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The post How to Weather the Winter Blues appeared first on Realstar Blog.
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Shine Through
One of the primary sources behind the winter blues is light deprivation. Natural light helps create and increase serotonin levels in your body, which in turn helps calms the brain’s response to stress and boosts feelings of happiness. Yes, the days are shorter and the skies less clear. You can help your body (and brain) get a top-up of sunshine through taking advantage of those scattered sunny days and keeping your window treatments open throughout the day. This can be easier said than done, Thankfully there is an increasing number of companies providing light therapy lamps as an effective alternative towards combating the winter blues.
Work it Out
Similar to the advantages of a little added sunshine, a few extra workout sessions can help elevate your body’s serotonin levels – aka, your “happy hormones”. No matter the intensity or length of the work-out, getting moving will help make you less stressed, more focused and energized. If your apartment has a fitness facility, winter is a great time to take advantage of this added benefit!
Rise and Shine
Winter is cold, wet and windy – definitely a tempting time to pull the covers back over your head and hibernate through the day. While catching the occassional extra zzz’s can be beneficial – oversleeping too much, too often can be detrimental and lead to cognitive impairment, depression and increased pain among other things. Experts recommend keeping a scheduled routine to help keep your body fuctioning at it’s best. Aim to wake up around the same time – yes, even on the weekends! Eat breakfast – this improves cognitive abilities and your metabolism and helps set the pace for the rest of your day. Similarly, try to get to sleep around the same time each night.
Snack on This
It’s easy to turn to tasty, but often calorie packed comfort foods to get through the winter – not to mention the seemingly endless trail of festivities offering up all manner of indulgences. Heavy or sugary foods can make you more tired, sluggish and drained of energy. It’s important to incorporate healthy choices throughout these cold and dreary months. Eating healthy includes choosing nutrient-rich foods to help fuel your body and mind. This in return will help improve not only your physical well-being through boosting your immune system and increasing your energy, but your mind as well.
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Driving can cause you to miss out on experiencing all your community has to offer. Strolling through the streets of your neighbourhood offers a more complete perspective as you discover shops and people you might not have had the opportunity to encounter from behind the wheel.
The Walk to Wellness
According to Time Magazine article “10 Things Your Commute Does to Your Body”, a daily drive commute to and from work “impacts your mental and physical health” and is associated with increased cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure which over time can increase your risk for diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Not to mention the toll it takes on your mental health, according to report from the U.K.’s Office of National statistics fighting traffic on a regular basis increases anxiety, puts you a risk for depression and actually declines “happiness and life satisfaction”. In case you needed any more incentive to re-think a car commute, according to a 2014 study from McGill University, commuters who walk to work tend to be happier overall compared with those who have a lengthy commute.
Cost vs. Car Share
A major bonus in forgoing a vehicle is saving on all the costs associated with regular maintenance, fuel, insurance, license, registration and parking. According to the CAA car ownership is the second largest expense after housing for Canadians. On average, including depreciation, owning a vehicle in Canada costs approximately $9,500 annually. Many would argue that the convenience of having a car is well worth the price tag, yet car sharing services like Modo are a more cost-effective option for those times when you just really need a vehicle. Unlike traditional car rental companies, Modo bills by the hour or with a full day rate of $50 which is inclusive of gas, insurance and maintenance. With the flexibility to book on the fly, residents in our Novare, Glenmore Central and Lynncreek Apartments have added incentive with Modo car share services located right on site.
Central living maybe more costly rent wise but in a vibrant community close to major amenities, you have the luxury of living “car free” without the added stress and expense of owning a vehicle. “Car free” may become the new “carefree”, healthier approach to urban life.
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]]>The post A Sense of Community Promotes Overall Health & Can Be Financially Rewarding appeared first on Realstar Blog.
]]>It's no secret that good neighbours build great communities. Realstar’s “Choose Your Neighbour” referral program is one way we work to foster this dynamic. Residents are rewarded with friends and family nearby, in addition to receiving a bonus of between $200 – $1,000 for each successful referral. When people love where they live, it’s natural for them to want to share that sense of joy with others.
Regardless of whether you rent or own, having a place to call “home” in a supportive community, with friends and family nearby is a big contributor to overall health. When our resident's love where they live, their lives and our communities are greatly enhanced on every level. Creating healthy, vibrant communities is a scenario where everybody wins.
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