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Sleep in the Era of Telecommuting: Tips for Maintaining Your Circadian Rhythm

There’s no doubt that working from home, for those of us who have the option, is one of the safest places to be. The increased flexibility means we’re not only able to stay well, but also to spend more time with family or pets and lose less of our day to our old work commute. But many of us are feeling the loss of structure. Even with a set schedule, days can blend into nights… and even if you’ve stayed perfectly on track, don’t be surprised if you catch yourself lying in bed unable to sleep. There are a few essential, regulating tasks our bodies need in order to maintain their sleep-wake cycles. The good news is that we can learn to provide them! Routines, Routines, Routines Chances are, if you’re working from home, you’re still waking up at the same time, eating lunch around the same time, and clocking out at the same time. But is anything cueing that shift to your brain? Without a change in scenery, it’s easy for our hours and days to mush together. If you’re feeling sluggish or static, look for ways to give your brain a physical cue that your workday is starting and ending. That can be walking the dog before work every day, getting properly dressed (from the waist down too), or putting your workspace in a different room from your bed. Get a Little Sun September marks the end of summer and beginning of fall, and even here in sunny Arizona, our days are getting shorter. That doesn’t mean you can’t take advantage of the sun! Consider taking a walk on your lunch break, or starting your day with a sun salutation. And as it happens, that will also help you: Keep Active! “Active” doesn’t need to mean “suddenly start a workout routine.” (Always ask your doctor before committing to anything strenuous.) What it means is that, what with getting to your car or the bus, to your office, to the break room, and back home, you once had to move several hundred yards in a day that now requires you to move maybe a handful. Replicate that movement you lost by instituting a daily walk, yoga routine, or picking up a more formal exercise routine. Regulate Your Blue Light Exposure We can see your eyes rolling already, but it’s true: avoiding screens for one hour before you go to bed aids in healthier sleep. Your brain associates blue light with the daytime. That means screens trick our brains into experiencing too-long days! Decreasing blue light exposure toward the end of the day cues our pineal gland to produce melatonin, a hormone that regulates your sleep cycle. Delay that decrease, and your melatonin production goes off-kilter—so of course it’s a struggle to sleep. Try switching to different tools for late night de-stressing. Others have found success with coloring books, comics, and journaling, not just the good old-fashioned novel. But we can be honest: Right now, that kind of limit doesn’t feel feasible to all of us. But if, for your loved ones or for yourself, you can’t step away from your screens: consider downloading a blue light adjuster for your computer, or turning on your phone’s night mode if offered. It can be hard to keep time moving as usual while largely staying at home. However, healthy sleep can go a long way towards making you feel your best, which we always want for our residents. If you have some preferred sleep tips we didn't mention, we'd be happy to hear them in the comments!

Meditation Tips for Stress Reduction

In these turbulent times, meditation can be a great way to destress, relax, and center yourself. However, not everyone has a ton of experience with meditation, so we wanted to provide some general tips, as well as the descriptions of a few different types of meditation that you can use to recenter throughout your busy day! Basic Meditation Tips Most of us know what meditation looks like, but it can be harder than it seems. These are just a few basic tips to help you get comfortable with the simplest type of meditation. Sit up straight. Whether you want to meditate sitting in a chair or on the floor, the most important thing is a comfortable, upright position. You want to sit with your spine straight in whatever way makes you feel the most comfortable. Relaxed breathing. One of the basic tenets of meditation is a relaxed, even breath, and to keep your focus on the in and out motion of your breathing. You can even help with that breath focus by thinking “in” on the inhale, and “out” on the exhale, or another mantra you prefer. Let your mind drift past new thoughts. Some people believe that in order to meditate, you have to fully empty your mind and it’s somehow a failure if anything comes up in the meanwhile. That’s just not true. The best way to deal with wavering focus during meditation is just to allow the thoughts to come up, be acknowledged, and let go again. Let them occur and drift past you, rather than fighting to push them down. Mindfulness Meditation This type of meditation is probably the most basic. It involves sitting in a comfortable position, focusing on your breathing, and allowing your mind to fix on the current moment without giving in to other worries. Mindfulness meditation can help you to focus, relax, and center yourself in times of stress or anxiety. Body Scan Meditation Body scan meditation is also occasionally referred to as progressive muscle relaxation. Again, you get into a comfortable seated position and focus on deep, even breaths. After you’re settled and relaxed, you focus on one part of your body at a time and think about releasing any tension you feel in the muscles. A good way to do this can be to start at the head and slowly follow the line of your body down to the toes, focusing on relaxing any tension or tightness you find along the way. This can help with physical tension, as well as the connection between your mind and your body. Guided Imagery For this final meditation technique, you use soothing experiences, thoughts, or imagery to help you relax and focus on your meditating. There’s all sorts of online recordings, whether you try Youtube or a free meditation app, that allow someone else to guide you through the meditation via describing soothing scenes that help you to relax. We hope you enjoy these tips, and we wish you a great deal of relaxation using them! Let us know if you give it a try.

Local Goodyear Parks for National Eat Outside Day

August 31st is National Eat Outside Day, and you know what that means! It’s the perfect excuse to make the most of the last rays of summer sun while still following social distancing guidelines. There’s a bevy of local parks nearby that would be perfect for a mid-day picnic, so here’s some of our favorites. Loma Linda Park 3.2 miles away/7 min With picnic tables, benches, and eight whole acres of open park space, Loma Linda Park is a great option for lunch in the sunshine. You could snag one of the provided tables, or bring a blanket to spread out on the grass for a proper picnic. It’s only about a seven minute drive from our community, making it an incredibly convenient (and beautiful) choice. There’s also a nice walking path, in case you’re feeling the urge to get your body moving after you eat. Aleppo Park 4.9 miles away/10 min Approximately a ten minute drive away from our community, Aleppo Park is another great option for an end-of-summer picnic. It has tons of open, grassy places to sit, as well as covered picnic areas and picnic tables. Take a seat and snack on sandwiches under the open sky! It’s also a great spot for a little frisbee or a game of catch, if you and your family are feeling sporty. Rose Park 5.4 miles away/12 min Rose Park is aptly named for its large rose garden, but that’s not all it has going for it! Approximately a twelve minute drive from our community, this park also has an outdoor amphitheater with a shaded stage, a fountain, and a walking path around the perimeter, making it a super scenic location for delicious food and some sun. At this park, you could feast your eyes at the same time you feast your stomach. Of course, this is only a small selection of the many wonderful parks in close proximity to our community! Feel free to return to your own local favorite, or try somewhere new, and celebrate National Eat Outside Day this August 31st. Let us know in the comments if you do anything for the mini-holiday!

Enjoy Brunch From Your Favorite Goodyear Eateries, at Home!

Imagine this: it’s a beautiful, sunny Sunday morning. You roll out of bed in your coziest pajamas and head to the kitchen to make a pot of coffee. You start thinking about what you’re going to make for breakfast, or, if it’s late enough in the morning, brunch. You open your fridge, and in that very moment remember that the restaurant up the street delivers, and you could have your favorite breakfast meal brought right to your apartment, without even having to change out of your pj’s. Today we are highlighting three local restaurants in Goodyear that could allow you to have a Sunday just like this one! Haymaker Everyone knows one of the best parts of the weekend is being able to turn all of your alarms off on Friday night. Haymaker knows that weekends are for hitting snooze and sleeping in, and that’s why they have breakfast served all day! Choose from specialty eggs benedict, omelets, a pulled pork breakfast skillet, or even a variety of burgers (if that’s what you’re in to) to get your morning started right. Haymaker utilizes UberEats to get your favorite menu items delivered right to your Acero Estrella Commons apartment, or offers curbside pick up. And with breakfast favorites served all day, you could even switch things up and have bacon and eggs for dinner! The choice is yours. (Photo by @HaymakerAZ) Crepella Crepes Cafe Maybe you’re in the mood for a sweet treat to kickstart your morning. If that’s the case, Crepella’s Crepes Cafe has dozens of options just for you! With an impressive menu selection including everything from sweet (or savory) crepes, loaded waffles, pastries, and coffee, you might find it hard to pick just one thing. Crepella is a short 6-minute drive from Acero Estrella Commons, which means your light and fluffy crepes will still be warm by the time you bring them back home to enjoy. This crepe and waffle cafe is a very new addition to the Goodyear community, opening only a few weeks ago; so for the time being take out is the only option to have your favorite crepes at home. Call ahead, place your curbside pick up order and it will be ready when you get there! Give it a try and thank us later. (Photo by @CrepellaCafe) TJ’s Homestyle Restaurant Whenever “homestyle” is in the name of a restaurant, especially breakfast restaurants, you know it’s bound to be good. Think large, fluffy homestyle biscuits made fresh every day then smothered in gravy, or maybe an omelet stuffed to the brim with bacon, ham and cheese. These are just a couple of the breakfast favorites you’ll find on the TJ’s Homestyle Restaurant to-go menu . With combo options, pancakes, burritos, scrambles, and fresh-baked bread for their famous French Toast, TJ’s is the definition of treating yourself to a breakfast of champions. Ask anyone in Goodyear and they are sure to have nothing but great things to say about this local favorite. And ordering is easy! You can place your brunch order online from the convenience of your phone, and have it delivered all while relaxing in your pjs. What a time to be alive! (Photo by @Nfrye75) The next time you’re looking to support a local Goodyear restaurant while doing your part to stay home, keep these breakfast favorites in mind! With a nice variety of hearty, sweet, savory and everything in between, you’re bound to find something delicious that you can enjoy from the comfort of home. Snap a picture of you with your brunch at home and tag Acero Estrella Commons on Facebook or Instagram so we can see! While you’re at it, keep following the blog here for more posts like this one.

Outdoor and Virtual Events Happening in Goodyear this Month

Is it just us, or has summer 2020 simultaneously flown by, while also feeling like the longest summer ever? Somehow it is already August, and before we know it Starbucks will be rolling out their pumpkin spice lattes and we’ll be writing blogs about the pumpkin patch. Wow! While COVID-19 has definitely influenced our typical summer activities, here are a few outdoor and virtual experiences happening in Goodyear this month that might help take your mind off of the fact that summer is nearing its end. Outdoor Zumba Classes Sometimes you just need to dance! Times have been tough lately and we all could use a happy dance break. Zumba is a great way to not only lift your spirits with some upbeat music and movement, but to break a sweat and workout as well! Imagine a dance fitness class, and that’s what Zumba is all about. This summer the City of Goodyear Recreation is taking these fitness classes outdoors for some social-distancing friendly fun. With early morning and late evening classes, you can beat the heat, get a great workout, and enjoy some time outside in the Goodyear Community Park. Register and learn more, here . Virtual Paint and Pajama Party Maybe you want to do the complete opposite of an outdoor Zumba class. If that’s the case, the virtual pajama paint party happening on August 8th is just the event for you. Start your morning with a cup of coffee and stay cozy in your pj’s as you are guided through an online paint party. This virtual event invites you to “live paint” as you follow step by step instructions from skilled painters to create your own masterpiece from the comfort of your Acero Estrella Commons apartment. Find all the supplies you’ll need and how to register for the party, here . City of Goodyear Adult Softball Leauge While summer in Goodyear is usually centered around baseball and evenings at the Goodyear Ballpark, we all know COVID had other plans this year. However, with safety precautions and new rules in place, you can dust of your very own cleats and baseball glove and get down and dirty on a coed adult softball team hosted by the City of Goodyear Recreation this summer! Gather your closest friends and family members and form your team today. As with most everything these days, events and activities are subject to change or be canceled at the discretion of government officials and health and safety precautions. We recommend calling the organizers of these events ahead of time to confirm they are still happening! Let us know if you attend a Zumba class or show us your virtual paint party creation on Facebook or Instagram , and keep following the Acero Estrella Commons blog here for more posts like this one. Until next time!

Get Your Fresh Baked Goods at these Local Bakeries

Raise your hand if you found yourself baking more in the last few months than you ever have before. Okay, now raise your hand if sometimes what you sought out to bake didn’t exactly turn out as planned… It’s alright, we’ve all been there. And sometimes you realize it’s best to just leave the baking to the pros! That’s why today we are highlighting favorite local Goodyear area bakeries who offer everything from beautiful cupcakes to freshly baked focaccia bread. Wildflower Bread Company You might know the Wildflower Bread Company for their tasty salads, sandwiches or coffee and tea beverages, but their freshly baked bread is something else to admire! While bread isn’t necessarily the most challenging thing to make, the Wildflower bakers have really perfected their craft. With everything from scones and bread bowls to fresh marble rye bread or sourdough, your mouth will water just looking at the bakery options . And right now there are a variety of options available when it comes to getting these goods into your Acero Estrella Commons kitchen! Wildflower Bread Company has curbside pickup and delivery through Postmates, Grubhub, DoorDash and UberEats! (Photo by @Wildflowerbread) En Route Coffee and Tea House Right across the street from Acero Estrella Commons you’ll find our neighbor’s En Route Coffee and Tea House . Nestled beside fresh coffee beans and tasty lattes, En Route Coffee and Tea House has a variety of baked good offerings from Arizona bakers that aren’t so close to home! Pair your chai tea latte or iced mocha with a made from scratch baked food from The Boyer Bakery and you’ll see why this local coffee hosue made the list! In addition to The Boyer Bakery options that are delivered fresh to the shop every day, En Route also offers vibrant, handcrafted macarons from local mother daughter duo, Nora’s Macarons . Come for the freshly baked goods, and grab a drink to go with at our neighbors En Route Coffee and Tea House. (Photo by @NormasMacarons) Kreative Kupcakes Bakery Kreative Kupcakes Bakery is the name, and gourmet, mouthwatering and absolutely beautiful cupcakes is the game. If you’ve been craving a sweet pastry that melts in your mouth, but simultaneously looks almost too pretty to eat, then you’ll have to make the 7-minute drive from Acero Estrella Commons over to this hole in the wall, favorite local Goodyear bakery. To give you an idea of just how gourmet we’re talking, Kreative Kupcakes bakery has unique flavors like Blue Moon Beer, Hawaiian Delight, Banana Cream and so many more. Keep this local bakery in mind the next time a birthday rolls around, or you simply have a sweet tooth! We promise you’ll thank us later. (Photo by @KreativeKupcakesAvondale) So whether you’re looking for a variety of fresh breads to pair with your spaghetti dinner, a macaron to go with your coffee or tea, or maybe just a cupcake after a long day to satisfy your sweet tooth, remember these local Goodyear bakeries! And when you give them a try, tell us about your experience on Facebook or Instagram . We look forward to hearing from you! See you next time right here on the Acero Estrella Commons blog .