Blog Posts

New Year's Resolution Ideas

Do you have any resolutions written down for the new year? If you don’t, look no further than this week’s Wildwood Towers blog. In this week’s post, we’ve got a few suggestions of New Year’s Resolutions that you can commit to in order to make some positive changes in your life. Exercise The most common resolutions revolve around exercise. Many people evaluate their lives after the holidays (having gained a little weight from the heavy eating…) and resolve to get healthy. Getting exercise and being healthy are great resolutions, but it can be easy to focus wholly on the arbitrary aspect of weight. We recommend setting goals that aren’t about losing a specified amount of weight, rather, focus on goals that help you to create lasting habits of exercise and healthy living. Learning You can use the new year as an opportunity to learn something new. Resolve to learn how to play the guitar, read a new book, or learn a new language! The possibilities are endless as long as you have the resources. Since resolutions are about making positive changes in your life, make sure that you’re getting the most out of committing to complete something. Relationships Many resolutions are inwardly focused, but there are plenty of great ways to have a positive impact on others. It’s natural to lose contact with friends or reduce the amount of time spent with them when you get busy, but these relationships can and should be salvaged. Resolve to be a better friend! Go out of your way to text or call a friend you haven’t talked to in a while, or make it a priority to spend time with them every other week. Regardless of what you do, take a vested interest in their life and be present in your relationship with them. Share with our Arlington, VA community some of your New Year’s Resolutions by leaving a comment. Thanks for reading!

Self-Care During the Holidays

The December holidays are a time to think about others and to share in gift giving. With all the festivities and happy times being had, it’s easy to forget that other people are in need. It’s even easier to forget that you should be taking care of yourself. In this week’s Wildwood Towers Apartments, we’ve got a few ways you can take care of yourself and enjoy the holidays as well. Take a Hot Bath The weather has turned colder and sometimes, after a long, hard day, taking a nice hot bath can soothe your soul. For the most soul-satisfying experience, make sure that your phone is on silent and tucked away. Diffuse some essential oils or use a bath bomb to introduce some relaxing aromas into your alone time, dim the lights, and enjoy some time to yourself. Unwind and de-stress from all the things going on in your life! Get active . December is the month for consuming loads of sweets and sugary drinks as well as eating your fair share of turkey dinner and mashed potatoes. As delicious as these are, too much can drag you down physically, which is never helpful when you’re feeling down emotionally. Instead of getting the blues after the holidays, we suggest getting active throughout the season. Not only will you keep yourself from getting out of shape, you’ll get a kick of endorphins when you exercise, giving you that extra kick of positive feelings. Take Time for Yourself When people think of the December holidays, they usually imagine spending time with family and friends. Far down the list, or not even on the list at all, is taking time for yourself. Because the season focuses so heavily on others, we neglect to give ourselves the time we need to do what’s best for us. It’s a good thing to want to make sure our friends and family are happy, but what’s the point when you aren’t? Do yourself a favor and take a few days out of the month of December to do things you want to do. Do you have any tips on self-care you’d like to share? Leave a comment for our Arlington, VA community to share the love!

Express Your Gratitude

November is the month of Thanksgiving, so use it as an excuse to show your thanks to the people who have blessed your life. Expressing gratitude should be a regular thing, but it can be easy to forget to do so with everything going on in your life. In this week’s Wildwood Towers Apartments Blog, we’ve got a short list of a few ways you can express your gratitude! Pay It Forward If you’ve been the recipient of service and the kindness of others, you can show your gratitude for what’s been done for you by doing something kind for someone else. Paying it forward is when you perform a kind deed for someone other than the person who performed a kind deed for you. Instead of returning the favor, you bless the life of someone different. Hopefully, your act of kindness will inspire others to pay it forward as well! Gratitude Journal If you have difficulty remembering things to be thankful for, we recommend investing in a gratitude journal. Take some time every night to think about what you have to be thankful for during the day. If you aren’t used to journaling, this will take some time to get used to, but once you get into the groove, you’ll be able to look back on your journal and reflect on the many things you have to be thankful for. Thank You Notes Sometimes, when someone does something nice for you, you may have the urge to want to repay their kindness in some way. Try expressing your thanks by writing them a thank you note. These notes aren’t supposed to be very long, but a concise, specific thank you note can make someone’s day. Do you have any favorite ways to express your thanks? Let our Arlington, VA apartment community know by leaving a comment!

Dress for the Colder Weather

As the summer ends and as the fall takes full effect, the weather is going to turn colder. Gone will be the days of wearing shorts or needing to be too conscious of the type of fabrics your clothes are made of — but the colder weather has its own set of nuances to worry about. In this week’s Wildwood Towers Apartments Blog, we’ve got a few tips for you to dress better for the colder weather. Layering If you’re looking to dress for warmth, layering can be a great way to accomplish that goal. Unlike summer, layering is a good way to look good and account for the weather. Find articles of clothing that are light enough to layer (though it can be good to layer thicker pieces during the colder days). Remember that your outermost layer should be one that you can remove if it gets too warm. Warm Accessories Choosing the right kind of accessory can make your life a little more comfortable. Picking a scarf, mittens, and a warm hat or beanie can keep you warm when it’s cold, and depending on the item, it can be a stylish addition to your outfit. Accessories can easily be put on or taken off, so you if you get too warm you can easily remove it. Multi-Purpose Clothing A way to deal with the weather is by wearing clothing that is not only stylish, but functional as well. Investing in outerwear that is warm and waterproof can greatly increase its utility during the colder months. If it does snow, you’ll be glad to have waterproof outerwear and shoes that have traction so you’re not slipping all over the place. It can be difficult to dress well for the colder weather, but with these tips, we hope you have a leg up! If you’ve got any fashion tips for the fall, let us know by leaving a comment for our Arlington, VA apartment community.

Travel Before the Summer Ends

Even though summer is ending, there’s still time to plan for a last-minute trip. In this week’s Wildwood Towers Apartments Blog, we’ve got a few ways that you can get out of your Arlington, VA apartment and travel. Camping Heading out into nature is a good way to get out of your apartment. You don’t necessarily need to leave the state to go camping, but you are most certainly welcome to. Plan where you’re going to camp, the duration of the trip, and the food you’re going to be eating. Don’t forget to bring the necessities like toiletries, sunscreen, and bug spray! The point of camping is to enjoy the beauty of nature, so keep technology use to a minimum. Use your phone for photos and emergency contacts; otherwise, keep it in your pack and socialize with your friends. Travel Abroad If you haven’t been outside of the United States, use this month as an opportunity to go somewhere you’ve always wanted to — or take the time before next summer to plan a great trip. There are many destinations to visit all over the world, so take your time to figure out where you want to go. Plane tickets can be expensive, so do your research and be patient. Eventually, you’ll be able to find tickets at a reasonable price. It is important to remember that you will be a guest in a foreign land, so be courteous and respectful of their customs and culture. If you are unsure what those customs and cultures are, the internet is a perfect resource. These are just a couple of ways that you can travel. Traveling can expand your horizons and help you develop more creativity, so we encourage you to take advantage and see the world! Do you have a few travel ideas of your own? What are your plans before summer officially ends? Share in the comments below.

Biking Tips!

Do you enjoy cycling? Not only is cycling a good mode of transportation, it’s also a good form of cardiovascular exercise! Depending on the distance you live away from your work or school, cycling can be a viable option for commuting here in Arlington, VA. It would not only save you gas money, but would also improve your health generally. In this week’s Wildwood Towers Apartments Blog, we’re going to share with you some biking tips! All residents have access to our community’s bike storage! Gear Up Once you’ve got the bicycle of your dreams or a bicycle to fit your needs, the next thing you need to do is make sure you’re safe while out on the road. Helmets, elbow pads, and knee pads are all viable options for keeping you safe. It’s also wise to invest in equipment like a bicycle pump, a spare tube for your tires, and a multi-tool set. When you’re geared up appropriately, you’re ready for anything Mother Nature has to throw at you! Maintenance After you’ve purchased your bicycle and taken it for a spin, you’re going to want to take care of it to ensure longevity and safety. Bike maintenance is an involved process, but bicycling.com has a list of 101 maintenance tips that everyone should know . If you’re ever unsure about what to do, take your bike to the closest bike shop and have an expert take a look at it and have them teach you the basics! Never neglect any squeaks and uncommon noises that come from your bicycle, get them checked out as quickly as possible so you can avoid breaking down on the side of the road! Know Your Limits Not everyone is capable of jumping on a bicycle and riding 25 miles with no problems. Biking is a cardiovascular exercise and does require some level of physical fitness. If you’re new to biking or are just getting back into it, try to work your way up to completing your commute route. Instead of trying to commit to finishing it on the first try, take a couple weekends to ride the route and go as far as you can. As you work out those muscles, your strength will increase and you will become more capable of finishing. Push your limits incrementally. You will find that you can accomplish a lot more than you were initially able to.