In our busy culture, free time is often painted as a luxury rather than a necessity, but it is exactly that: a necessity.
To give your body and mind a chance to unwind, refresh, and rest, you need to take time for yourself.
Since free time is precious, here are some ways to help you make the most of the time you have and carve out more free time to yourself:
In order to create more free time for yourself and spend it wisely, you must first know where your priorities lie.
Step away from your computer and spend some quiet time by yourself with pen and paper. Imagine how you want to remember your life, looking back on it in old age. Think about what aspects of your life you want to fill those memories. Maybe it’s time spent with friends and family, or maybe it’s running marathons around the world.
Plan out your priorities and write them down. Keep a copy of this list close at all times, and when life begins to get hectic, take a step back and remember what really matters to you.
When work, friends, family, and hobbies all add up to a packed schedule, free time can be hard to come by, but actively scheduling time for yourself to spend free of obligations can help reset your mind and make you a happier person.
Sometimes that means carving out when you give yourself permission not to worry about anything else in your life. Add daily or weekly appointments to your calendar for self-care and honor this time with yourself.
During your scheduled “me time”, don’t cheat yourself. Unplug and don’t let work creep into your well-deserved time away.
Ignore emails and stop checking social media for just a little while. Try to stay away from television and the computer all together. Your brain needs a rest in order to maximize productivity when it’s time to get back to work.
Instead, go for a walk outside, read a book, meditate or throw a one-person dance party in your living room. Your future self will thank you for this time spent re-charging.
In our digital age, technology and social media can keep us from interacting in person. In addition to scheduling time in your calendar for yourself, schedule recurring dates with close friends and family as well as your spouse or partner.
Make regular plans to meet friends or family for dinner or coffee. Enjoy laughing with your favorite people. You’ll remember how much you crave and miss that connection the moment you see their faces.
Make time to do things that are authentically you. If you care about animals, volunteer at an animal shelter; if you love painting, get outside and paint something new.
Make time to do those things that make you who you are; doing this will not only remind you how much those things mean to you, they can bring a renewed energy, as well.
If you are a busy person, one of the best things you can do for yourself is take a rest. Schedule a nap or take time to lounge around and do nothing.
Our bodies, minds, and souls function best when rest is included in our lives regularly. Balance is important for achieving our best possible selves.
Our time is precious and finite, and as much as we would like, it’s not possible to say yes to everything.
Show some respect for your own time by saying “no” more often. Before saying yes to a new project or event invitation, take a moment to really evaluate if that opportunity aligns with your goals for your life.
Do you have additional tips for carving out free time for yourself? Share them with us on Facebook or Twitter.
A common challenge for renters is space constraints. It may seem like your apartment can’t fit all of your stuff, but there are ways that you can make everything fit comfortably with the space available that you may not have thought of. Enter these awesome storage ideas.
Maximizing the space you have is key. One of our favorite solutions for storage in a small apartment is making use of vertical space.
It’s easy to use up the available horizontal space in your apartment, but often times there is a lot of leftover vertical space that can be utilized. Here are the best ways to use vertical space in your apartment.
Free standing shelves are not only portable, convenient, and rental-friendly, but also a great space saver! They come in a variety of shapes and sizes and can be used in any room in the apartment, including the kitchen for extra dish or appliance storage, the bathroom for towels and toiletries, as bookcases, or in the closet to store shoes or clothes that won’t fit in drawers.
Punctuate a blank wall with a leaning, ladder-style bookshelf. (Photo via Woodstock Furniture Outlet)
A ladder-style leaning bookshelf can be an easy, modern way to add some extra storage furniture to a bare wall – use it to display decorative items or store books.
Another great way to use vertical space especially in your kitchen is with under-shelf storage baskets. If there is a lot of room between the shelves that are already built in to your cabinets, simply attach an under-shelf basket to create more storage space for additional items.
Under-shelf baskets are a great way to harness vertical space and add more storage. (Photo via ApartmentTherapy.com)
If you need more space to store glassware, there are also under-the-shelf stemware holders that are a convenient solution.
One thing we sometimes forget is that we have plenty of space on our walls for storage. This can be easily and safely used by placing shelves along the walls to use that vertical space to its capacity.
There’s more to storage than meets the eye with these clever items.
Give storage a lift when you use bed risers — they’re affordable, easy to use, and add valuable inches to store items under your bed. Adding height is also a great way to give the illusion of more space: your bed will look and feel more regal, and you’ll benefit from the added storage beneath.
Storage beds have built-in storage within a hollow portion of the bed frame. Many feature drawers along the bottom for a look that is both attractive and incredibly functional. Use the added space to store bedtime essentials like blankets or pajamas.
Ottomans are a great addition to a living room — you can bring in new colors and prints at an affordable price, and if you choose a storage ottoman, you can also add a little more practicality. Storage ottomans are hollow on the inside with a removable lid for easy access. Stock yours with living room items like games, remotes, or blankets.
Looking for a new apartment? We have many excellent and spacious choices for metro New Orleans apartments and in Mississippi!
With startups, medical hubs, and entrepreneurial opportunities, New Orleans is increasingly becoming a global destination for young professionals. Many millennials are moving to the city, and with a new move comes a new consideration: where should I live? We’re a bit biased, but think Bella Ridge is a great choice. We’ve already explored why renting is such a great option, but today we’re taking a closer look at three reasons why Bella Ridge is among the best apartments for young professionals in New Orleans. Read on for why these River Ridge luxury apartments are an ideal place to rent.
The cozy club room at Bella Ridge.
The city of New Orleans has dozens of iconic neighborhoods like the Garden District and the French Quarter, but longtime residents know that life in one of these historic sectors has both pros and cons. Sure, you’re living in a historic space, but that also means living in outdated confines without modern amenities. Other issues include no dedicated parking and sub-par road conditions. Conversely, Bella Ridge offers proximity to New Orleans – it’s just about 10 minutes from the French Quarter – without all the headaches. As a brand-new construction, Bella features state-of-the-art amenities and a dedicated, covered parking garage. It’s also spacious and energy efficient. In addition to being near downtown New Orleans, Bella Ridge also boasts close proximity to major shops and restaurants.
Living just outside downtown New Orleans gives young professionals a lot more bang for their buck. We recently compared a downtown property to our Bella Ridge property, and in terms of value, the results were staggering. Bella Ridge offered 100 additional square feet, better amenities, and free parking for nearly $1,000 less per month than a comparable downtown property. If you add in parking (which isn’t included in downtown apartments) the value differential increases even more.
We mentioned how Bella Ridge offers better amenities than comparable downtown apartments – but what exactly does that mean? First and foremost is free covered parking. You’ll never have to fight for a spot, and you’ll never get stuck in inclement weather. Our parking garage is clean, lighted, and a great way to add a layer of ease into your daily routine. Bella Ridge also features a beautiful outdoor pool with a built-in tanning ledge plus a state-of-the-art fitness facility. If you have a dog, you’re in luck: we’re big animal lovers at 1st Lake Properties, which is why we’ve included an on-site dog park called Bella Bark at our Bella Ridge property.
All in all, if you’re looking for the best apartments for young professionals in New Orleans, put Bella Ridge at the top of your list! Learn more today about specials and other promotions – we’d love to hear from you.
There are so many reasons to incorporate houseplants into your design scheme: they enhance oxygen and purify the air, they can improve attentiveness and focus, most of all, they’re just plain pretty.
Home décor with plants is stylish and easier than you might think – just see our decorating tips below.
Large fig (ficus) trees are some of the most purifying plants you can bring into your home, and because of their size, they’re a great way to brighten up a corner.
Instead of placing an occasional chair in an empty corner, try a fiddle leaf fig tree in an attractive ceramic pot.
A Rubber Tree is another variety of ficus that looks great indoors due to its glossy, thick leaves.
Have an at-home office space? Beautify it with low-maintenance succulent plants that require very little watering.
Depending on which vessel you choose to house the plant, you can achieve different types of décor. Try a rustic terracotta pot for a traditional look, or opt for a high-gloss, pure white ceramic pot for a minimalist and modern feel.
You can also make your own terrarium for a similar effect.
We’ve already discussed how a large fig tree can bring life (literally!) to a corner – but what if you want to move it to another room later on?
A rolling plant caddy is an easy and affordable solution.
There’s nothing quite like a long, hot shower at the end of a long day. Take advantage of all that humidity by placing a beautiful orchid in the bathroom.
Orchids love steamy environments, so they’ll thrive in the bathroom while also adding a pop of color.
Remember, these plants also enjoy light, so move them to a light-filled room from time to time if needed.
Rows of topiaries look great on the mantle, particularly for those who prefer a romantic or traditional design style.
Live ivy topiaries are affordable and reasonably low-maintenance – as they grow, they give off a whimsical, fairytale ambience.
You can also copy the look with faux topiaries (we won’t tell!).
Check out our definitive guide to caring for indoor plants.
Explore our 1st Lake communities and find the one that meets your needs!
Everyone loves a little pampering now and then, but weekly trips to the spa can rack up hefty bills very quickly. Luckily, the 21st century abounds with affordable and accessible tricks and recipes that can turn any home bathroom into a Zen oasis.
If you enjoy the gentle scent of roses with your beauty treatments, you needn’t purchase expensive, pre-bottled rose water to even your skin tone. For a less expensive, but equally fragrant, substitute, add packed rose petals to boiled water in a ratio of 1:2. Allow the mixture to steep until cool, then simply strain the petals from the water, store the liquid in a clean, airtight container, and use as needed. You’ll have fresher, younger looking skin in no time!
To exfoliate your way to brighter skin, try mixing equal parts oatmeal, brown sugar, and olive oil to make a gentle body scrub. Simply rub the mixture on your skin to remove dead cells, then rinse. You can also mix white sugar and vitamin oil into a paste and use it the same way.
A favorite trick from our grandmothers’ day: soften and lighten skin on your elbows and knees by rubbing the areas with freshly cut lemon. (This nifty trick is also seen in the ultra-famous movie 16 Candles.)
Massages and facials are the bees’ knees as far as treats for the self, but some of the best aspects of a spa treatment are the little things – warm towels, fresh scents, and other amenities are integral to the experience and easily replicated at home.
For example, to achieve the warm, viscous consistency of spa lotion, set your bottle of lotion on a heater or radiator while you’re in the shower. When you emerge you’ll have warm lotion to sate your thirsty skin – just make sure to keep an eye on plastic lotion bottles so they don’t melt!
To create the sauna atmosphere popular amongst salons the world over, run the hottest water possible through your shower for 10 minutes. Spritz a wash cloth with a relaxing chamomile or lavender scent to put over your face in the shower. Breathing in a fresh, relaxing scent will add to your sauna experience and can be an ultra-relaxing way to get ready for bed. If you’re coordinated enough you can even turn off the fluorescents and light candles instead!
1st Lake Properties | P. O. Box 73709 | Metairie, LA 70033 | info@1stlake.com
