Angela Lynn Rapley - How to Prepare for Your Beach Trip
Sometimes a trip to the beach is all you need to rejuvenate yourself. Angela Lynn Rapley of St. Louis Missouri works as an RN at SSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital, and stress is something that comes with the job. When she can get the vacation time, she takes her husband and their 4 year old daughter for a few days of relaxation at the beach.
In order to make a beach trip as relaxing as possible, there are a few things you can do to prepare for a beach trip to help cut down on the stress of travel. First, make sure you have a list of everything you need for the beach, and bet everything together the night before you head out. You may want to bring extra towels, a cooler, a beach umbrella, and of course, sunscreen. Apply before you hit the beach, and bring it with you so you can reapply at the appropriate time.
A hat and sunglasses can also protect you from the sun. Make sure to bring two changes of clothes (including underwear) as a precaution.
Choose the beach you want to go to ahead of time by doing your research. This way you can find out what beaches are less crowded, or have less jellyfish etc. You don’t want to show up for your beach vacation only to find out that the family dog isn’t allowed on the beach.
Angela Lynn Rapley buys a large jug of water to bring with her so that no one gets dehydrated and ruins the fun. If you do your research and prepare ahead of time, your trip to the beach can be as rejuvenating as you hoped it would be.
Angela Lynn Rapley - How to Hike Alone Safely
Hiking is a great way to get some exercise and enjoy the beauty of the outdoors. Some hikers enjoy hiking in solitude, though many wonder if hiking alone is safe. Though there are no guarantees for a completely safe hike, there are steps you can take while hiking alone to mitigate danger. Angela Lynn Rapley is a registered nurse who lives in St. Louis Missouri, and when she hikes alone she always takes certain precautions.
The first thing you should do before you start you hike is make sure that someone knows where you are, and when you got there. You should also plan to tell a relative or close friend to expect a call or text from you when you return, and what time to expect that notification. If you don’t return, then someone knows where you are and can send help.
Make sure you are familiar with the area before you decide to hike it alone. Know what kinds of people, wildlife and plants you may encounter on your hike and prepare accordingly. It may be safer to choose a trail that usually has plenty of hikers on it, so that if you get hurt the chances of someone coming by and finding you are higher.
Angela Lynn Rapley makes sure that she always sticks to the path when she is hiking alone, so she can avoid any unseen wildlife, unsafe terrain or any other hazard. If you take the proper precautions, hiking alone can be a unique and fulfilling experience.
Angela Lynn Rapley - The Effects of Exercise on Stress
No matter what the cause, many of us experience stress in our lives. At some periods in our lives, it may be more difficult to cope with stress than usual. The good news is, there is one thing you can do that can relieve stress that can be done every day: exercise.
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Exercise has been proven to reduce stress levels. It increases the brains production of endorphins, feel-good chemicals, which can help you feel good despite whatever it is that is stressing you out.
Some people consider exercise as a way of not only releasing endorphins, but as a sort of meditation. Registered nurse Angela Lynn Rapley of St. Louis Missouri finds that when she is mountain biking, she forgets about the worries of the day and instead focuses only on getting up the next hill. She also enjoys exercising outdoors as a way to reduce her stress level.
Exercise can also help you sleep better, and if you sleep better, you may find that you are better able to deal with the challenges of life. Good sleep is a vital component of having good mental and physical health.
If you want to reduce stress by exercising, the first thing you need to do is choose an activity that you would enjoy. You probably won’t experience stress relief if you are regularly walking the treadmill when you’d rather be swimming or running the local nature trail.
In order to experience all the benefits of exercise for stress reduction, you need to exercise on a regular basis. This means scheduling a time to exercise and stick to it. Once you make it a habit, you may find it’s easier to get started, and then you’ll likely begin to see the stress reduction that comes from regular exercise.
Common Mistakes in Cycling
Whether on a mountain bike or road bike, all new cyclists make mistakes as they ride. Knowing the common mistakes in cycling will help you avoid them and become a better rider.
One of the most common mistakes you should avoid is trying to exceed your limits. Don’t ride too hard or too far. If you are tired, stop and get some rest. Biking is a fun and worthwhile sport but don’t get yourself burnt out by trying to ride a long distance too soon.
Another mistake to avoid is not keeping your bike well maintained. Maintaining your bike is not just for aesthetics but for safety purposes as well. Check your bike regularly and keep it well maintained. Check the brakes, handlebars, gears and tires. Clean and lubricate your bike’s chain regularly.
If you start having pain in your knees while biking, you might want to check your seat. It could probably be too low. When pedaling, make sure your knees are slightly bent at the bottom of the pedal stroke. But if your bike seat is too low, you cannot bend your knees properly. Make sure your seat is properly positioned.
Forgetting to refuel your body is another error you should avoid. If you only plan to ride for an hour, you don’t have to pack a snack but make sure to bring some water. But if you are planning to ride for more than three hours or so, bring a quick snack and eat every few minutes. Failing to do so might lead you to a hypoglycemic state, tiredness, dizziness, confusion, nausea, and irritability.
Angela Lynn Rapley is a cycling, enthusiast. She enjoys taking long bike rides during the weekend.
Why Hiking is Good for You
There are countless studies that prove the benefits of outdoor activities such as hiking. Every time you hike, you often get more than you seek. Hikers have to deal with bug bites, bruises, and blisters for the purpose of overcoming a challenge and spending some time with nature. But in addition to the sense of self-fulfillment, when you reach the top of a mountain you will enjoy a scenery you don’t get to see every day. Hiking offers a lot of benefits both for your mind and body.
Exposing yourself to nature can help reduce stress, strengthens immunity, boosts energy and self-esteem. Hiking also improves your creativity as well as your problem-solving skills. So if you want to keep your creative juice flowing, sometimes all you need is to take a hike. Studies show that staying outdoors helps increase your attention span by as much as 50%. This is the result of being able to detach yourself from technology and simply appreciate the beauty of nature. It allows you to have peace of mind and forget all the stress and pressures of everyday life.
Hiking allows you to choose the right trail for you. Whether on a flat, well-maintained path or up a rocky mountain, you can easily choose that suits your fitness level. You can choose to take it easy or challenge yourself to take on more challenging hikes. Hiking is also good for burning excess calories especially if you hike uphill. It also improves your bone structure and keeps you away from osteoporosis. It helps you fight off various diseases such as heart diseases, colon cancer, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
Angela Lynn Rapley loves hiking with her friends. She believes being physically fit allows her to fulfill her responsibilities as a nurse.
Reasons Why You Should Start Reading More
The world has made massive advancements in technology, but reading seems to have taken a back seat for many. It seems that more and more people are finding that they don’t have the time to read a book these days. However, when you look at the health benefits of reading, it is amazing that people have not taken up reading as a hobby. It seems that if the health benefits of reading could be put together in a pill and sold, it would attract people by the millions. Here are a couple of health benefits of reading.
Get Rid of Stress
Did you know that simply picking up a book and reading can help overcome stress? Yes, that is right! Reading helps reduce stress. Research conducted by the University of Sussex found that reading was the most effective way to overcome stress, topping the list of other stress-busting activities like walking, drinking a cup of tea or coffee, and listening to music. The research measured the heart rate and muscle tension of participants and found that within six minutes of reading, the heart rate, and muscle tension showed signs of relaxing. It does not matter what book you read, but just spending 30 minutes reading a book can help reduce stress.
Sharpen Your Brain
Research has shown that a lifetime of reading can help sharpen the brain and keep it in perfect condition when you reach old age. Reading helps lower the rate of mental decline.
Angela Lynn Rapley works in a demanding job as a registered nurse but spends time reading every day to counteract the stress in the workplace.
The Beginner’s Guide to Hiking
Hiking is an excellent outdoor activity. If you enjoy being outdoors amidst the beauty of nature, then hiking might be the right activity for you. You do not necessarily have to head into the woods or the mountains to hike. Most local parks have dedicated hiking areas where you can build up your stamina and whet your appetite for larger hiking trips in the future. Hiking is a great way to get in shape and prepare yourself to start running. Here are a couple of tips you can use if you are starting out with hiking.
Decide How Long You Want to Hike
Since you are starting out with hiking, you do not have to take up too much. Start with trails that are not too long and that can be completed in a couple of hours’ time. You can choose a trail that does not require you to carry extra clothing and camping gear. If you have a just a couple of hours spare during the weekend, you might want to pick a trail that is four or five miles long. It will take you just a couple of hours to complete the trail. Work with small trails and build up your stamina before you take on other longer trails.
Going Alone or in a Group
You can choose to hike alone or in a group. While hiking alone might be a good idea, it is not recommended. Hiking alone leaves you vulnerable on the trail, and it is not safe to hike alone. On the other hand, hiking with a group or a friend is better. You have company, and you can use this time to learn valuable hiking tips from the group you are hiking with.
Angela Lynn Rapley is a registered nurse who enjoys hiking during the weekends.
Best Beach Towns in Delaware
Delaware is known for its small and quaint towns, it’s beautiful beaches, and it’s tax-free shopping. Visiting Delaware during the summer is popular for many who live on the east coast, but why visit if you could live there? Here are three of the beast beach towns to live in in Delaware.
- Lewes, Delaware is a historic town that is located where the Delaware Bay and the Atlantic Ocean meet. This area is known as Cape Henlopen and is located nearby the beautiful coastal Cape Henlopen State Park. The town has beautiful beaches, trails for hiking and biking, and vibrant bird sanctuaries. The town has fine dining options, museums, shopping, and an interesting historic district.
- If you want to step away from the beaches slightly and live in an area that Is quaint but easily accessible to the exciting beach towns, you should live in the Milton Area. Milton is minutes away from Lewes and Rehoboth Beach but is a nice private sanctuary. The area is thriving thanks to the successful small businesses and the restored historical area.
- Rehoboth is the most popular beach destination in Delaware. The area provides a number of different accommodations besides hotels and camping. You can purchase a home, apartment, cottage or retreat house. Rehoboth has great dining options, and arts center, and great shopping.
Angela Lynn Rapley grew up in St. Louis, Missouri but made annual trips with her family to Delaware. They spent most of their vacations in Cape Henlopen State Park and Rehoboth. She has recently been making the trip to Delaware with her husband and their four-year-old daughter.
Best Running Areas in St. Louis, Missouri
Sitting on the border of Illinois along the Mississippi River, St. Louis, Missouri has some of the state's most beautiful running trails. The city is surrounded by parks great for biking, hiking, equestrian use, and running of course. Here are the best running areas in St. Louis.
- River Des Peres Greenway Trail is a flat and paved path that takes you along the River Des Pere Drainage Channel in the southwestern part of St. Louis. The trail is hardly every crowded, but you will have to run along the Des Peres Parkway at some points, which provides a little unpleasantness because of the heavy traffic. If you go far enough though, you will run into Carondelet Park, which is home to two beautiful lakes.
- McKinley Bridge Bikeway reopened in 2007 after major repairs were done to the bridge. It now has a bike lane that can also serve as a running path. The bike lane will connect you to other trails in the area that may be more enjoyable for runners. You will run along the Missouri and Illinois state border while on the bridge.
- Centennial Greenway is a 3.5-mile trail that one day will stretch out to 20 miles. The path connects to various other trails including the Kay Trail and the Creve Coeur Park Trail. You can use the Centennial Greenway to connect to other trails as you choose.
Angela Lynn Rapley is a registered nurse in St. Louis, Missouri, who enjoys running as a means to relax after work. She has taken part in a number of half marathons in St. Louis.
