What is Sleep Hygiene? Getting better sleep, both in quantity and quality of sleep hours, is one of the most impactful ways to set your days up for success. Even though sometimes it may feel that you could get more done by staying up late or waking up early to work on a project, the best thing you can do for yourself is almost always to get a little more shut-eye. Sometimes, it's easier to talk about sleep than to actually achieve it, so maintaining a straightforward sleep routine—or sleep hygiene—is incredibly important. Sleep hygiene can look like many different things, but basically, it means you're setting yourself up to have consistent and uninterrupted sleep. Why is it important?Though the measure of one’s life is not productivity, it’s still important to note that it’s almost impossible to be “productive” without quality sleep. Making sure you get enough sleep is also imperative for your physical and mental health and improves your overall quality of life. Establishing healthy routines is the best way to ensure you have the best chance at a quality night’s sleep. Think of your daily hygiene techniques and how you probably do the same things every day. You brush your teeth every morning and floss every evening (or so you tell your dentist). A sleep hygiene routine would be pretty similar. It would include routines you try to stick to and an environment you try to foster every night to ensure your best sleep.Routines to try:Set Your Sleep Schedule: Keeping a similar schedule for sleeping and waking helps your brain and body adjust to getting the full amount of sleep you need. I know there’s a desire to sleep in on the weekends, but studies show that waking up around the same time every day, weekday, or weekend is important for establishing a normalized circadian rhythm. Keep a Nightly Routine: Follow the same steps every night, letting your brain know it’s time for bed. Allow at least 30 minutes before bed for your brain to wind down. This could include anything that puts your mind in a state of calm (that doesn’t include screens!)—examples: gentle stretching, reading, lowering the lights, etc. Speaking of keeping the lights low, bright and artificial lighting has been shown to hinder melatonin production. It’s suggested that you keep your lights low at night. Bonus points if you keep your lights off and use just candlelight starting at least two hours before bedtime! Stay Screen-Free: You should stay screen-free for at least 30-60 minutes before bed every night. Screens of any type cause mental stimulation and generate blue light, which has been studied to decrease melatonin production. Nighttime Beverage: Enjoying a hot herbal tea or warm magnesium drink is a tasty way to unwind and prepare for bed. This could help lul you to sleep since magnesium has been shown to support healthy GABA levels. GABA is a neurotransmitter that helps induce sleep through relaxation and mood stabilization. Additionally, adding a calming experience to your nighttime routine reminds your brain that it’s time to unwind and get ready to sleep. Ditch the carb-heavy snack for a high-fat bedtime snack: As a survival mechanism, your body releases higher cortisol levels from around 3 AM until about 9 AM. This benefited nomadic humans, providing the energy needed to wake up and search for food after a night of rest. However, this response can be counterproductive in our modern and mostly sedentary lifestyles with abundant food options. Low glucose levels trigger cortisol release, which explains why snacking on high-carb foods before bed might negatively affect sleep. High-carb snacks can cause sharp spikes and drops in glucose levels. When glucose drops, cortisol is released, disrupting your sleep. To mitigate this, snacking on a spoonful of natural peanut butter (without added sugar) or a handful of nuts about an hour before bed has been found to be very effective. The healthy fats in these snacks help regulate cortisol levels and allow your body to gradually wake up after a restful night of sleep.Herbs to help Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata): Passionflower is the perfect herb for busy minds. If you wake up in the middle of the night and start planning your day and making your lists, passionflower might be the herb for you! Along with its mild sedative effects, passionflower may boost your levels of GABA (a neurotransmitter), helping to calm your nervous system and promoting a sense of tranquility.Hops (Humulus lupulus) are a traditional hypnotic sedative that can help us wind down before bedtime. They also help regulate our circadian rhythm, have a calming effect on the central nervous system, and may increase the levels of melatonin and promote the activity of GABA receptors, contributing to a better night’s rest.Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia): Lavender is a lovely sleep aid due to its calming properties. It works by lowering your heart rate and blood pressure. Additionally, lavender contains certain compounds, like linalool and linalyl acetate, which have mild sedative effects and can help ease the transition to sleep. You can use lavender in tea form or as a capsule to help ease you into sleep. Linden (Tilia spp): Linden is one of my favorite herbs for re-calibrating circadian rhythms. This herb is well known for its cardioprotective properties and helps lessen the effects of anxiety by lowering blood pressure. Taking this herb as a tea before bedtime will help naturally kick in your circadian clock, helping you find sleep easier.
Choosing the Cornerstone Communities lifestyle means choosing fun, carefree, comfortable living, and so much more. There are many fun activities you can do within our communities, and our homes are located in prime areas filled with even more fun to be had. For example, take a look at some fun things to do in Charlottesville, VA.There’s No Shortage of Fun Things to Do in Charlottesville, VA!Summer in Virginia is a beautiful time of the year. The temperatures are warm (if a little steamy), and there are plenty of outdoor activities in Charlottesville. Wineries/VineyardsThe area around Zion Crossroads is dotted with wineries. These establishments provide opportunities for wine-tasting while serving as a living example of the region's rich viticultural heritage. From family-owned vineyards to award-winning estates, the Blue Ridge Valley boasts a diverse array of winemaking styles and flavors along with picturesque views. Barboursville Vineyards - This historic estate is located outside of Charlottesville between Monticello and Montpelier. It is home to Virginia's most honored winery, founded in 1976. It produces Octagon, the most renowned red wine of Virginia.Jefferson Vineyards - Virginia's first commercial wine company and vineyard was established on this estate in 1774 by Thomas Jefferson and Philip Mazzei. Often referred to as the "Birthplace of American Wine”, Jefferson Vineyards is only 15 minutes from downtown Charlottesville. King Family Vineyards - A family owned and operated winery located at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Crozet, just fifteen minutes from Charlottesville. It specializes in ultra-premium wines that showcase the remarkable quality and terroir of the area.Michael Shaps Wineworks - Founded in 2007, this working winery is nestled in the woods south of Charlottesville. It produces award-winning wines in an old-world style. The tasting room offers a Virginia tasting list, as well as a French tasting list of imported wines from Burgundy.Keswick Vineyards - Located just east of Charlottesville, it is one of the premier Virginia wineries. Set in a valley of rolling farmland and surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains, the beautiful vineyard and historic estate house are family and pet friendly. Check out the wine-themed mini golf course as well!Orchards The Charlottesville area is home to many farms and orchards. People come from all over to spend a day picking their own fruit and gaining an appreciation of how much these entities contribute.Chiles Peach Orchard - Located near Crozet, and surrounded by views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Visitors choose from ready-picked and pick-your-own strawberries, blueberries, peaches, vegetables, flowers, apples, and pumpkins. The Farm Market & Bakery offers ice cream, fresh cider donuts, homemade fudge, and pies.Carter Mountain Orchard - Located in Charlottesville, Carter Mountain Orchard has dramatic vistas and acres of fruit trees and grapevines. Minutes from downtown Charlottesville and just down the road from Monticello, the orchard welcomes visitors to pick-your-own peaches in the summer, and apples from mid-August through November.Local Swimming Holes No summer fun is complete without an old-fashioned swimming hole to cool off in. (If you’re lucky, maybe no one will be there and you’ll have it to yourself!) Blue Hole - A pool at the base of a waterfall along the Moormans River near Charlottesville. (It’s on the Moormans River Trail.) This popular swimming hole is a great place to cool off. The trailhead is located at the end of Sugar Hollow Road in Crozet. Walnut Creek Park - This 525-acre park in North Garden includes 45 water acres and 2 beach acres. Walnut Creek Park is centered on a large man-made lake surrounded by a forest. In addition to fishing, the lake offers swimming, canoeing, and picnicking.Horseshoe Flats Campground - Walking distance to the historic town of Scottsville, the campground offers plenty of access to fun on the James River - swimming, tubing, canoeing, kayaking, fishing and picnicking.GolfingA round of golf is a great way to enjoy the outdoors, relax in the sun, and chase an errant ball or two. Charlottesville boasts some of the most scenic (and challenging) golf courses around.Spring Creek Golf Club - Designed to be accessible for all golfers, this course features bentgrass fairways, beautiful greens, rock walls and bridges. Epitomizing old-fashioned elegance and practicality, Spring Creek is a unique golfing experience. Zion Crossroads, VA. Old Trail Golf Club - Offering multiple sets of tees to appeal to golfers of all playing abilities, Old Trail’s design conforms to the natural contours of the land. It features bentgrass greens and zoysia fairways, and native grasses and plants to encourage local wildlife. Crozet, VA.Meadowcreek Golf Course - Set by the slopes of the Southwest Mountains, this course spreads across 155 acres. With picturesque views, majestic oaks, and charming dogwood and cherry blossoms, it offers a truly memorable golfing experience. In the heart of Charlottesville, VA. Birdwood Golf Course - Designed by PGA legend Davis Love III/Love Golf Design, this course was revamped to take advantage of the natural beauty of the site. Featuring pristine greens and tranquil fairways, it is one of Virginia's premier golf destinations. Charlottesville, VA. Farmington Country Club - Golfers of all levels love playing here. The Main Course, laid out by the legendary Fred Findlay in 1927, is recognized as one of Virginia’s most challenging traditional courses. The 10-hole East Course was renovated in 2016 by Coore & Crenshaw. Charlottesville, VA. HikesThe Charlottesville area is home to dozens of scenic hiking trails that range from easy to secluded to challenging. Here are two of our favorites: Crabtree Falls Trail - Just 6 miles from the Blue Ridge Parkway, Crabtree Falls Trail is a scenic 3-mile loop trail. Choose from two trails leading to the falls. Pass through the mixed oak-hickory forest and thickets of rosebay rhododendron. Marvel at the 60-foot falls, and the ferns and wildflowers that thrive in the waterfall's cool spray. Old Rag Hike - As the most popular destination in Shenandoah National Park, Old Rag is a place like no other. It offers a strenuous hike with sweeping 360-degree views and several scrambles across large rocks. There are different routes to the summit, where you’ll feel like you're on top of the world. Tickets and passes are required. Must purchase in advance.Breweries Charlottesville’s beer scene can go head-to-head with any town in America. South Street Brewery - Located on West South Street in Charlottesville, steps from the downtown mall. As Charlottesville’s longest-running brewery and pub since 1998, South Street offers classic originals and fun, experimental brews. Random Row Brewing Co. - Known as Charlottesville's community brewery, Random Row makes high quality, locally brewed craft beer. Their warm, inviting tasting room is open daily, and they host events during the week.Rockfish Brewing Company - Up & coming Rockfish Brewing is on the downtown mall, and offers locally brewed beer in a laid-back atmosphere. Set next to The Bebedero Mexican restaurant, the two establishments collaborate, so you can enjoy food by Bebedero's while sipping a craft beer at the Rockfish.Your Dream Home Awaits in Our Spring Creek Community!Cornerstone Homes is building modern villa homes in a private enclave at Spring Creek, a popular master-planned golf course community in Zion Crossroads, just outside of Charlottesville, Virginia. Enjoy the benefits of living on one floor in our low maintenance townhomes featuring luxurious owner's suites, zero-threshold owner's entries, and upstairs lofts to meet your needs - from movie room and teen hangout to hobby and crafting space. With all your free time, you can get out and enjoy the community amenities and all that waits for you just beyond the gates of Spring Creek. Connect with Cornerstone Today for the Best New Homes in Virginia!Thinking about making Spring Creek your new home? We can’t wait to help you learn more about moving to Charlottesville, VA. You’ll love exploring a vineyard, hiking a new trail, discovering a new swimming hole, or enjoying a night at a local brewery. With so many things to do in Charlottesville, you'll never be without plans this summer!Spring Creek offers more than just a place to live – it offers a vibrant community where you can thrive. With luxurious townhomes, a wealth of amenities, and a central location in Charlottesville, it’s the perfect place to enjoy the next chapter of your life. Explore quick move-in homes for a faster move and floor plans to start building your dream home. Either way, our team is here to help you find the perfect home for your active adult lifestyle. Contact Cornerstone Homes today to start your journey toward a life of convenience, comfort, and fun. Don't wait any longer to start living your best life at Spring Creek!