The post Hello world! appeared first on Arden 55+ Living Blog.

In this blog post, we shed light on a transformative wellness practice – light therapy – tailored to keep your spirit shining bright.

The Science of Light Therapy

As we navigate the golden years, maintaining both physical and mental well-being becomes increasingly important. Light therapy, a scientifically backed approach, aligns perfectly with the dynamic lifestyle of our active adult community at Arden. Let's delve into the science behind it:

1. Circadian Rhythms and Boosting Energy:

Science: Light therapy is a natural way to regulate circadian rhythms, helping to synchronize our internal body clocks with the external day-night cycle.

Benefits: By exposing yourself to bright light, especially in the morning, you can enhance your energy levels, ensuring you're ready to tackle the day's adventures with zeal.

2. Elevating Mood through Serotonin Production:

Science: Light exposure stimulates serotonin production, a neurotransmitter associated with mood regulation.

Benefits: Experience a mood boost that complements the vibrant atmosphere of Arden, enhancing the joy and positivity you bring to each community interaction.

3. Revitalizing the Mind with Hypothalamus Activation:

Science: Light therapy activates the hypothalamus, a brain region linked to mood and sleep regulation.

Benefits: Enjoy a revitalized mind, ready to engage in the plethora of activities and events that Arden offers.

Light Therapy Box Recommendations

Enhance your Arden experience by exploring light therapy boxes that replicate natural outdoor light. Familiarize yourself with the Mayo Clinic's recommendations for selecting an ideal light therapy box which generally include the following guidelines:

Generally, the light box should:

Provide an exposure to 10,000 lux of light.

Produce as minimal UV light as possible.

Typical usage recommendations for the light box include:

Use it within the first hour of waking up in the morning.

Expose yourself for about 20 to 30 minutes.

Keep the light box about 16 to 24 inches (41 to 61 centimeters) from your face, following the manufacturer's distance instructions.

Keep your eyes open during the session, but avoid looking directly at the light.

While a prescription is not required for purchasing a light box, it is advisable to use it under the guidance of a healthcare provider and adhere to the manufacturer's instructions. Your healthcare provider may suggest a particular light box tailored to your needs. It's important to note that the majority of health insurance plans do not cover the cost of light boxes.

Explore Arden: Where Vibrancy Meets Community

At Arden 55+ Living, we're not just about age; we're about embracing the youthful spirit that makes life truly vibrant. Light therapy seamlessly aligns with our philosophy, offering a scientifically supported approach to enhance your energy, mood, and overall well-being.

Choose your adventure every day at Arden, and let light therapy be your companion in the journey to stay young at heart. If you'd like to become familiar with our vibrant communities, we invite you to explore more about us here.

The post Light Therapy for the Young at Heart at Arden’s 55+ Active Adult Community appeared first on Arden 55+ Living Blog.

Flying High in a Hot Air Balloon

It’s one of the most wondrous ways to enjoy a sunrise and sunset, and you’re almost guaranteed to find a balloon ride in your state. In Michigan, Sky Adventures has taken over 40,000 people into the sky since 1975 and celebrates with champagne at the end of each one-hour flight. For our North Carolinians, Carolina BalloonFest is also a great way to ride a hot air balloon or simply experience looking at one. This year, the event runs from October 14th-16th in Statesville and features live music, food, drinks, and balloon launches.

Hike the Appalachian Trail

The Appalachian Trail is one of the most famous in the country, and it runs almost 2,200 miles from Georgia to Maine through 14 states. A shorter trek along the trail makes for a fantastic hiking experience, and you can even opt to stay at a campsite in a state or national park. Other places to stay include full-service lodges, cabins, and local inns. Here’s a shoutout to 83-year-old M.J. “Sunny” Eberhart, an avid hiker who completed the full Appalachian Trail in addition to the 348-mile Pinhoti Trail and the 72-mile Benton MacKaye Trail. That’s a whopping 2,620 miles!

The Longest Cave System in the World: Mammoth Cave

Located in Kentucky, Mammoth Cave National Park offers access to the longest cave system in the world! Only 420 miles of it have been explored, and you can experience a portion of it, too. The park has a variety of guided tours to choose from based on duration and difficulty level. Apart from the cave, the park also features camping, hiking, canoeing, fishing, and more.

SNUBA Is Even Easier Than Snorkeling

Going scuba diving is a unique opportunity to get out of your comfort zone and explore underwater ecosystems. Learn how to dive in a more tropical setting in Florida with Pura Vida Divers–you can even take the steps to get certified! And if you think scuba diving is limited to tropical reefs, think again. With Olympus Dive Center, more experienced divers can check out the wreck of the tanker Papoose, sunk by the Germans in 1942 in Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.

If scuba diving isn’t for you, try SNUBA. With a simple-to-use breathing regulator, you can explore more comfortable depths similar to snorkeling with no certification or heavy air tanks involved. Enjoy up to 4 hours of SNUBA fun in Key West, FL with a professional team guiding you the whole way!

Take a Grand Canyon Mule Ride

The Grand Canyon is one of the world’s greatest wonders and worth seeing if you haven’t already. To make the trip even more spectacular, experience the canyon from within by taking a famous mule ride, a common practice since the late 1800s. You can stay overnight at Phantom Ranch and ride through the canyon for the ultimate adventure, or opt for a 2-hour Canyon Vistas Rim Ride to see it from above if you’re short on time.

Ride the Railroad

Taking a relaxing railroad trip is an incredible adventure in itself, and you can witness all the scenic beauty that our country has to offer. Those over 65 years old get a 10% discount on Amtrak, and they have a variety of vacation packages to choose from. Take your pick: Glacier National Park, Boston to Maine, or even a cross-country journey.

See the Epic Sea Caves in Wisconsin

On the shores of Wisconsin, explore the wondrous sea caves of the Apostle Islands with Trek & Trail. They offer kayak tours for multiple ability levels, with tours ranging from 3 to 7 hours. Have a fun time paddling through tunnels and watching the sunset from the water!

If you’re keen on taking trips like these but not too sure about organizing the journeys, don’t worry. There’s a variety of travel groups you can join that offer comprehensive tours and travel experiences, like Intrepid Travel with customizable and ready-made itineraries for trips all around the world. All you have to do is show up!

Encouraging our residents to live their best active lifestyles is part of what Arden embodies. Have fun exploring your limits on your next travel adventure, and check out how else you can live an active lifestyle at home with our community amenities.

The post Adventures in America: Best Places to Explore in the US appeared first on Arden 55+ Living Blog.

And while life does throw some curveballs that are a little harder to navigate when it comes to your health, keeping up with some simple daily habits can reap huge dividends.

Incorporate these 3 simple tips into your lifestyle, and you’re bound to see improvements over time in not just your physical health, but your mental wellbeing too!

1. Incorporate Healthy Foods & Have Your Cake!

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that eating a healthier diet is one way to stay healthy. In fact, your nutrition might be the most important aspect of staying healthy. Food is your body’s fuel, so you want to put only the best, most beneficial foods in your body.

According to the Winnesheik Medical Center, “Colorful foods, which are generally fruits and vegetables, contain many of the vitamins and antioxidants we need – with few calories. Along with maintaining good health, the nutrients in vegetables and fruits work together to protect against cancer, heart disease, vision loss, hypertension, and other diseases.”

When it comes to healthy eating, it’s all about moderation. A great rule to live by is the 80/20 rule. The 80/20 rule is a guide for your everyday diet. Focus on eating nutritious foods 80 percent of the time and have a serving of your favorite treat with the other 20 percent. For the “80 percent” part, focus on drinking lots of water and eating nutritious foods such as:

Whole grains

Fruits and vegetables

Lean protein, including plant-based proteins such as beans, soy, and edamame

Limited amounts of healthy fats from avocados or olive oil

2. Move Your Body

Exercise is one the best way to maintain your cardiovascular and overall health – and you only need to walk a minimum of 30 minutes a day to reap the benefits.

Staying healthy can be as easy as burning calories to maintain a healthy weight, but walking for 30 minutes a day also lessens your chances of chronic diseases like diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association.

There is a myriad of other ways walking supports a healthy lifestyle, like:

Stimulating your digestive system

Helping you sleep at night

Supporting your immune health so you don’t get sick

Make it a habit to move your body every day, even if it’s just an evening stroll after dinner — every step counts toward a healthier lifestyle!

For more resources, check out the book “In Praise of Walking: A New Scientific Exploration” to explore the many benefits of walking on our bodies and brain!

3. Limit Sun Exposure & Wear Sunscreen

A more long-term way of staying healthy is to wear sunscreen and limit your time in the sun.

The UV rays can have very harmful effects on your skin. Additionally, being out in the sun too long can also cause damage to your eyes and have negative effects on your immune system as well.

Dermatologists recommend using a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30, which blocks 97 percent of the sun's UVB rays. This sunscreen by Supergoop! is our favorite!

However, the sun does have positive effects on your health, too. The sun is the most natural way to get your daily dose of Vitamin D and it has mood-enhancing powers to help relieve stress and improve sleep. To maintain healthy blood levels, doctors recommend 10–30 minutes of midday sunlight, several times per week. Our favorite Vitamin D supplement can always be used in addition to the natural way.

In the end, It’s a balancing act – little time and exposure to the sun combined with sunscreen and taking care of your skin is the perfect combination.

The bottom line is that these simple, daily habits enable you to take back your health and maintain healthy longevity. While this daily routine doesn’t ensure perfect health, it can vastly improve your overall health and create habits that your future self will thank you for.

This page contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase after clicking a link, Arden may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

The post 3 Simple, Daily Habits for Maintaining an Active & Healthy Lifestyle appeared first on Arden 55+ Living Blog.