September has arrived, and the renewed pace of school and home life is settling in.

Remember those wellness routines that seemed a little easier during summer? Sleep. Movement. Reading. Time outside. Seeing friends. Family trips. A few quiet minutes alone.

Funny how quickly the routines that help sustain us can disappear when our schedules get busy.

And yet, the routines we lose first when life gets busy may be the very routines we need most when life gets busy.

So, check please! And no, not the restaurant kind.

Here are nine wellness routines I use as a simple weekly check—three physical, three mental, and three social. They’re not rules or a prescription. They’re simply prompts for noticing what may be getting squeezed out as life gets busier.

As you examine each physical, mental, or social wellness routine, see which ones you can check!

PHYSICAL Wellness — aim for 5–6 times this week

☐ Seven or more hours of sleep
☐ Move, exercise, or play a sport
☐ Drink at least six cups of water each day

MENTAL & EMOTIONAL Wellness — aim for 3–4 times this week

☐ Pursue a hobby you enjoy
☐ Practice mindfulness—journal, breathe, reflect
☐ Spend 15 minutes in silence or solitude

SOCIAL Wellness — 1–2 aim for times this week

☐ Connect with family outside your household
☐ Spend time with friends outside work
☐ Get outside and spend time in nature

One caution: Don’t turn this into another score you have to perfect. I sway back and forth on these routines at different times throughout the school year.

So, give yourself some grace. Some weeks will be better than others. The point isn’t nine check marks every week. The wellness point is to notice.

What has quietly slipped away?

What would be worth reclaiming?

—Tim Kanold  

Front Porch PLC Heart, Soul, & Joy Question:

Which wellness routine has quietly slipped away—and what would it look like to reclaim it this week?