Blog Posts

Self-Improvement Week 3: Dealing with Challenges

As much as we look for good things to do in our lives and positive mindsets to adapt, keeping up with your aspirations on your journey of self-improvement is not easy! There are always going to be ups and downs. Today we’re focusing on how to deal with challenges or more negative aspects of your life to make room for growth in or out of Chandler, AZ. Avoid or deal with negative people. Often the people we surround ourselves with aren’t lifting us up; instead, they’re dragging us down. Consider your relationships and do what you can to fix them appropriately. It starts with open and honest communication (focus on statements about how you feel, not accusations about what they did, however accurate it may be), and it requires a lot of empathy and patience, which the other person may or may not have developed very well. So be open to change, but draw boundaries for what is acceptable and what’s not and remember that sometimes you may need some space to de-escalate a situation or to maintain your mental health — and that’s ok! Practice healthy coping mechanisms. How you cope with the struggles of life has an impact on your mental and physical health and even on your finances or relationships with other people. Do your best to take control of how you respond to the stressors of life by learning about healthy and unhealthy coping mechanisms and making a concerted effort to move past any unhealthy ones and to try healthy ones. Replace bad habits with good ones. Bad habits are hard to kick, so don’t beat yourself up or give up entirely if you slip and go back to your old ways occasionally. Focus on improving each day and establishing healthy habits instead. Reward yourself occasionally and try to keep your eye on a lifestyle change for lasting effects. And don’t dismiss getting professional help if needed! It may change your life for the better. Learn and let go. People hurt us, and sometimes forgiving or moving on from that can weigh heavily on us. Situations, humans, and feelings are complex and nuanced, so there may not necessarily be one cure for everyone. But validating your feelings and experiences (with a therapist, religious leader, trusted friend, or even for yourself) and trying to find something to learn from a situation can help you find a way to move on, a better person. What helps you cope healthily with the struggles of life? How do you deal with any of the points above? Let the rest of the Liv Avenida apartment community know in the comments. Good luck!

Self-Improvement Week 2: Finding Outside Inspiration

Looking inward teaches you a lot about yourself. We hope last week’s blog post about reflection inspired you to evaluate where you’re at and where you want to be so you can empower yourself to change in positive ways this National Self-Improvement Month. Today our blog post is about looking outward for inspiration that you can channel into your efforts for self-improvement. Learn from others. Interpersonal connection is an important part of your social health, so don’t forget to connect with others as you’re striving to improve yourself. You can do this formally by hiring a life coach or personal trainer, but you can also simply focus on being extra aware of others. Ask those who inspire you about their life, struggles, ways of coping, successes, or even sources of inspiration. You never know how your life will change for the better for establishing and strengthening your relationships. Immerse yourself in nature. Arizona may be a desert, but that doesn’t mean there are no beautiful sights and wonders to behold here! Check out these nature spots and parks in Chandler to connect with the earth and to learn more about it. You can also do your part to make the world a better place by participating in conservation efforts in all aspects of your life. Start with something easily manageable to you. Here are a few ideas: use reusable shopping bags and reusable drink cups instead of plastic bags and styrofoam cups avoid using plastic straws when possible carpool to work or school support businesses that take steps to lower their carbon footprint support local politicians who prioritize enacting good environmental policies. Every little bit makes a difference! Disconnect. Technology has changed our world for the better and continues to do so every day. But don’t let it take over your life! Draw boundaries for yourself for how much your personal use of technology or social media is healthy for you. This can open up opportunities to focus on others or to work on skills or hobbies, which may be part of your personal goals anyway. Support an artist. So much beauty, wisdom, and history can be found in art. Visit a museum near your apartment this month. Search out new artists with diverse backgrounds and interests to support, either financially or simply by following them on social media. Opening yourself up to art will teach you loads about others and the world. Where else do you gain inspiration from? Share your thoughts with the rest of the Liv Avenida apartment community so we can all find opportunities get inspired here in Chandler, AZ. Thanks for reading!

Self-Improvement Week 1: Reflecting

Welcome to the Liv Avenida Blog! September is National Self-Improvement Month. Participate by making practical efforts to improve all aspects of yourself and your life, in or out of your apartment here in Chandler, AZ. This month our blog is dedicated to guiding you through some ways you can do that. Our first blog post is all about reflecting and planning for making the best changes for you. Evaluate your goals. Goals are most popular to make in January, but making, working toward, and reaching goals regularly can give you something positive to look forward to each day, giving you purpose and meaning even during the lulls or low points of your life. So try to frame your hobbies and projects around accomplishing goals (even if that goal is just adding joy to your life), whether they’re old ones you need to pick back up with or new ones you hope to start. Write a letter to your future self. If you feel overwhelmed about where to start with your goals and efforts for self-improvement, writing to a future version of yourself can be a safe place for you to sort out your thoughts. Get to the nitty-gritty of what you hope to accomplish and who you want to be five years from now. Then seal it, put it in a secure place, and let the motivation of the hope for the future drive you into action. Identify blind spots. We know ourselves as we know ourselves — not necessarily as others see or are affected by us. Lifehack suggests that you discover potential areas for improvement that you may not normally see by identifying your triggers (things that annoy or affect you negatively) and getting to the root of why it bothers you. These things often go overlooked, but if you can identify it, you’re one step closer to dealing with it! Ask for feedback. Another way to discover your blind spots is by asking those around you (co-workers, friends, family members, neighbors, or even acquaintances) about how you affect them and how you’re doing. Explain that you want to improve, and approach their criticisms as constructively as possible so you can move forward and actually make progress on your journey of personal growth. It takes patience and humility hearing these things, but these are important qualities that make you a better person in the long run. How do you approach self-improvement? Share your best personal reflection tips with the rest of the apartment community by leaving a comment. Thanks for reading! Good luck!

Yoga Routines for a Great Indoor Workout

Working out in the heat, or even in a stuffy gym here in Chandler, AZ, can sound like a nightmare. You can still stay active, though, when you visit a place like our 24/7 fitness center at an earlier or later time of the day, when there are fewer people there or when the sun isn’t quite out yet. You can also try a low-impact workout like yoga, in the gym or even in your Liv Avenida apartment! Try these yoga routines for a fulfilling indoor workout this summer. Try It Now: Yoga from Fitness Magazine If you need a bit of convincing to start yoga, or if you need something simple to transition you into the lifestyle, check out this article. It spells out some reasons you’ll love it and explains how yoga works before getting into the poses. Check out the slideshow for helpful visuals of what each pose will look like so you can work on your form. Yoga Workout - Better than the Gym - Abs & Core from Boho Beautiful Whether you’re looking for something to strengthen your core after a good cardio workout or you want to wake yourself up in the morning, this 14-minute routine is just the option for you. Go through the poses in this routine to raise the heart rate and increase the blood flow throughout your body, speeding up your metabolism, as well. 20-Minute Power Workout to Strengthen and Stretch from Head to Toe from Self Work on your flexibility and your breathing with the series of poses in this article. You may not have the luxury of hearing the directions while you work, but this article still gives you detailed written instructions on how to do each pose that you’ll find easy to navigate. What are your favorite yoga routines and resources? Share any tips you have with the rest of us by leaving a comment below. Thanks for reading! We hope you enjoy these workouts and any others you find.

Basics for Everyone to Include in Their Wardrobe

Welcome back to the Liv Avenida Blog! Last week we pointed out items in your home that you should get rid of. We mentioned the importance of clearing old clothes from your closet. Today, we want to delve deeper into that issue and point out some tips for keeping your wardrobe up-to-date and full of clothes you’ll wear, in or out of your apartment in Chandler, AZ. The Mindset Before you start donating everything in sight, approach the task of organizing your closet with the right mindset. Let yourself become ok with getting rid of items by realizing that it’s ok to rotate items in your closet out that you no longer love or fit into. It’ll be easier on your budget to do this if you thrift shop, if you choose low-cost (ethically made) items, and if you invest in basics that can be worn in a variety of situations and seasons. Then get rid of everything else! Evergreen Pieces Classic pieces like jeans, a leather jacket, and white sneakers are always in style. Different prints, cuts, and accessories are things that change with the trends. Look for staples like nice tees in neutral colors, fitted jeans in black or blue, and even short-sleeved bodysuits are good for layering to create different looks. For Warm Weather Jean and linen shorts are items that can look classy and fun and that can go well with all sorts of tops. Flowy skirts and dresses made of cotton are also good for keeping you cool, especially for dressier occasions. Find a good pair of sandals or flip flops and a swimming suit you love for your summer outings. The Perfect Shoe It’s a good idea for everyone to have a great pair of nice quality shoes that work well for a variety of outfits. For women that may include basic black pumps , sleek nude heels , and a stunning red shoe . For men, Real Men Real Style suggests looking for black leather oxfords for formal occasions, brogues for everyday use, dress boots for less formal occasions, loafers for casual days and weekends, and a wildcard pair. Get creative, but look for shoes that will look nice with what you have and will suit the purposes of what you’re doing. Loungewear Sometimes your favorite item in your closet is a cozy robe or the most comfortable pair of sweats or leggings you can lounge in. Invest in those and take care of them so they can last. What other tips do you have for updating your wardrobe? What basics do you include in your closet? Share your thoughts with the rest of us in the comments. Thanks for reading! We hope these tips help you curate your style the best you can, with the space you have available.

Things in Your Home to Get Rid Of

We hope you’ve had a great start to July in Chandler, AZ! Last week our blog covered ways to celebrate Independence Day. As you’re recovering from your celebrations, clear your apartment of the unnecessary to further give you peace of mind. Back in April, we shared tips for how to go about decluttering your Liv Avenida apartment . Today, we want to give you more specific ideas of what items to purge from your home. Expired items. If things are expired, they are no longer good! Go through your purse, wallet, pantry, and bathroom cupboards and get rid of coupons, canned goods, and medications with “sell by” or “best by” dates that have come and gone. It’s easy to think you might use it, but time passes quicker than you think, and if you forget about it, that’s just another pointless piece of junk crowding your space! Old clothes. This can be a complicated issue, especially if you want to hold onto items that might fit you later or items that you simply don’t wear because they’re not in season at the moment. But be sure to distinguish between what’s seasonal and what you simply no longer love. Old magazines. These and other papers that may accumulate as you take notes just take up space, and you probably rarely get around to appreciating them anyway. Keep around three magazines, max, if you really want something for guests to browse. Broken items. Sure, if you’re going to repurpose something right now and actually use it, you can keep it around. But usually if something’s broken, that probably means you haven’t used it in a while and you’ve learned to adapt without it. So let go. It will reduce the risk of you accidentally hurting yourself on it, too! Duplicate items. Whether it’s for the kitchen or your closet, having duplicate items might seem functional, but it can really just crowd up your space. Evaluate your habits and keep the item that will last you longer or the item you most often use. Entertainment you don’t use. Sometimes you buy a book or movie thinking you’ll love it, but you only enjoy it once — or you even don’t like it. Sell or donate it so someone else can. This also goes for items like cassette tapes or videos on tape that you no longer use or have means of watching. If you can’t bear to throw away some of these items (especially if they’re new, lightly used, or vintage), donate or sell them to your friends, a family in the community, or a thrift shop near you. What other items do you make a point to get rid of in your home? How do you keep yourself accountable for purging your home of these items? Share your thoughts with the rest of the apartment community by leaving a comment! Thanks for reading. Good luck!