6 Things Lea Michele Does to Stay Healthy and Happy

Actress and singer Lea Michele is known for giving off that unmistakable, infectious glow of a wellness poster child—and it's not hard to spot with a quick scroll through her Instagram. Showing off tough workouts, luxe spa days, and big smiles, her feed scrolls like a how-to guide on happy, healthy living.

Of course, wellness means different things for everyone, so what works best for her isn't necessarily what works best for you. But when it comes to living her own best life, she seems like she's got her personalized version down to a science—or, rather, a practice. And most importantly, she seems like she enjoys it. (Dare we call it the look of Glee?)

Michele has been open about how important having a healthy lifestyle is to her. She's big on nutritious eating to fuel her packed schedule as an actress, singer, and performer, and her fitness grind is impressive. "I’m passionate about working out...the mind and body results after you do a workout you enjoy are incredible," she told SHAPE in 2016.

She also stressed one important foundation for how she treats herself: having a healthy relationship with her body. And whether you're at that place or not (which is totally OK!), her attitude about living well is pretty inspiring. Here are six ways Michele stays healthy and happy in her busy life.

Michele's affinity for SoulCycle has been well-documented. "I feel like SoulCycle is so inspiring and really uplifting and for me," she previously told SELF. "A workout has to be good for my mind, body, and soul. It can’t just be going crazy in the gym—it has to be something that’s going to make my spirit feel good at the same time." She also told SHAPE that she loves the sense of community in the room, sweating together at the same pace as dozens of other riders.

When she's not clipping into a SoulCycle bike, she'll do other high-intensity fitness classes like Body By Simone (a celeb-favorite, dance cardio-centric class), she told SELF.

Michele knows to slow down her workouts from time to time, too. She is a a big fan of CorePower Yoga (like fellow celeb fitness fanatic Julianne Hough), she told SELF—she'll do a couple of hot yoga classes there a week. For her, yoga is about staying centered.“I don’t do yoga to look good. I do it to feel good," she told Us Weekly. “I treat my body very well because I need all the energy I can get. [Actors] have crazy hours. We’re always traveling,” she said.

Michele also does reformer Pilates, and she's a big fan of hiking to get outside. "I have a great hiking trail in my backyard, so I go on a hike once or twice a week," she told SELF.

Michele tries to work out every day, she told SHAPE. Her trick for getting it in? "Find three workouts you enjoy so that you can choose what you need on any given day," she says. She listens to what her body's asking of her on any given day, too. "I can tell when my body is saying to take a break from working out, or when it’s saying, no, you’re being a little lazy, so that I can push myself to get going," she told the magazine.

She's also a fan of getting her workout in first thing in the morning, right after breakfast (or right before, if she doesn't have time), she told SELF.

Speaking of breakfast, Michele fuels her active life with healthy, whole foods. Right now, her house is completely vegan, she told Us Weekly, but she switches up her eating plan–she's been vegan, vegetarian, and a meat-eater. No matter how she's eating, though, she makes sure her fridge and pantry are packed with healthy options. “I think if you keep healthy food available at home, you’ll end up making better choices,” she told SELF.

For breakfast, she might have egg whites with avocado and a green juice (when she's not eating vegan at home), or she'll do avocado toast, or a smoothie after her workout. When lunch rolls around, she often goes for a salad, but she mixes up what she tops it with to keep things fresh, she told SELF. (She also told Well & Good that she likes meals with tofu or quinoa for a light lunch.)

For snacks, she told SELF that she goes for healthy nibbles like hummus and pita, carrots and tzatziki, goji berries, fresh berries, and seaweed snacks. Dinner might mean going out for sushi or vegan food, but sometimes, she likes to treat herself at night.

To Michele, treating herself often means going back to her heritage (in a delicious way). "I try to stay on the healthier side, but I'm also Italian, so Italian food is my absolute favorite. A great bowl of pasta is also my favorite dinner for me," she told SELF. She's also a big fan of red wine.

Plus, when she's in another city (for work or fun), she likes to enjoy what new places have to offer. "When you're traveling and stuff like that, I like trying new restaurants and going on adventures, so I can't limit myself," she told E! News.

Overall, "I work out really hard and I eat healthy, so I never really feel guilty about the things that I'm eating," she told SELF.

To stay energized, Michele knows the importance of a great night's sleep. "Sleep is the number-one thing that gives me energy," she told SHAPE. "It’s imperative for me to get a solid eight or nine hours. It usually takes me awhile to fall asleep, so I do things that help me wind down at night. I drink tea, I take a bath with nice salts and oils, and I spray lavender on my pillows.”

Her night-time routine is just one of the ways she prioritizes self care—she also loves going to the spa or going on Insta-perfect relaxing vacations. “When I’m not working, I’m taking care of myself. That way, I can be the best at my job,” she told SELF. “Self-care has always been my number one.”

Related:

• Lea Michele’s 3 Secrets to Having Energy All Day
• 6 Totally Doable Things Kelsea Ballerini Does to Stay Strong and Fit
• Why Jenna Dewan Tatum's Go-To Workout Is So Effective