We are a Toys for Tots donation center in the region, and toys can be dropped off at any of our front offices. TOYS FOR TOTS FOUNDATION is collecting new, unopened toys. Toys for Tots will be accepting donations until December 8th, at which point they will no longer be accepted. Drop off a toy and brighten a child's Christmas. Give back this Christmas.

Look for the signs!

The Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program will celebrate its 75th anniversary during the Christmas season of 2022! Please join us in a one-of-a-kind nationwide celebration of this historic occasion.

For more than seven decades, the Program has developed and grown enormously, delivering hope and the wonder of Christmas to nearly 281 million poor children. The Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program, now in its 75th year, also provides year-round support to families facing hurdles and extraordinary situations, so assisting in the realization of the goals and ambitions of millions of families and children in need across our wonderful nation.

This centennial year will provide a chance to highlight the Marine Corps Reserve and the Toys for Tots Program on a national level by sharing our rich history, traditions, and the tremendous community support we get each year. We are thrilled to have renowned American Pop Artist Charles Fazzino mark this occasion. The net proceeds from the sale of his official anniversary poster, which can be seen here, will go directly to our cause.

Events and events around the country will energize the American people and draw their attention to:

Highlight our outstanding Reserve Marines, both past and current.
Highlight the impact of the Toys for Tots Program on communities around the country.
Community leaders, business sponsors, organizations, and volunteers are recognized and honored.
Most importantly, support children in need for every family seeking Christmas aid.

Please join us in commemorating and applauding the remarkable efforts of the Reserve Marines and countless others who have voluntarily assisted over 281 million children in need. We encourage you, our loyal supporters, to join us as communities throughout the country come together to help children in need via the Marine Toys for Tots Program. We've been around for 75 years!

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The days are growing shorter, the weather is chilly, and Starbucks is introducing pumpkin spice lattes. 

Yes, autumn is here, which means it's time to decorate your home with autumnal elements (fancy eh?). Even if your apartment does not have much internal space, you may nevertheless provide warmth for the fall.

Here are just a few ideas on how to decorate your home with the coziest season of the year's looks and scents.

Oh my – throws, pillows, and blankets.

Put some lovely wraps and cozy blankets out on display to accomplish two goals at once (being warm and decorating for fall). Nothing compares to the comfort of a warm, earth-toned blanket on a relaxing day. Choose traditional patterns like plaid and fabrics like chunky cable knit to give your home a "autumn atmosphere." This one from Pier One Imports, this cable knit throw from Wayfair, or this reasonably priced pumpkin throw cushion are three that we particularly adore.

Bring out them candles

You'll need a bit extra light in your home as the days become shorter to improve your mood. Get your votives, tea lights, and rustic lanterns ready! Invest in some fall-scented candles to transform your flat into a cozy retreat for the season. (Just remember to blow them out before you leave or turn in for the night!)

Pumpkins!

Such a sweet way to welcome fall into your house is to use small pumpkins as décor! Any grocery shop in the United States, including Trader Joe's (here in California), sells items in a wide variety of colors, shapes, and sizes.

Build a Wreath

A vibrant fall wreath may be used to adorn doorways, windows, or even an empty area over your stove or mantel. You may make one yourself for a reasonable price or purchase one for a reasonable price. To add pops of orange, red, yellow, and brown, you can also use corn cobs, tiny pumpkins, zucchini, berry garlands, or fall flowers. Find some wreath inspiration here.

Fruit Garland

Run a lovely berry garland down the wood of any banisters or mantles you may have to create the ideal autumnal statement.

Make a fall-themed table centerpiece.

Create a DIY centerpiece to decorate your table with seasonal flowers, pumpkins, leaves, pine cones, and of course, candles. All you really need to make something that looks festive at every meal is a few autumnal accents, a tabletop, and your creativity. Alternately, arrange various-sized autumnal vegetables, gourds, pumpkins, etc. on the dining room table to create a (cheap) centerpiece.

Autumn Flowers

Use dahlias, ranunculus, and gathered yard trimmings, including leaves and branches. Then, depending on the size of your arrangement, put them in a straightforward vase or a rustic pot to create a design that would look great on your mantel.

Do you have more fall decorating tips or ways to show your fall colors? Tell us in the comments!

The post Tips for Decorating Your Home for Fall this Autumn Season appeared first on Brookdale on the Park Blog.

Read Your Lease Carefully

As a pet owner, your lease spells out exactly what you may anticipate. In most circumstances, you'll have to pay a larger deposit and monthly rent than other tenants. If you have a pet, your lease may specify particular requirements that you must observe. You might be expected to clean up after your dog and keep birds and reptiles in cages, for example. Your lease may also specify the number of dogs allowed, as well as any breed or weight limits.

Where to Go Potty Plans

When looking at apartment possibilities, pet waste disposal may seem little, but it can have a huge impact on your quality of life. When you have to slog up and down the steps for toilet excursions, the third-floor walk-up could seem like a fantastic option. When you have a pet, having easy access to the outdoors is always a plus. Although a first-floor apartment may be best, if you reside in a building with elevators, higher levels can be a decent option.

Many apartment complexes provide pet-only restroom spots. Allowing your pet to fertilize the shrubs or lawn will not endear you to your neighbors or landlord. It's a good idea to collect a couple of plastic bags before you start your stroll because you never know when your dog will need to go potty. Cleaning up after your dog might get you a bad neighbor tag or, worse, a fine.

If you have a cat, be sure the bathroom in your apartment can fit a litter pan. Scoop at least once a day to keep odor under control. Hooded litter boxes can help reduce odor and keep litter contained, but not all cats are fond of them. If your pet doesn't like the hooded box, he or she may have to eliminate the outside of it.
Remove all litter and wash the box with mild soap and water once a week, regardless of the type of box you use, to avoid leftover odors. To keep odors at bay, bird cages, rabbit cages, gerbil cages, hamster cages, and guinea pig cages all require weekly cleaning.

Think About Your Pet’s Needs When Apartment Shopping

When you live with a pet, the size of your apartment is important. Your pet may feel frustrated and bored as a result of the cramped conditions. Unfortunately, your pet is unable to communicate with you and may resort to chewing the carpeting or scratching the walls to express its dissatisfaction.
When touring apartments, pay close attention to the floor plan. Your pets will have plenty of areas to explore and play in apartments with clear walkways between rooms and huge room sizes. It's also crucial to consider your pet's activity level, as high-energy canines may struggle to adapt to living in confined confines. If you have a high-energy dog and aren't home during the day, hiring a dog walker or enrolling your pet in doggy daycare may be a good option.

Consider Exercise Options Around the Apartment

Exercising your dog keeps him in shape and helps him burn off surplus energy. Unfortunately, if your apartment complex lacks adequate space for running or playing, you may find yourself spending more time commuting to nearby parks than you intended. Some rental communities provide on-site dog parks, which allow your dog to get some exercise while also allowing you to get to know your pet-loving neighbors.
Pets are welcome here at Brookdale on the Park, with few restrictions and a convenient on-site grass areas. Kitchens and baths, private balconies, walk-in closets, and other amenities are included in the apartments.

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We’ve all experienced the woes of time management at work. You wake up hopeful and optimistic—not only will you meet all your deadlines, but you’ll hit the gym and make a healthy home-cooked meal, too. 

Then life happens. You leave late, you hit traffic, and you arrive at your desk already frustrated with the world. Sitting down to finally knock out that project you’ve been procrastinating for weeks, you realize you’ve got back-to-back meetings until noon—and yes, you’re already late for the first one. You finally walk out of the last meeting, and you start wading through emails when you get pulled into a meeting with the VP. He has a last-minute request for you. “It should only take an hour,” he says. Try three. 

The good news is that there are ways to reclaim those seemingly elusive lost hours of the day. It’s all about personal time management—manage your time instead of letting it manage you. We’ve got ten time management tips for work to get you started

1. Figure out how you’re currently spending your time.

If you’re going to optimize your personal time management, you first need to figure out where the time is going. Try diligently logging your time for a week by tracking your daily activities. This audit will help you: 

• Determine how much you can feasibly accomplish in a day.

• Identify timesucks.

• Focus on activities that provide the greatest returns. 

As you conduct this time audit, it will become pretty clear how much of your time is spent on unproductive thoughts, conversations, and activities.

You’ll gain a more accurate sense for how long certain types of tasks take you (which will be very helpful for executing on a later tip). This exercise can also help you determine the time of day when you are most productive—that way, you know when to work on your projects requiring the most focus and creativity.

2. Create a daily schedule—and stick with it.

Daily Schedule (Click on image to modify online)

This step is absolutely crucial for learning how to manage time at work. Don’t even attempt starting your day without an organized to-do list. Before you leave work for the day, create a list of the most pressing tasks for the next day. This step allows you to get going as soon as you get to the office.

Putting everything on paper will prevent you from lying awake at night tossing and turning over the tasks running through your brain. Instead, your subconscious goes to work on your plans while you are asleep, which means you can wake up in the morning with new insights for the workday.

If you can’t do it the day before, make sure you write out your list first thing in the morning. You’ll find that the time you spend creating a clear plan is nothing compared to the time you’ll lose jumping between tasks when you lack such a plan.  

Learn how to create a time management schedule that works for you.

Learn more

3. Prioritize wisely.

As you organize your to-do list, prioritization is key for successful time management at work. Start by eliminating tasks that you shouldn’t be performing in the first place. Then identify the three or four most important tasks and do those first—that way, you make sure you finish the essentials.

Evaluate your to-do list and make sure you organized it based on the importance of a task rather than its urgency. Important responsibilities support the achievement of your goals, whereas urgent responsibilities require immediate attention and are associated with the achievement of someone else’s goals. We tend to let the urgent dominate when we should really focus on activities that support our business goals.

To avoid this pitfall, use one of the time management tips for work found in Stephen Covey’s book First Things First. He offers the following time management matrix, known as the Eisenhower matrix, as an organizational tool for prioritizing tasks based on these ideas of importance and urgency.

4. Group similar tasks together.

Save yourself time and mental energy by trying to complete all of one type of to-do before moving on to the next. For example, create separate chunks of time for answering emails, making phone calls, filing, etc. Don’t answer emails and messages as they come in, as doing so is distraction at its finest. Turn off your phone and email notifications to completely eliminate the temptation to check at an unappointed time.

5. Avoid the urge to multitask.

This is one of the simplest time management tips for work, yet it can be one of the hardest to follow. Focus on the task at hand and block out all distractions. It can be tempting to multitask, but you’re just shooting yourself in the foot when you attempt to do so. You lose time and decrease productivity when switching from one task to another.

Similarly, don’t get overwhelmed by a to-do list stretching a mile long. Stressing over it will not make it shorter, so breathe in, breathe out, and take it one task at a time.

6. Assign time limits to tasks.

Part of creating your schedule should involve setting time limits on tasks instead of just working until they’re done. To-do lists are great and wonderful, but sometimes you might feel like you never check anything off.

If you’re looking to set a steady pace to your workflow, the Pomodoro Technique can help you check off your to-do list in 25-minute chunks, taking short breaks between each stint and a longer break after completing four. This technique balances a narrow focus with frequent breaks, reducing mental strain and maintaining motivation. 

If you’d rather set your own pace, timeboxing allows you to block out varied amounts of time. Use your time log (step #1) to get an estimate for how long an activity will take you. Once you’ve spent the designated amount of time on that task, move on to the next important activity. You’ll find your productivity skyrocketing and your to-do list shrinking when you have these parameters in place.

Timeboxing Example (Click on image to modify online)

7. Build in buffers.

One of the more enjoyable time management tips for work: Make breaks a part of your schedule. When you finish a task, give yourself time to breathe. Take mini breaks to recharge, whether that be a short walk, a game of ping pong, some meditation, etc.

8. Learn to say no.

You’ll never learn how to manage time at work if you don’t learn how to say no. Only you truly know what you have time for, so if you need to decline a request in order to focus on more important tasks, don’t hesitate to do so. And if you take on a project that is obviously going nowhere, don’t be afraid to let it go.

Rather than doing a lot of tasks that yield little or no value, complete fewer tasks that create more value. Remember the 80/20 rule—80% of your output comes from 20% of your inputs. Focus your efforts accordingly.

If you can’t say no, delegate it. While delegating can be a hard skill to learn, it can work wonders for your personal time management. You’ve put together a talented team, so determine the tasks you can pass on.

9. Get organized.

For effective time management, this tip needs to actually go on your to-do list. If you have piles of papers scattered all over your desk, finding the one you actually need will be like finding a needle in a haystack. There are few things as frustrating as wasting valuable time looking for misplaced items. Not to mention how hard clutter can make it to focus.

Little things make a big difference. Create a filing system for documents. Unsubscribe to emails you no longer need. Just think—you only have to do it once, but you get the benefits forever.

10. Eliminate distractions.

Social media, web browsing, co-workers, text messages, instant messaging—the distractions at work can be limitless. A key to personal time management is being proactive about getting rid of them. Shut your door to limit interruptions. Close all tabs except the ones you are currently working on. Turn off messaging notifications and leave your personal phone calls for lunch.

Take baby steps. Identify your top two distractions and focus on conquering those for two weeks. And remember that getting enough sleep, drinking enough water, and eating healthily can all help you stay focused during the workday—especially when that afternoon slump hits.

There you have it—ten tips for time management at work that can take your productivity to a whole new level. You’ll be hitting the gym and cooking like Martha Stewart in no time. 

The post How to Practice Better Time Management at Work and at Home appeared first on Brookdale on the Park Blog.

Spring has here, which means it's time for some good ol' spring cleaning! If you're like most people, spring cleaning is a chore you'd rather avoid. It might be difficult to know where to begin, particularly if you reside in an apartment building. That's why we've compiled a list of five spring cleaning suggestions tailored exclusively for apartment dwellers. If you follow these suggestions, spring cleaning will be a breeze!

1. Tackle the grossest first:

This may sound obvious, but it's critical to begin with the dirtiest cleaning duties first. You'll be able to get them out of the way and move on to the less unpleasant jobs. You'll be glad you did, we promise!
– Begin with the bathroom: As one of the dirtiest rooms in an apartment complex, the bathroom is a good spot to begin your spring cleaning. Make sure the toilet, sink, and shower/bathtub are all clean. Remember to scrub those tile floors as well!
– Then it's straight to the kitchen: Another room that is notoriously filthy is the kitchen. Make sure to clean both the interior and outside of your appliances.

2. Remember your pets:

-Cleaning products that are safe for pets.
– Laundry: Pet hair can easily end up in your laundry, so shake out all of your clothes before throwing them in the washer. This will keep your drains from becoming clogged with pet hair.
– Furniture: Because pets enjoy lounging on furniture, be sure to vacuum or shampoo your couches and chairs.
– Carpets: Another breeding habitat for pet hair is carpets. Vacuum them on a regular basis, and if you have pets, remember to spring clean with them in mind. To keep your floors free of pet hair, sweep and vacuum on a regular basis. You might also want to consider purchasing quality brushes, such as the Furminator!

3. Get to those pesky corners :

– Use a vacuum attachment: Vacuum attachments are helpful for getting into tight spots and corners. Make sure your vacuum cleaner has the suitable attachment and get to work!
– Use a broom: Don't worry if you don't have a vacuum attachment. A broom can also suffice. Just make sure to clean the dirt off the baseboards.

4. Take care of your light fixtures

– It's crucial to look after your light fixtures if you have them in your home. While light fixtures may appear to be little details, they can have a significant impact on the overall appearance of your home. They can also produce issues like flickering lights or uneven light distribution if they aren't properly maintained. Fortunately, maintaining your light fixtures is pretty simple.
– You begin, be sure to dust them on a regular basis to avoid build-up.
– Next, inspect the bulbs and replace them if necessary.
– Finally, if any of your parts are broken, replace them as soon as possible.
You can keep your light fixtures in good shape and guarantee that your home always looks its best by following these simple procedures.

5. Put things in order

Putting things in order is one of the most effective ways to spring clean your home. This entails decluttering and organizing your space for a few minutes. Not only will this help you keep more organized in the future, but it will also make your home look cleaner. It can also save you time by making it easier to locate items when you need them. So, the next time you're spring cleaning, make sure to set aside some time to organize your belongings. It's possible that you'll be astonished at how much of a difference it makes.
These are just a few spring cleaning suggestions for apartment complex residents. You can help maintain your home clean by following these suggestions.

Meta: We've put together this list of five spring cleaning tips specifically for people who live in apartment complexes. Follow these tips and your spring cleaning will be a breeze!

Tags: spring cleaning, how to clean, cleaning tips, DIY, cleaning, organizing

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Work-life balance means something different to every individual, but here health and career experts share tips to help you find the balance that’s right for you.

1. Let go of perfectionism

A lot of overachievers develop perfectionist tendencies at a young age when demands on their time are limited to school, hobbies and maybe an after-school job. It’s easier to maintain that perfectionist habit as a kid, but as you grow up, life gets more complicated. As you climb the ladder at work and as your family grows, your responsibilities mushroom. Perfectionism becomes out of reach, and if that habit is left unchecked, it can become destructive, says executive coach Marilyn Puder-York, PhD, who wrote The Office Survival Guide.

The key to avoid burning out is to let go of perfectionism, says Puder-York. “As life gets more expanded it’s very hard, both neurologically and psychologically, to keep that habit of perfection going,” she says, adding that the healthier option is to strive not for perfection, but for excellence.

2. Unplug

From telecommuting to programs that make work easier, technology has helped our lives in many ways. But it has also created expectations of constant accessibility. The work day never seems to end. “There are times when you should just shut your phone off and enjoy the moment,” says Robert Brooks, a professor of psychology at Harvard Medical School and co-author of The Power of Resilience: Achieving Balance, Confidence and Personal Strength in Your Life. Brooks says that phone notifications interrupt your off time and inject an undercurrent of stress in your system. So don’t text at your kid’s soccer game and don’t send work emails while you’re hanging out with family, Brooks advises. Make quality time true quality time. By not reacting to the updates from work, you will developing a stronger habit of resilience. “Resilient people feel a greater sense of control over their lives,” says Brooks, while reactive people have less control and are more prone to stress.

3. Exercise and meditate

Even when we’re busy, we make time for the crucial things in life. We eat. We go to the bathroom. We sleep. And yet one of our most crucial needs – exercise – is often the first thing to go when our calendars fill up. Exercise is an effective stress reducer. It pumps feel-good endorphins through your body. It helps lift your mood and can even serve a one-two punch by also putting you in a meditative state, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Puder-York recommends dedicating a few chunks of time each week to self-care, whether it’s exercise, yoga or meditation. And if you’re really pressed for time, start small with deep breathing exercises during your commute, a quick five minute meditation session morning and night, or replacing drinking alcohol with a healthier form of stress reduction.

“When I talk about balance, not everything has to be the completion and achievement of a task, it also has to include self-care so that your body, mind and soul are being refreshed,” says Puder-York.

These exercises require minor effort but offer major payoffs. Psychotherapist Bryan Robinson, who is also professor emeritus at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and author of the book Chained to the Desk, explains that our autonomic nervous system includes two branches: the sympathetic nervous system (our body’s stress response) and the parasympathetic nervous system (our body’s rest and digest response). “The key is to find something that you can build into your life that will activate your parasympathetic nervous system,” says Robinson. Short, meditative exercises like deep breathing or grounding your senses in your present surroundings, are great places to start. The more you do these, the more you activate your parasympathetic nervous system, which “calms everything down, (and) not just in the moment,” says Robinson. “Over time you start to notice that in your life, your parasympathetic nervous system will start to trump your sympathetic nervous system.”

4. Limit time-wasting activities and people

First, identify what’s most important in your life. This list will differ for everyone, so make sure it truly reflects your priorities, not someone else’s. Next, draw firm boundaries so you can devote quality time to these high-priority people and activities.

From there, it will be easier to determine what needs to be trimmed from the schedule. If email or internet surfing sends you into a time-wasting spiral, establish rules to keep you on task. That may mean turning off email notifications and replying in batches during limited times each day. If you’re mindlessly surfing Facebook or cat blogs when you should be getting work done, try using productivity software like Freedom, LeechBlock or RescueTime. And if you find your time being gobbled up by less constructive people, find ways to diplomatically limit these interactions. Cornered every morning by the office chatterbox? Politely excuse yourself. Drinks with the work gang the night before a busy, important day? Bow out and get a good night sleep. Focus on the people and activities that reward you the most.

To some, this may seem selfish. “But it isn’t selfish,” says Robinson. “It’s that whole airplane metaphor. If you have a child, you put the oxygen mask on yourself first, not on the child.” When it comes to being a good friend, spouse, parent or worker, “the better you are yourself, the better you are going to be in all those areas as well.”

5. Change the structure of your life

Sometimes we fall into a rut and assume our habits are set in stone. Take a birds-eye view of your life and ask yourself: What changes could make life easier? 

Puder-York remembers meeting with a senior executive woman who, for 20 years of her marriage, arranged dinner for her husband every night. But as the higher earner with the more demanding job, the trips to the grocery store and daily meal preparations were adding too much stress to her life. “My response to her was, "Maybe it's time to change the habit,'” recalls Puder-York. The executive worried her husband might be upset, but Puder-York insisted that, if she wanted to reduce stress, this structural change could accomplish just that.

So instead of trying to do it all, focus on activities you specialize in and value most. Delegate or outsource everything else. Delegating can be a win-win situation, says Stewart Freidman, a management professor at the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School and author of Leading the Life You Want: Skills for Integrating Work and Life. Freidman recommends talking to the “key stakeholders” in different areas of your life, which could include employees or colleagues at work, a spouse or a partner in a community project. “Find out what you can do to let go in ways that benefit other people by giving them opportunities to grow,” he says. This will give them a chance to learn something new and free you up so you may devote attention to your higher priorities.

6. Start small. Build from there.

We’ve all been there: crash diets that fizzle out, New Year’s resolutions we forget by February. It’s the same with work-life balance when we take on too much too quickly, says Brooks. Many of his workaholic clients commit to drastic changes: cutting their hours from 80 hours a week to 40, bumping up their daily run from zero miles a day to five miles a day. It’s a recipe for failure, says Brooks. When one client, who was always absent from his family dinners, vowed to begin attending the meals nightly, Brooks urged him to start smaller. So he began with one evening a week. Eventually, he worked his way up to two to three dinners per week.

“If you’re trying to change a certain script in your life, start small and experience some success. Build from there,” says Brooks.

The post Looking to Create More Work-Life Balance? Start with These 6 Tips appeared first on Brookdale on the Park Blog.