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Strategies for Living Well

How do students promote well-being at HMS?

Links Organized by Types of Well-being

Physical

Taking care of your physical self can mean a lot of different things. Some enjoy rec sports and team athletics; others focus on low-impact, individualized experiences like yoga. Essential is a mindful and positive relationship towards your body. It is what keeps you going! From the energy you get out through activities to what you’re eating and drinking, here are suggestions and resources for physical well-being.

Student Spaces

Discover places to relax & recreate.

Harvard Facilities:
 

  • Vanderbilt Gym – Available as a complimentary privilege to all matriculated Harvard University students registered in a degree program. Intramural basketball, soccer & volleyball; group fitness classes; basketball, squash and tennis court rentals; and more.
  • Harvard Recreation – For access to Harvard facilities and recreational classes across all campuses, you may purchase a Harvard Recreation membership.

Student Recommendations:
 

  • Yoga
  • CrossFit
  • Medicine in Motion – Medical practitioners combating medical burnout through fitness, philanthropy, and interdisciplinary community building. The group promotes healthy lifestyles and wellness, fundraises for medical research and charity, and builds community among healthcare providers. Contact the Harvard Medical School chapter at this email for more information.
  • Hiking in the Blue Hills or White Mountains
  • Biking along the Minuteman Bikeway or the Charles River Esplanade
  • Skiing at Mount Snow or Mount Wachusett

HMS Dining, Local Grocery Stores & Eateries

Mental & Spiritual

Mental and spiritual well-being can sometimes become secondary to more pressing and physical asks such as schoolwork, leadership responsibilities, or chores. But it is essential to check in and see how you’re doing on the inside, so that you can make sure you are well supported and can feel your very best. Below are resources and recommendations to help you take care of your inner self, however you see fit.
 

Harvard University Well-being Services Via Counseling and Mental Health Service (CAHMS):
 


Harvard Spiritual Life
 

Financial

Graduate and professional studies are time-consuming and the last thing you want to worry about is your day-to-day finances. HMS offers supports for students that guide them through the financial aid process and assist them in developing financial wellness skills.

Resources
 

Social

Even when graduate school leaves you feeling isolated, you are not alone. There are so many ways to connect with your peers and so much to explore in the Greater Boston area. Below, you’ll find HMS resources and student recommendations for their favorite places to relax and socialize on campus and beyond.
 

HMS Resources
 

  • Get involved in an HMS Student Group! See the full list of Student Groups at the HMS/HDS Student Group Directory.
  • Outings & Innings: Provides various perks and discounts to Harvard staff, faculty, retirees and students, including museum, movie, sporting events and theater tickets. To see a full listing and to sign up for weekly alerts on specials, visit their webpage.

Students Recommendations:
 

  • New England Getaways: Leave the city and explore  with just a 1-2 hour drive. Visit the White Mountains, Vermont, Maine, Cape Cod, Cape Anne, Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket and the Boston Harbor Islands.
  • Favorite places for peace & quiet: Stoneman Healing Garden (Dana Farber), Countway Library (HMS)
  • Shopping: Newbury Street, Harvard Square, Central Square, Coolidge Corner, South End, North End
  • Cooking (including cooking together in the Vandy kitchens)
  • Reading
  • Hanging with friends

Intellectual

Stimulating your creative and intellectual side is essential to overall well-being and builds a well-rounded individual. There are plenty of opportunities to take advantage of within the Harvard community and the Greater Boston area. 

HMS Initiatives
 

  • Arts and Humanities Initiative: Aims to foster creativity and scholarship in the arts and medical humanities at Harvard Medical School and its affiliated hospitals, to support a community of faculty and students engaged and interested in the arts and humanities, and to enhance patient care through reflection and compassion.
  • BSO (Boston Symphony Orchestra) Medical Card: Using music to heal the healer, this innovative program is designed to engage medical, graduate, and dental students and residents with access to live classical music concerts during their tenure in Boston. In conjunction with the Arts and Humanities Initiative, students can purchase a BSO Medical Card for $5.00 entitling the bearer to two tickets to one concert each week throughout the season (September 1 through August 1). Each school, degree program, and residency department has their own distribution process. For more information, please contact your Office of Student Affairs or Residency Program Administrator.

Museums
 

Harvard Museums (free for ID Holders)

Boston-area Museums 

To live well is to take a holistic approach to all aspects of life, from nutrition to the arts.
 

Student Well-Being at HMS: Pathways & HST

Student Voices Matter

Student voices are at the core of HMS well-being offerings.

Student Well-being Executive Committee (HarvardKey required)

A student-faculty collaborative that regularly develops, reviews and updates the initiatives offered to MD students, encourages their peers to share their experiences with them and the broader Harvard Medical School community.

The Student Well-being Executive Committee supports all efforts to enhance and amplify students’ lived experiences inside and outside the classroom, the clinic and the patient room. Paying attention to your mental, social, creative and physical health now builds healthy habits which will last a lifetime. The Harvard Medical School Office of Student Affairs and the Student Well-being Executive Committee are pleased to provide opportunities and suggestions for living well on-campus and off-campus.

Advice from Current Students

  • Keep your expectations of yourself and other dynamic and realistic
  • Take care of your physical and mental health
  • Learn to recognize and manage the expectation of achievement, “imposter” syndrome, depression and anxiety
  • Reach out to other students, faculty and advisors when you are feeling overwhelmed or have questions
  • Living with other HMS students can be a good way to build a support network
  • Take the initiative to explore opportunities
  • Choose mentors wisely
  • Give yourself time to adjust to life in Boston
  • Celebrate diversity!
  • Participate in extracurricular activities, including student interest groups, student publications and Harvard programs (e.g., intramural sports, tutoring premeds, dual degrees, cross-registration and events at other Harvard schools)
  • Make time for friends and family by getting out to do things you enjoy with people you enjoy and staying connected despite geographic distance
  • Balance studying, class and sleep

Are there ways you contribute to the HMS community's well-being that you'd like to see on this list? Email the Office of Student Affairs with your recommendations.