Blog Posts

How to Change Your Life in 10 Minutes

Today we’re sharing three things that only take 10 minutes of your time — maybe even less. The great thing about them is that they have long-lasting benefits. Some of the items on this list might seem simple, but you’d be surprised how your life can improve by them. Take time to meditate, work on your average performance, and improve your reading speed. These three things can change your life forever. Read on to find out how. Meditation. Learning to meditate is a quick-to-learn skill that can affect the rest of your life. Take 10 minutes to calm your mind and breathe; don’t think about work or responsibilities — this is your time to relax and focus. Meditation has many benefits, some short- and some long-term. Many online videos teach how to meditate. Some people will even find their own way to do it. To read up on some of the many benefits that 10 and even 20 minutes of meditation can bring into your life, see these 8 ways meditation can improve your life . Improving Performance. Learning to improve your average performance is something that can be done in short stretches each day. While we are often taught to improve our peak performance (a term here which usually means the maximum ability that a person can perform), we must not overlook our average performance. Whether you want to work on your average speed on your bike or an average number of assignments you complete at work, commit 10 minutes a day to work on them. As you work consistently day after day, you’ll begin to see your peak performance rising as your average performance improves. Reading speed. Working to improve your reading speed is a great skill that can come in handy during work or leisure activities. Since we are reading every day — subtitles, signs, restaurant menus — it can be beneficial to learn how to read faster. A great way to improve your reading speed is by listening to audiobooks. Many audiobooks have a function that reads through a book at a faster speed. While this might be hard to understand or confusing at first, it won’t take more than 10 minutes for your mind to adjust. Whether you’re relaxing inside your Liv Ahwatukee apartment or enjoying the evening somewhere in Phoenix, AZ, take a few minutes out of your daily schedule to try at least one of these three items on our list.

Keeping Different Types of Journals

In today’s post, we’re focusing on keeping different types of journals. Writing a few lines about your day is an easy way to preserve your memories, expand your vocabulary, and improve your confidence. With summer in full swing, it’s a good idea to take some time to record all of your adventures in Phoenix, AZ. We hope that the journals we highlight today give you some insight about journal keeping in and out of your Liv Ahwatukee apartment. Thanks for reading! Food Journals If you want to change your eating habits, a food journal is a great place to start. Tracking what you eat lets you see where and how your eating could improve. Perhaps begin with different recipes you come across, as well as any tips and tricks you pick up while cooking. Travel Journals Planning on going somewhere exciting? Whether you’re planning a road trip across the United States or you’re going overseas, keeping a journal will help you remember the places you go and the people you meet. Line-a-Day Journals Keeping a journal can be an overwhelming experience. When should you write? How often should you write? How much should you write? Line-a-Day journals simplify the whole journaling process by telling you how much to write — one line a day. These are easy journals to keep, and because you are only writing a line a day, you won’t have to start another journal for a long while. Dream Journals Ever have a really epic dream, wake up, and then forget your dream right away? Keeping a dream journal can help you remember all of the dreams you don’t want to forget. Write as soon as you wake up to remember your dreams. Do you keep a journal? How do you remember to write each day? Leave us your tips in the comments section. Thanks for reading!

Tips for Starting a Book Club

Last month, we shared a few books to add to your summer reading list. To follow up, we’re sharing a few tips about starting a book club in your Liv Ahwatukee apartment. These tips will hopefully get you on the right foot when it comes to reading with your close friends and neighbors in Phoenix, Arizona. Already belong to a book club? Share what has been successful for your group by leaving a comment on today’s post. We’ve adapted the following tips from Oprah, ilovelibraries , Penguin , and Real Simple . Decide what you want your book club to look like. How many members will be in your book club? What kinds of books will you read? When will you meet? Before you begin to recruit members to your club, decide the parameters of your club. Once people begin to join your club, you can change the rules to fit the needs of the members, but it’s always good to start with a general outline of the kind of book club you want to create. Find a way to communicate with your club. How will the members of your club stay in contact and find out about meetings? Start a Facebook page for your group, have an email list, or send out text notifications each month. You could even call each member each month to remind them about meetings. Come up with discussion questions. Once you’ve picked a book to read, it’s important to come up with a list of thoughtful questions for the group to discuss. You can usually find discussion questions online, or you can have each member of the group bring a question that they would like to discuss. Appoint a discussion leader for each meeting. Your discussion leader will help keep the conversation on track and smooth over any arguments between the members of your group. Have fun! There’s no point in having a book group if you don’t have a little fun while you’re at it. Host a potluck for your book club, bring desserts, and make some time to chit chat with your group. Get to know the members of your book club. We hope you’ve enjoyed our tips! Let us know about your book club in the comments. Thanks for reading!

Items to Bring on a Hike

At Liv Ahwatukee Apartments, our residents are never too far away from a hiking trail. Phoenix, Arizona is famous for the beautiful outdoors with striking views. Whether you’re outside walking from your car to the store, enjoying a stroll in a nearby park, or heading out on a long, strenuous hike, being prepared is key. Today, we’re sharing a few items to bring on your next outing. While most of these items are favorable toward hiking in general, they can be applied to smaller walks as well. Items to Bring on a Hike Proper footwear. Suit your footwear to the type of hike you are doing. Trail shoes or even sneakers are perfect for a short day hike that has easy terrain and doesn’t involve a heavy pack. For longer, more technical hikes, hiking boots offer more durability and support. Water. Bring enough water to stay hydrated, and if you are going to be away from “civilization”, bring the means to purify water. Map and compass. The GPS on your phone is great, but not all areas have cell service, so take that into consideration and carry a paper map of where you will be hiking and a compass to help you orient yourself. Safety items. Bring a small first aid kit, matches or lighter, and a whistle. Having a flashlight is a plus, too, in case you end up being out later than you planned or you get lost in the dark. Snacks. Hiking burns up calories and you may get very hungry otherwise. Granola bars and fruits like apples, bananas, or oranges are great choices! Sunscreen, sunglasses, and hat. Protect yourself from sunburn. It’s no fun to be miserable the day after your hike; prevention is the key. For additional resources, visit the website for the American Hiking Society . Take lots of pictures and enjoy getting back to nature this summer while you explore Phoenix, Arizona. We hope you have a great month!

Summer Movie Marathon

Summer days in Phoenix, Arizona can get pretty hot. During the month of July, consider staying inside your Liv Ahwatukee apartment to watch a few movies with the AC on full blast. Today, we have four movie suggestions for you to enjoy. Take a journey through time and watch these timeless movies for a good time. Bringing Up Baby (1938) “All David (Cary Grant) wants is to secure a million dollar donation for his museum from a Mrs. Random and find the last bone needed to complete his Brontosaurus. He’s getting married tomorrow (to the sour Alice Swallow), and it is imperative that he get everything done before the big day. Susan Vance (Katharine Hepburn) and her leopard, ‘Baby,’ interrupt his life and his plans in this screwball romance for the ages.” Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986) “Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick) wants to skip school one more time before graduation. He takes Chicago by storm with his girlfriend, Sloane (Mia Sara), and his best friend, Cameron (Alan Ruck), while his sister and the Dean of Students frantically try to bust him.” Roman Holiday (1953) “All Princess Anne (Audrey Hepburn) wants is a day of freedom from her royal responsibilities. While on a diplomatic tour in Rome, she escapes her country’s embassy for a day of fun with the opportunistic journalist Joe Bradley (Gregory Peck). This classic romance is sure to make you laugh and cry.” Because of Winn-Dixie (2005) “India Opal Buloni (AnnaSophia Robb) finds an energetic Berger Picard ‘Winn Dixie’ in her small town’s local grocery store. During one memorable summer, with the help of her faithful dog, Opal learns about love, loss, and friendship.” What movies are you watching for your next movie marathon? Let us know in the comments! We hope you have a great month at Liv Ahwatukee Apartments.

Summer Reading List

Summer is a season for reading! Here on the Liv Ahwatukee Apartments Blog, we’re highlighting some great books that you should check out. Spend a quiet afternoon in Phoenix, Arizona and pick up a book perfect for summer. The Getaway (Diary of a Wimpy Kid Book 12) by Jeff Kinney “Greg Heffley and his family are getting out of town. With the cold weather and the stress of the approaching holiday season, the Heffleys decide to escape to a tropical island resort for some much-needed rest and relaxation. A few days in paradise should do wonders for Greg and his frazzled family. “But the Heffleys soon discover that paradise isn't everything it's cracked up to be. Sun poisoning, stomach troubles, and venomous critters all threaten to ruin the family's vacation. Can their trip be saved, or will this island getaway end in disaster?” Oathbringer: Book Three of the Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson “The eagerly awaited sequel to the #1 New York Times bestselling Words of Radiance , from epic fantasy author Brandon Sanderson at the top of his game. In Oathbringer, the third volume of the New York Times bestselling Stormlight Archive, humanity faces a new Desolation with the return of the Voidbringers, a foe with numbers as great as their thirst for vengeance.” The Midnight Line: A Jack Reacher Novel by Lee Child “#1 New York Times bestselling author Lee Child returns with a gripping new powerhouse thriller featuring Jack Reacher, ‘one of this century’s most original, tantalizing pop-fiction heroes’ (The Washington Post). “Reacher takes a stroll through a small Wisconsin town and sees a class ring in a pawn shop window: West Point 2005. A tough year to graduate: Iraq, then Afghanistan. The ring is tiny, for a woman, and it has her initials engraved on the inside. Reacher wonders what unlucky circumstance made her give up something she earned over four hard years. He decides to find out. And find the woman. And return her ring. Why not?” Enjoy these books and have a great month here in Phoenix, AZ!