WestWind Apartments Blog

Everyone makes New Year’s resolutions, but 85% of the time, the goals that are made on New Year’s Eve are not achieved. Why? Maybe the goals are too lofty, but most likely it is because you have not made a plan to achieve those goals.

Here are some common New Year’s Resolutions:

• Drink Less Alcohol
• Eat Healthy Food
• Get a Better Job
• Get Fit
• Lose Weight
• Manage Debt
• Manage Stress
• Quit Smoking
• Save Money
• Take a Vacation
• Volunteer

There is a right way and a wrong way to make a New Year's resolution. Here are a few tips to help you achieve your goals:

1. Tell your Friends

When you have a goal, and others are aware of that goal, they can help you achieve it. Often, one of your friends has the same goal, so they can join you. So, after you make your resolution, tell your friends in your apartment in Roanoke, VA about it.

2. Make a Plan immediately

Setting a goal without a plan is really just wishful thinking. In order for your resolution to have resolve, you have to have a plan to put it into action. If you're like most people, then you'll have a limited window of opportunity during the first few days of January to harness your motivation. After that, most people forget their resolutions completely.

3. Write Down Your Resolution and Plan

Formulate a plan, which you can stick to. It is always best to write your goals down, commit to your resolution and plan.

4. Be flexible and think long term

Nothing big gets accomplished in one day. New Year's resolutions are only a starting point. You have to revisit your plan. Give yourself reminders to work on your goals. But you also need to expect that your plan can and will change. You need to be flexible as life interferes. Sometimes even the goal will change. Recognize each step of success the whole way.

Fall is one of the most beautiful times of year in Virginia, and traveling throughout the Roanoke Valley during this season can reveal an abundance of color.

Interested in taking a little road trip from your apartment in Roanoke and seeing some of the beauty that is Virginia during Fall Foliage season? You don’t have to fight the traffic that clogs some of the best-known places, such as Skyline Drive by taking some less traveled routes.
 
The Virginia Department of Forestry has some new, less traveled Fall Foliage Driving Tours. These routes that will expose you to some of the Commonwealth’s most colorful tree-lined vistas.

See wide swatches of vibrant yellows, reds and oranges. And, because these recommended drives are “off the beaten path,” you’ll be able to enjoy a leisurely trip without the hassles of a lot of traffic on the road or large crowds at stops along the way.

Bedford County tour:

From Rt. 460 in Bedford, take Rt. 122 South to Moneta to begin the tour. Roundtrip from Moneta, this scenic tour covers approximately 35 miles.

• In Moneta on Route 122, travel east on Rt. 608 about 10 miles to the Bourassa State Forest.
• Travel back to White House intersection on Rt. 608 and turn south on Rt. 626.
• Go about 2.1 miles to Smith Mountain Lake State Park entrance.
• Continue another 3 miles on Rt. 626.
• Side routes: From Moneta, travel south on Rt. 122 about 4 miles to Halesford Bridge.
• Cross the lake for food and gifts.
• From Moneta, travel north on Rt. 122 about 15 miles to visit the Visitors’ Center and D-Day Memorial in Bedford.

• Turn west onto Rt. 739 (Bethlehem Road) on the north side of the Shell Station. As you travel along Rt 739, Cahas Mountain is on the right. Near Fairmont Baptist Church Rt. 739 turns right, but you should stay on Bethlehem Rd., which is now Rt. 643.
• At Callaway Road (Rt 641) turn right. The Blue Ridge Mountains can be seen in the background as you drive to Callaway.
• At the A & A Market in Callaway, stay on Callaway Rd, which now is Rt. 602.
• At 0.2 miles, turn left onto Rt. 642 (Foothills Rd.) at the Piedmont Presbyterian Church.
• Follow Foothills Road until it intersects with Five Mile Mountain Rd. (Rt.748)
• Turn right onto Five Mile Mountain Rd. (Rt. 748). The Blue Ridge Mountains can be seen in the background.
• At Rt. 640 (Turner’s Creek Rd.), you have the option of (1) turning left and traveling to Ferrum or (2) staying on Five Mile Mountain Road (now Rt. 640), which will take you into Floyd County.

Information from DOF.Virginia