Light Your Way To A Good Night's Sleep

(Image courtesy of Lisa Risager)

Tossing and turning at night is frustrating. There are a number of different reasons that we may not be getting the sleep we need when then sun is down. Reasons such as sleeping with your phone, procrastinating at bedtime or sleeping next to a serial snorer can be enough to ruin a good REM cycle for the night.

If you've tried everything to get your snooze on and nothing's working, the secret may be in the amount of sunlight you're exposed to during the day. Writer, Carrie McBride, from Apartment Therapy examines how moving your work space closer to the window can actually help you fall asleep at night. Keep reading to see what she has to say.

Researchers found a measurable difference in the length nighttime sleep between two sets of office workers: one seated near windows and the other seated far from windows or in windowless rooms. Subjects wore a device on their wrists that measured both daytime light exposure and sleep activity. The lucky workers near the windows were exposed to 173% more light during the workday and slept about 46 more minutes each night than their window-poor counterparts.

The study co-author called light "the most important synchronizing agent for the brain and body" and stressed the health benefits of daytime light exposure. So, if you have a home office, try to situate it near a window. If you can't, at least eat your lunch or take some calls near a window and take a walk in the sun if you can.

If your out-of-home office setting is too dark, try to get your co-workers on board to rearrange the office, change the shades or invest in some full-spectrum artificial light.

Fiat lux!

• Impact of windows and daylight exposure on overall health and sleep quality of office workers: a case-control pilot study. Ivy Cheung et al. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. June 2014 (must be a subscriber to read the full article).
• A good summary: You're Losing Sleep Just by Working in a Windowless Cubicle by Belinda Lanks on Bloomberg Business News.

Touchdown! The Perfect Preseason Party

(Image courtesy of Janet)

With the start of school one thing is certain - football season is just around the corner! We know it's just preseason right now, but it's never to early to start practicing the wave and dusting off your favorite jersey. 

Watching your favorite team pass and run their way to victory just isn't the same if your friends aren't there cheering with you. That's why renters.apartments.com put together this list of the essential items for your football get together. Keep reading to learn more. 

#1 - TV:
You won’t want to cut your grass without a lawnmower and you can’t watch a football game without a TV. The larger the screen the better, and the more people you invite just means the television screen size has to be that much larger to be able to support all of the eyes fixed to the screen.

#2 - Plenty of Seating:
Even if you don’t have the biggest space, coziness makes for a great atmosphere while watching football. Think of the student section at a college game, they are crammed into their seats and have a great time! In addition to the comfy couch, put some extra chairs and stools around your apartment with a visible view of the television. Also keep in mind, when it comes to football, people won’t mind standing, especially if there is good food and drinks in the kitchen area!

#3 - Cornhole:
What’s a party without cornhole? Having a store bought cornhole will surly bring out the fun in the party. Even better yet, a homemade cornhole will allow you to customize and create your own sides. This game will allow for some friendly competition and an activity fun for all ages. Most apartment communities have plenty of space in the parking lot or pool area, which will provide the perfect set-up for some good old-fashioned bag tossing!

#4 - Good Food:
Once you have the party all set-up and people start arriving, you will want to have food ready for people to eat at the time you have scheduled. A good idea is to have everyone bring a snack, fruits or veggies, drinks, or another side dish. This will provide a great supplement to your cookout. The most popular food during a sports game is cooked on the grill; hamburgers, hotdogs, bratwursts, and grilled corn are usually the fan favorites. To wash it all down, you will also want some nice refreshments.

#5 – Fun Games Associated With Scores:
Another friendly fun way of keeping the football game interesting is to introduce a prize component. With a group of 20 people, if everyone throws in a friendly bet of $5 into the pot, you then can separate the prize amounts with a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place, or just have one grand prize for the winner. The object of the betting is to guess the score and spread score of each quarter, the first and second half as well as the final score. Points are determined at the end of each round (1st Qtr, 2nd Qtr, 3rd Qtr, 1st Half, 2ndHalf, and Final).

Bust out your favorite teams schedule, circle a big game and make sure to invite your friends to a football themed party at your apartment! If you follow the 5-tips for the perfect football party, people won’t forget the afternoon at your place. Hopefully your favorite team pulls off the win as this will just add icing to the cake!

Household Rules - Then v. Now

(Image courtesy of David K)

We all remember those rules from our childhoods that seemed to always stop us from having the maximum amount of fun - “No jumping on the bed!” “Don’t lay on the couch!” “Inside voices!” among others. Though at the time we may not have understood the reason for such austere behavior (I think we can all admit we broke them from time to time,) now those rules seem to make a little more sense.

Writer Dabney Frake from Apartment Therapy takes a moment to break down a few of the more popular rules from our childhoods that we may not have understood at the time - but definitely understand now. Keep reading for a quick trip down memory lane.

1. Making Your Bed

Then: Why bother? I’m just going to use it again tonight!

Now: Making your bed every morning correlates with better productivity. It has also been suggested that making your bed boosts happiness.

2. No Wearing Shoes in the House

Then: But I’m going back outside in 10 minutes!

Now: Once you think of the dirt that gets tracked in with every footfall, you also think of all the time you spend vacuuming the floor. Multiply that by all your family members’ shoes, and slippers or bare feet sound like a much better idea.

3. No Television After 10pm

Then: But Mom!?! Fantasy Island is on!

Now: Today, it’s not just TV but phones, iPads, video games and computers. Taking time to detox from tech, especially right before bed, reduces anxiety and helps you sleep better.

4. Turning Off Lights

Then: What’s the big deal?

Now: It’s the little things that add up, and turning off lights when you don’t need them is the first baby step to saving money and energy. It’s a new world of consumption, we have a new mindset about wasting energy.

5. No Elbows on the Table

Then: But it’s more comfortable to sit that way!

Now: Originally, elbows off the table prevented diners from hogging space and minimized the effects of bad hygiene (think stinky medieval times, before regular bathing was a thing). Now, it’s all about sight lines and letting people on either side of you talk without have to lean way, way back in their chairs. Plus, many still think it’s rude, so why offend your fellow guests at a fancy party?

6. Hanging Up Your Jacket

Then: Sorry, I forgot!

Now: A day’s worth of jackets on the backs of chairs, and shoes on the floor, accumulate quickly, which can rapidly turn to a house disaster zone. And, if the mess and clutter don’t stay in check, you can’t focus on the million other things you have to do. Today it makes sense to take a second to hang up your outerwear, and ask others to do the same.

Did your family have any rules you hated, but understand now?

A New Pup Right For A New Place

(Image courtesy of Will Folsom)

Now that you're getting ready to move into your beautiful new San Diego apartment, there's just one thing missing - the pitter-patter of little paws! At Ariva, we love your pets as much as you do and want them to be as comfortable as possible in their new home - that's why we've incorporated a paw-wash station just for them after they get done playing at the nearby dog-run.

Adopting a little buddy isn't always fun and games. Before you decide to take this big step, there are a few steps you should follow to prepare for your new little guy or girl. These tips from Apartment Therapy will have you and your apartment ready for your new friend in no time. Keep reading to learn more.

If you're considering adopting a dog or a puppy, there are a few must-have items that will come in handy for keeping your home intact. All dogs need a little time to adjust, whether it's a frightened rescue or a romping pup! Consider the following to help make the transition as smooth as possible for you and your new furry friend, while keeping your space damage-free.

1. A crate or kennel. I'm a firm believer that a dog (especially a brand new dog) needs a space to call his own and retreat if necessary. Crates also help with separation and house training, offering security and containment. Don't splurge on a huge one, either! I have a chihuahua, so her crate is naturally much smaller than this. Dogs feel safer when they are in a crate that fits their size—provided they can lay down and stretch. Think of it as a den. Some dogs (like mine) especially like this coziness, so the crates with the plastic sidings or a blanket draped over the top of a wire crate are wonderful.

2. Furniture protectant. Before you bring the newest member of your family home, consider using Scotchguard or another furniture protectant. The trick with this is that you have to spray onto a clean surface, so get your couch or rugs cleaned first. You can also get a Scotchguard Carpet Cleaner for house-training accidents that works wonders.

3. House-training pads. Speaking of house-training accidents, these wee pads are an absolute must-have if you're bringing home a puppy. There is a pet-detectable scent on the pad that usually attracts your dog for bathroom breaks (from personal experience, this is not always 100%). Put the pad near the door where you would like to train your dog to wait when he needs to go outside, and you're two steps ahead of the house-training game. I would also recommend these for older dogs as well. You never know how much training you'll have to reiterate when a dog is in a new environment. And remember, above all else: patience.

4. Distilled white vinegar. When your dog or puppy does have an accident, however, I'd recommend cleaning it with a household carpet cleaner, then sprinkling the area with a water and distilled white vinegar solution. Dogs don't like the smell of vinegar and may avoid using that spot as a restroom again in the future.

5. Lint rollers. For all those fuzzy pups, stock up on lint rollers! Vacuuming is best, obviously, but if you don't want your vacuum constantly running, these are good for quick touch-ups to your couch, chairs, or the dog's bed.

6. A pet placemat. While my current dog doesn't have this problem, I have never in my life seen more voracious eating than from a big black lab. Dogs are messy eaters and sloppy drinkers. A non-stick mat helps the bowls stay in place and limits messes on your floor.

7. Bitter apple spray. If you are adopting an older dog, this might be something you'll want to wait on until you assess his personality, but with puppies, it's a must. Puppies of all breeds like to chew everything, including furniture legs and exposed wires. If you notice a pattern developing, spritz your puppy's off-limits chew toy (ex. your brand new wooden console's legs) a few times a day to break the habit. This product works best while wet, so you'll have to spray throughout day until they get bored with that area. Obviously, exercise caution if spraying wires.

8. A baby/pet gate. This item has been a lifesaver for me in the past ten years with my pup. Block off any area you want to keep the dog out of—simple as that! I use the this plastic one because my chihuahua fits right through the bars of the standard dog gates. If you have a larger dog, consider a more convenient gate with a door hinge.