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Your bedroom can be a sleep sanctuary that assists you in getting the recommended 6 to 8 hours of sleep every night. If you toss and turn, ruminate and worry, or simply don’t feel as if your bedroom is as comfortable as it could be, consider removing the following things from your nightly routine and sleeping area.
Get Better Sleep in Your Bedroom
Keep It Cool
Experts say the best temperature for the bedroom while sleeping is around 65 degrees. That may seem chilly, but your body will lower its temperature while sleeping anyway, so a too-warm room can interfere with the natural sleep cycle. If you wake up often during the night, try lowering the room’s temperature and sleeping on cooling pillows. You may sleep better when you remove blankets that are too heavy.
Make It Dark
The body’s natural sleep cycles or circadian rhythm is activated by light and dark environments. Make the bedroom as dark as you are comfortable with by using blackout curtains or curtains with liners. Even the light from street lamps is enough to keep some people awake. On the opposite end, when you need to wake up, you should flood the room with natural sunlight for a great start to the day.
The best sleep is had when you remove sources of light pollution from outside, and, if needed, sleep with a very low night light that is placed away from the bed.
Eliminate Tech Gadgets
Make the bedroom a place for sleep and not texting, office work or paying bills. You will be amazed at the sleep sanctuary you can create when you remove the TV, cellphones, laptops and tablets from the bedroom. Instead, opt for reading a novel or listening to soft music before turning out the light for sleep. If you have noise pollution from outside (traffic, garbage trucks, etc.), consider a white noise generator, which makes these ambient sounds less noticeable.
It may take time to adjust, but removing tech gadgets also removes the blue light exposure that is known to keep people awake.
Declutter the Bedroom
You will sleep better in an area that is clear from clutter. It is suggested that you keep the bedroom orderly and pleasant. Consider diffusing your favorite calming scents like lavender, jasmine or frankincense in the air. If your surroundings are chaotic, cramped or unpleasant — your sleep may be affected. Consider keeping the nightstand tidy, storing books and other items in bins underneath the bed, and keeping clothes hung in the closet.
Consider these 17 Proven Tips to Sleep Better offered by Healthline.com.
We welcome you to a peaceful night of relaxing sleep at Audubon Parc apartment home in Cary, NC. Our spacious one-bedroom to three-bedroom apartments are available with lofts or a den to give you that extra space you need to turn your bedroom into an oasis for sleep.
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Mindful community members are eagerly taking advantage of the private yoga studio here at our Audubon Park in apartments in Cary, NC. Zen yoga is a widely popular mindfulness practice from the Zen Buddhist tradition that allows one to focus on immersing in an activity while being fully in the present moment, without awareness of awards or repercussions. Here are some basic practices poses to increase energy flow and awareness.
Ananda Blasana Pose
Also known as a happy baby pose, this stance literally resembles a baby on the floor with moving arms and legs as if trying to climb into the sky. As you reach the highest point, breath in deeply and hold for 30 seconds. This pose stretches the spine, increases arm strength and soothes the mind.
Dhanurasana Pose
This position calls for one to position the body as if it were a stringed bow ready for action, hence, it’s nickname ‘bow pose.’ This pose stretches the spine and strengthens the shoulders as one holds the position for 30 seconds. It’s a great pose to do on an empty stomach, and it also burns belly fat.
Utkatasana Pose
Known as the chair pose, one simply situates the body as if it’s sitting on an imaginary chair and should be held for a period of up to one minute to stimulate the abdominal organs and tone the leg muscles.
Purvottanasana Pose
This one is called the upward plank pose, so the body is literally taking on the position of a plank in the opposite direction. This beginner yoga asana strengthens the legs and arms while helping alleviate depression and fatigue.
Trikonasana Pose
This a great beginner pose, especially for those undertaking practice first thing in the morning. Trikona means triangle in Sanskrit, so the body takes on the position of an equilateral triangle. Not only does it loosen up the bowels, but it increases the body’s fat-burning abilities to help alleviate weight from the waist and hips.
Find a Home Where Yoga Is an Amenity
You will have a place here to undertake your efforts in our yoga studio. Contact us to learn more about life at Audubon Parc apartments in Cary, and schedule a tour of our rapidly growing ‘zen’ community.
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When you don’t want to head outdoors due to the weather or when you prefer to work out without other people around, you can easily create a workout routine at home. Being in the comfort of your own home while exercising can help ensure that you stay physically active regularly since you don’t have to worry about the weather or making it to a local gym for your daily exercise routine. If you want to get fit at home, keep these workout tips in mind.
Set Up a Workout Spot
If you plan on using the same area in your apartment for workouts, such as your living room or bedroom, set it up as a handy workout spot. Keep a basket in this area with any fitness equipment you’ll be using, such as weights, resistance bands or a yoga mat. This makes it convenient for you to get started on your workout routine on a daily basis. Make sure you have enough room in your workout spot to move around while doing stretches and other exercises.
Be Accountable to Someone
One of the challenges of working out at home is that it’s easy to skip your workout routine if you don’t feel like doing it. You can overcome this by having an accountability partner. Let a friend or family member know about your daily or weekly fitness goals, and check in with them regularly. Knowing that you’ll have to tell someone else whether or not you did your workout can help you stay motivated enough to do it even when you don’t want to.
Use Media and Technology
If you’re not sure what exercises to do, consider following a workout routine with help from online videos, apps or DVDs. This can provide you with guidance, so that you can do the kind of workout you need in order to achieve your particular goals. For example, you can do a yoga workout, a low-impact cardio workout or some strength training with specific exercises while watching someone demonstrate how to do them.
When you want to get outside your apartment and exercise, our community features a pool, yoga and stretching rooms, and a fitness studio. Contact us for more information on our apartments in Cary, NC.
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If you're like many of the residents of our Cary, North Carolina, apartments, you do your best to get as many steps into your daily routine as you can. It's not always easy! Between work, family and friends, steps can easily fall by the wayside. If you've noticed your count dwindling, here are some fun ways to add footsteps back into your life.
Borrow a dog
If you don't have a furry family member of your own, borrow one from a neighbor. Fido will seldom refuse an excuse to go sniff about the landscape, and while you've got a leash in hand, you'll be adding to your daily step count. Since we're a pet-friendly community, you can rest assured that there are dozens of dogs that would be happy to accompany you on your evening strolls. Even better? Consider adopting a dog who needs a forever home if you've got the time and ability to care for such a creature.
Take the stairs
Elevators are often the popular option over stairs, but if you go the route less traveled, you'll gain steps and help your heart stay healthy while still heading to your normal destinations. Anytime you put your finger on the elevator call button, ask yourself if you'd be able to take the stairs instead. This is an incredibly easy way to build positive habits into your days.
Dance like no one's watching
Dancing is a great way to let go and alleviate stress. After you chuck your work clothes on the bed and slip into something more comfy, crank the music for a few minutes and let loose. If you can't find the time for a three-minute jam session, do a little jig with your favorite songs while you're cooking dinner. Suddenly, the kitchen becomes your stage and you've got some serious talents to showcase.
Have an afternoon office-gossip walk
Everybody needs to vent about work from time to time. Grab a colleague and head outside for a walk around the parking lot or a nearby park in the afternoon. Not only will this increase your steps, but it'll help remove strain from your eyes and give you a clearer head when it's time to get back to work.
At our Audubon Parc apartments, we're proud to say that we do our part to contribute to the health and wellness of our residents. Stop by, so we can show you our dedicated yoga rooms and awesome fitness studio.
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When it comes to getting in shape, there are a lot of muscle groups to worry about. From biceps to quads to hamstrings, it's easy to become overwhelmed before you even get started. However, toning your whole body doesn't have to be an endless list of exercises that will take you hours a day. If you're just getting back into exercising, here are a few tips to keep in mind to make your sessions more efficient.
Cross-Train Your Body
People who work out will tell you that cross-training is essential to stay fit. If all you do is run, your body will quickly adapt to it. You'll lose fewer calories every time you run until you plateau, and you'll do so at the expense of your other muscle groups. Your legs may get the muscles you crave, but your arms and core will lack the same definition.
The good news is that you don't have to invest a lot of time into switching it up. For example, you can run a mile on Tuesday and then lift 10-pound weights for 10 minutes on Thursday. On Saturday, you can use your 10-minutes to work on your midsection and core. You'll essentially give your body the jolt and rest it needs to start forming stronger muscles. This is the very definition of working smarter and not harder.
Try a New Regimen
Toning your body can involve doing different exercises on different days: push-ups on Mondays, sit-ups on Tuesday, lunges on Wednesday, planks on Thursday. All of these movements will tone everything from your biceps to your core to your glutes. Or if you feel like getting everything out of the way in one day, you can try a routine like the seven-minute workout. This quick and easy regimen is 12 exercises of just 30 seconds each in one workout.
If you're looking for apartments in Cary, NC that can help you stay in shape, consider Audubon Parc. In addition to having spacious floorplans and impressive amenities, we also offer an enhanced fitness studio that you can use to step up to a whole new you. Give us a call today to tour our facilities or learn more about our availability.
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