Get a Flu Shot

By now, you've probably been bombarded with ads in the grocery store and on public transit that remind you to get a flu shot. The vaccine offers protection from the current season's most prevalent strain of flu. Even if you do get sick, your symptoms should be much less severe than they would be had you not taken this precaution.

Wash Your Hands

Healthcare providers recommend scrubbing your hands thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Hand-washing is especially important before eating.  Additionally, it's a good idea to keep your hands away from your eyes, nose and mouth as much as possible since these areas are great germ conductors.

Get Moving

Exercise helps you manage stress, which improves your well-being overall. Research suggests that regular physical activity enhances immune system functioning, especially in the elderly, who may be more vulnerable to these wintertime ills. Exercise promotes healthy sleep, too.

Get Enough Shut-Eye

While we're on the topic of sleep, it's important to note that getting adequate shut-eye is crucial to maintaining good health. Aim for about eight hours per night.

Watch Your Diet

Eating a healthy diet, especially foods rich in vitamins C and E, can help boost your immune system, making you less susceptible to illness. Sources of vitamin E include sunflower seeds, almonds, peanuts, and corn and sunflower oils. Citrus fruits, green peppers and broccoli are great sources of vitamin C. Sugar hinders immune functioning, so try to keep your intake to a minimum.

Manage Your Allergies

During cold and flu season, it's vital to keep your allergies under control. If they're wreaking havoc on your body, then your upper respiratory tract is likely inflamed, which makes it vulnerable to cold and flu viruses.  

Residents of our Chicago apartments are staying healthy year-round by taking advantage of our 24-hour fitness center. Contact us to learn more about floor plans and amenities.

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Get Outside

We often tend to become more lethargic in the winter because of the decrease in daylight. Getting as much natural light as possible can boost your energy levels. Chicago has so many parks and walking trails that you can enjoy, even when it's cold. On a crisp, clear winter morning, you can find people watching the sunrise as they stroll the majestic lakefront.

Take a Fitness Class

During the winter, we may not think about going to the gym until it's time to make New Year's resolutions. But you don't have to wait until then to get started on your fitness goals. Most workout facilities have classes going on in the fall, so now is the time to sign up.

Work Out at Home

On those days when you may not feel like going to the gym, you can still exercise from the comfort of your living room. Pop in a workout DVD or use an exercise app. Even if you're just watching TV, you can do calisthenics and stretches during the commercials.

Make It a Team Effort

Exercise can be more fun when it's not a solo venture. Find a friend to work out with. You can keep one another accountable and cheer each other on as you work toward your fitness goals.

Incorporate Exercise Into Your Daily Routine

During the holiday season, our schedules can be jam-packed with activities. If you're short on workout time, find creative ways to incorporate exercise into your daily routine. Take the dog for a longer walk than usual each morning. Park the car farther away from your workplace or the grocery store to get some extra steps in.

Residents of our Chicago apartments like to stay active by taking advantage of our 24-hour fitness center. Contact us to learn more about the many amenities we offer.

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Take up yoga in your living room.

If you’re looking for a more relaxing way to work out this winter, consider learning yoga. You don’t have to venture out to a local yoga studio in the cold. Instead, you can watch videos online to learn how to do yoga moves. All you need for this is a yoga mat for your living room and some workout clothes. Yoga is a great way to stretch your muscles while also improving your mood and emotional well-being.

Do quiet cardio exercises.

If you want to get your heart racing, there are cardio exercises you can do in your apartment that won’t bother your neighbors. Instead of jumping jacks and other potentially noisy exercises, try doing lunges, side kicks and shadow boxing. If you have stairs in your apartment, walking up and down them repeatedly can get your heart rate up for a good cardiovascular workout.

Invest in exercise equipment.

If you don’t have any exercise equipment in your apartment, consider getting some. You can find treadmills and exercise bikes that make minimal noise that your neighbors won’t hear. These types of exercise equipment give you another way to stay active without having to go outdoors this winter.

Lift weights.

Lifting weights is an easy and simple way to work out in your apartment. You don’t have to get a weight bench and complete set of weights to enjoy the benefits of strength training. You can tone your arm muscles and build strength in them with free weights. Choose weights that give your muscles enough of a workout challenge without overly straining them. As you get stronger, you can get heavier free weights.

If you want to get out of your apartment to work out, our community in Chicago, Illinois, has a fitness center with a heated indoor lap pool. Contact us for more information on our available apartments in Chicago.

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