The post 4 Easy Ways to Meditate appeared first on Element Deer Valley Blog.
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Maximizing health and happiness requires a peaceful mindset, and routine meditation can help. We hope our Element Deer Valley community members in Phoenix, AZ, find these easy meditation tips useful.
Be With Yourself for Two Minutes Each Morning
The idea of taking 120 seconds away from distractions may sound simple. But, most people rarely enjoy two full minutes of solitude each and every day. The value of being mindfully present with yourself cannot be understated. Establish a routine in which the first thing you do in the morning after getting out of bed is to take some space. Count your breaths or just close your eyes and enjoy the silence. You may find that once you secure this routine, it will be easier to expand the time and gain a more relaxed start to the day.
Listen to Your Inner Yoda
The iconic, big-eared Jedi master offers a wealth of spiritual advice in the Star Wars franchise. But in terms of mindful meditation, this one might be the most helpful: “Do or do not. There is no try.” One way to interpret that idea is to not get caught up in overthinking everyday tasks or next steps. Simply do them. Being in the moment is a form of meditation that often escapes us because we think it has to be a formal process. You can be restfully meditating while mowing the lawn, painting a fence, or preparing a meal.
Check In With Your Feelings
It’s virtually impossible to enjoy a meditative state if you are feeling emotionally unsettled. If you are worried about a work deadline, in-law visit, or some crucial life event, the likelihood of peace of mind is diminished. This is not to say that you cannot meditate while life’s challenges exist. That would certainly limit all of our meditation windows. Rather than search for the perfect time frame, just check in with yourself about how you truly feel. Ask yourself why the issue or issues are weighing on your mind. With a little personal honesty, you may be able to easily carve out some mental space.
Use the Meditation Nuclear Option
If daily stress is overwhelming, and you cannot get focused, the body scan remains the tried-and-true last meditation resort. Even if you have to get into a private room and lock the door, tuck yourself away and conduct a complete body scan to relax your mind and body. Begin with the soles of your feet and work your mindful inventory all the way to the top of your head.
We hope our Element Deer Valley residents find these meditation tips useful. If you or a friend would like more information about our Phoenix apartments, call us today.
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Phoenix, Arizona, has an amazing climate. The sun shines almost all year long, which means plenty of vitamin D for your body. Unfortunately, if you love the sun, chances are that you’ve had at least one sunburn. Sunburn damages your skin, but it’s also painful. If you’ve been wishing you could get some relief from sunburn, you’re in luck. Aloe vera is an ideal solution. But aloe vera can be hard to find in stores. Don’t worry. In your Phoenix apartments, you can keep your own unlimited supply of aloe vera. All you need is a healthy aloe plant. Once you have the aloe plant, you can use the aloe from it to soothe your sunburn. Here are more reasons to have an aloe plant.
1. Makeup Remover
The aloe in your aloe plant is a great natural makeup remover. Just put some on a clean cotton pad and wipe away every bit of foundation, mascara, lipstick, etc.
2. Face Cleanser
Aloe juice can also be used to clean your skin. It moisturizes as it removes all the dirt and grime off your skin, and it’s gentle enough to use morning and night.
3. Smoothie Ingredient
Add aloe vera juice from your aloe plant to your smoothies. The aloe contains a number of vitamins and minerals that help support good health.
4. Sanitizer
Do you enjoy having clean hands? If so, you’ll love using aloe vera as a hand sanitizer whenever you want to quickly freshen up.
5. Teeth Cleaner
Aloe vera gel contains antibacterial compounds that can work to help keep oral bacteria at bay. Aloe vera gel can’t replace ADA-approved toothpaste, but it can be used as supplemental oral hygiene.
How to Remove the Aloe Vera from the Plant
If you’ve never harvested aloe vera gel from the plant, it can seem daunting. It’s actually pretty easy, however. Simply cut off a tip from a leaf, about four inches down. Next, slit the leaf vertically to reveal the inside of the plant. You’ll see several pustules, each of which contains the aloe vera gel. If you pop the pustules with your finger, you’ll release the gel.
If you’d like to see what a fantastic environment the Phoenix apartments are for growing plants, please contact us for a personal tour.
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You don't have to spend a lot of money on a gym membership when you live at an apartment complex that has its own fitness center. At Element at Deer Valley apartments in Phoenix, Arizona, you can get all the exercise you need without leaving the complex.
Whether you go to the gym on a regular basis or not, you can always find ways to exercise at home. Most people look at exercise as a chore they have to do. Instead, make your exercise time fun and exciting!
Include the kids
Include the kids when you exercise. Take them on walks around the complex and show them the different plants. If you like to do yoga or Pilates, have the kids do the exercises with you. Letting the kids exercise with you sets a good example that they will continue to follow.
Make your vacuum your dance partner
Cleaning your home will always be fun if you dance while you vacuum. Stretch to dust the hard to reach places. Crank up the music and spin your vacuum cleaner across the floor. Before you know it, your house will be clean and you will get the exercise you need to burn off unwanted calories.
Stretch it out
One of the best ways to maintain flexibility is to stretch. Stretch as often as you can. If you are relaxing at home, or even if you are at work, stand up at your chair, raise your arms over your head and stretch as far as you can. Stretch from side to side and reach as far as possible. Stretching not only improves circulation, it also improves both range of motion and flexibility.
If you are searching for the perfect apartment in Phoenix, Arizona, stop in and visit the office at the Element of Deer Valley apartment complex. Schedule an appointment to go over a few of the more popular floor plans. You can even take a tour and learn about all of the amenities the complex offers. Don't delay! Your new home awaits!
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If you’re on a diet, you know that outings, parties, conferences and other events that don’t take place in your own home can make it hard to stick to your weight-loss plan. This is definitely true when eating out at restaurants.
There are often dishes that look so good, you simply can’t resist. Friends and family may encourage you to get whatever you want, and you may think to yourself, “This is a special occasion!”
Sometimes, special occasion meals or “cheat meals” are okay, but what’s even better is finding something healthy and tasty that you can partake in without guilt.
Here are three dishes that are generally the healthiest choices when eating out.
Salads
You knew we were going to say salads, didn’t you!
Yes, salads are generally the safest bet when it comes to diet-friendly foods. The key here is to know what the “good salads” look like. Those laden with meats, cheeses, croutons, side bread and globs of high-calorie dressing can actually have nearly the same calories and carbs as a hamburger or club sandwich.
Instead, opt for salads that are heavy in vegetables (or fruit), a slight amount of meat and just a few croutons or nuts. A high-protein food is also good to add to a salad, and you should always opt for the vinaigrette dressing.
Soup
Soups are the same as salads — know which ones to choose because they’re not all diet-friendly.
Generally speaking, broth-based soups are your friend, but thicker soups can be dangerous. Furthermore, if the soup comes with a side of bread, ask to replace it with a small salad or some grilled vegetables, even if it costs a bit more.
Meat and Vegetables
Lastly, consider a meat and vegetable dish. Try a lean steak or piece of chicken with a skewer of grilled vegetables and a baked potato. An even leaner option is to have fish along with some roasted vegetables. The main goal is to steer clear of side bread, gravy and other high-calorie foods.
Are you relocating to Phoenix? Our Phoenix apartments offer a calm, comfortable place to live in a wonderful part of town. Find out which of our floor plans are still available by giving our office a call today.
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You’ve spent months searching apartments in Phoenix, eager to find the right one. Now you’re getting all settled in and you couldn’t be happier. Even though Phoenix doesn’t experience fall the way many other parts of the country do, this is still prime germ season. The temps will drop, especially at night, making colds and flu more prevalent.
If you want to stay healthy in your apartment this fall, follow these handy tips.
Stock up on Soap
If you don’t have a bar of soap or liquid soap in abundance in your apartment, stock up. You’ll want to wash your hands when you come home from being out. If guests come over, you should encourage them to wash their hands as well.
Hand sanitizer is convenient to have, but it doesn’t kill as many germs as good, old-fashioned soap and water do.
Clean up Your Space
A clean apartment is a happy apartment. Germs can linger for days, one day for the flu and up to seven for the common cold. With a disinfectant, spray and/or wipe down all doorknobs, handles, and other frequently touched surfaces. You should also get into the habit of cleaning your phone, as this is a huge germ hub!
Get Plenty of Sleep
To ward off sickness, your immune system needs to be at its best. If you’re not getting enough sleep every night, you’re only serving to weaken immune health. You should also eat nutritiously and try to keep your stress down so your immune system is running at its peak. This way, even if you do come across someone else who’s sick, hopefully you can fight off the illness.
When it comes to luxe, cozy apartment living in Phoenix, AZ, Element at Deer Valley is as good as it gets. You can choose from apartments with up to four bedrooms and two bathrooms that are perfect for bigger families.
No matter the bedroom count, apartment amenities include mirrored closet doors, energy-efficient windows, walk-in closets, built-in intrusion alarms, a designer kitchen, ceiling fans, French doors, a breakfast bar, a stainless steel refrigerator, a washer and dryer, and nine-foot ceilings.
With great community amenities (like gated access, spas, and four pools) and a generous attitude towards pets, don’t wait to set up your walkthrough at Element at Deer Valley today.
The post Tips for Staying Healthy in Your Apartment This Fall appeared first on Element Deer Valley Blog.
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