of birds or rustling leaves reduce anxiety and promote relaxation.
The two serene interior courtyards with lush landscaping at AMLI Aero provide accessible natural spaces for daily stress relief without leaving the building.
Prioritize sleep
Sleep is the cornerstone of good health, so focus on creating a bedtime routine that gives you 7-9 hours of quality rest each night. Try incorporating calming activities into your evening regimen such as quiet reading, stretching or practicing mindfulness techniques to quiet your mind before bed.
The spa-inspired baths with soaking tubs at AMLI Aero provide an ideal environment for evening wind-down routines, and the Smart Nest thermostats help maintain optimal sleeping temperatures throughout the night!
Create a calming home environment
Environmental self-care involves creating a space that promotes physical, mental and emotional well-being, and decluttering your space while keeping your home tidy and organized can reduce feelings of overwhelm and increase productivity.
The presence of water in your environment can also create a calming atmosphere that helps decrease anxiety levels and promote mental well-being, which is another reason to spend time at the rooftop pool!
Social wellness and community connection
Humans are social creatures, and interacting with others is a key means of combating loneliness. Healthy and supportive social contact is also studied as a means of combating cognitive decline, depression, anxiety and other mental health challenges!
Social wellness emphasizes the importance of healthy and meaningful relationships, and it involves building a strong support network, fostering connections and engaging in positive social interactions.
Cooking and gathering together
Research shows that cooking may positively influence psychosocial outcomes, and community-based cooking activities have demonstrated a positive influence on socialization, self-esteem and quality of life.
Even sharing one meal a week with someone else can improve well-being, and people who eat with others not only report greater happiness but also enjoy their food more.
AMLI Aero offers multiple spaces for this kind of connection. The fire pit terraces and pizza oven are perfect for golden-hour gatherings, while the sunset terrace with grills and dining areas works well for hosting dinner parties. The rooftop clubhouse with shuffleboard, foosball and grills makes entertaining effortless, and the 24-foot jumbotron creates opportunities for movie nights or game day watch parties.
Getting started with a wellness routine
Building a wellness routine doesn't require a complete lifestyle overhaul, so start with one or two habits that feel manageable. Maybe it's a morning glass of water and a five-minute stretch on your balcony, or maybe it's using the fitness center twice a week or hosting a monthly dinner with neighbors.
The key is consistency over perfection since wellness is unique to you and it's about what you need for your health and well-being at any given moment. Your routine will evolve as your life changes, and that's exactly how it should be.
At AMLI Aero, you have the spaces and amenities to support every dimension of wellness; the only thing left to do is to start!
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Photos courtesy AMLI Residential
The AMLI Editorial Team consists of a team of writers and editors who work together on blog articles, and may occasionally employ AI tools to assist in developing content.
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