Beneficial Hobbies from Self Storage Thousand Oaks

Research shows that having a hobby can improve our overall well-being. That’s right! Hobbies that involve imagination, art, music, or something hands-on, not only benefit our mental and physical health they can also help us be even more productive at work.

That’s because all those hobbies require some amount of focus and brainpower. They give you the opportunity to try something new, and to spend more time on the things you enjoy. That’s why our self storage Thousand Oaks team is helping you discover our favorite healthy hobbies!

Play with Clay

No matter which material you choose to work with, sculpting gets you to think in three dimensions. With so much time spent on screens, this can be a great exercise for your brain!  We suggest starting with a medium such as clay.

This soft material is very forgiving because it can be molded and shaped any way you want to create something awesome. Try a class at Clay Studio + Gallery in Thousand Oaks or grab a bag of clay and some tools from Amazon. As a result, you’ll find that by working with organic materials, your stress will decrease, and your creativity and imagination will thrive!

woman sculpts clay

Grab Your Camera

Anyone can learn to be a great photographer. Start by taking a photo of the same object each day. What differences do you notice? Learning to look at the world from different angles can train you to be more perceptive. Plus, you’ll get to create awesome digital memories along the way. And if you feel especially proud of some of the images you take, try selling them on Shutterstock!

 

Work with Wood

Try building or carving something from wood! It doesn’t need to be complex. Just taking the time to think of a design and gather the right materials will get you to flex your noggin. For beginner projects, we love scavenging discarded wooden stumps. They make great side tables, Tic-Tac-Toe gameboard tops, bird feeders, or even stools to rest your feet!

Woman sands tree stump

Join a Sports League

Playing a sport you love, or trying one for the first time, helps burn off stress. This is especially true when you want to disconnect from a tough day. Why? Because sports can boost morale and motivate team-building both on and off the field. If you’re up for the challenge, check out our local recreation leagues, or start a Pickleball squad with your friends or co-workers!

Volunteer Your Time

We’re big on spending time in service of others. There are many ways to help without investing a massive amount of time. We like the idea of combining two hobbies: like to read? love animals? Then help at a local animal shelter and read aloud to lonely pets! Not only does volunteering make the community a better place, but it also promotes your own happiness and wellbeing too!

woman gives box of clothes 

We hope these ideas inspire you to spend more time on a hobby. Not only will it improve brain performance it will make you feel proud and fulfilled. What unique hobbies do you love? Let us know next time you stop by! And, if renting a storage unit can support you get started, we’d love to help. We offer the Lowest Price – Guaranteed on self storage Thousand Oaks.

Freshen up your Fridge from Self Storage Thousand Oaks

There’s something deeply satisfying about opening the door of a picture-perfect fridge filled with nicely stacked and labeled containers. However, keeping a neat and orderly refrigerator can be challenging for busy families. That’s why our self storage Thousand Oaks team is sharing simple organization tips to keep your fridge tidy and the food inside fresh.

The Basics

The first step in keeping your refrigerator organized is to have a dedicated place for essential items. Second, avoid stuffing your fridge full. While bulk-buying may seem like a smart money-saving option, packing too much on the shelves prevents the cold air from circulating and can lead to spoilage. Third, not all refrigerators are made equal. Depending on the age, older models such as side-by-side styles may not offer as many shelving options as high-tech newer ones or French door types do. These differences will change how you manage food zones.

Beverages

Temperature matters, especially for milk. You can prolong your milk’s life by storing it toward the bottom of the fridge where the air is typically the coldest. Then, simply keep other beverages like juice, sports drinks, or drink boxes near the milk. Soda cans are one of the few items we’ve found that use less space when stored in a stackable can dispenser. Keep it on the top shelf to take advantage of stable cool air. Wine bottles and liquor can be laid gently on their sides. Use refrigerator mats to prevent bottles from rolling around.

Eggs

If you’re putting eggs in the refrigerator door, remember this zone’s temperature varies the most with all that opening and closing. Like milk, you want to put eggs in a constantly cold area – like the bottom center.

Leave your eggs in their original carton of recycled cardboard rather than storing them in another bin. Cardboard egg boxes supply better protection than most solid foam or plastic containers. And did you know that those cartons prevent the eggs from absorbing strong odors and flavors from other foods?

Additionally, eggs will last for about three weeks from the Sell By date if stored properly. When we buy fresh eggs, we like to write the BEST BY date (3 weeks from Sell By) on the carton before we put it in the fridge.

Meat & Cheese

If you have a newer fridge, it likely has a special drawer just for deli items. We like to take them out of their original packaging and put them into clear bags labeled with a date and the product’s name. It’s a lot easier to grab something when you can see it, know what it is, and how long it’s good for.

Raw meat should always be separated from other food and placed on a lower shelf in a bowl or drawer to capture liquids.

Don’t have a dedicated drawer? No problem. Just place the items in a lower area of the fridge to maintain freshness. If your fridge is older and has enough depth between shelves, try adding these shallow storage drawers which are great options to increase space.

Condiments

These are mostly responsible for a disorganized fridge. Consider grouping them by category. For example, items like ketchup, mustard, and barbeque sauce can remain together while syrup, honey, and jam are in another group. Then, store these items on the refrigerator door shelves. If you save take-out packets of sauces, consider reusing the small Yoplait Oui yogurt glass pots to hold them. Also, consider transferring those half-empty salad dressing and sauce bottles into smaller glass containers. Reusing glass bottles or mason jars is a great way to store liquids, and significantly increase space.

Fruit & Vegetables

When produce is clean and ready to go, it’s much easier to consume and less likely to go bad. Always clean produce with a good rinse and dry before storing. We love green bags to extend shelf life, but paper-towel-lined glass containers work great as well. Just make sure to keep all the fresh produce away from meat and seafood. This alone helps your harvest last longer. Finally, keep in mind that not every fruit, vegetable, or herb belongs in the fridge. If you’re not sure, a quick question to your grocer or Google should help.

Leftovers

Now that condiments have moved to the door shelves, and we’re using the middle and lower areas of the fridge for dairy and meat, let’s talk top shelf. Because of its stable temperature, this part of the fridge is ideal for leftovers, prepared meals, and drinks. We love reusable silicon bags. Not only are they clear so you’ll always know what’s inside, but they’re eco-friendly, and many can stand up!

We hope these simple organization tips help you maximize refrigerator space. Doing so will help keep the inside tidier and the food fresher longer. And, if you’re also planning to organize your home or garage this year and need extra room, our friendly self storage Thousand Oaks team is ready to help! We’re available every day of the week from 8:30 am to 6 pm to offer you the Lowest Price – Guaranteed!

Getting Fit on a Budget in 2022 from Newbury Park Storage

Happy New Year!

Are you hoping to get on track with some better health this year? No matter what your current lifestyle is like, there are plenty of ways to get started with your fitness resolutions. Our Newbury Park Storage team has gathered a variety of low-cost activities around the Conejo Valley that can make you stronger and happier in 2022!

Here are a few of our favorites:

Group Fitness

Group classes for about $10 each are great for having a little fun in a comfortable setting. Conejo Valley Adult Education offers a variety of sessions for both indoor and outdoor wellness including Restorative Yoga, Dance, Pilates, and Tai Chi, along with more traditional cardio and strength training workouts. We’re sure you’ll find the perfect way to meet your exercise goals and maybe make some friends too!

Leagues

  1. There’s a lot going on at our local community centers thanks to our friends at Conejo Recreation & Park District. This includes plenty of in-person sports leagues and classes to help you succeed with your resolutions. Some awesome examples? You can join an adult volleyball, softball, or soccer team and play the whole season for less than $100; take water aerobics (4 sessions for $54); learn how to fence (6 weeks for $85); go line dancing (7 classes for $59); and SO MUCH MORE!

Networking

  1. If you’d like to connect with others who have similar physical fitness interests, we suggest Meetup. This social networking site allows you to find, join or even start your own virtual or in-person group. A few local opportunities include trail running in Newbury Park (free), outdoor boot camp for all ages in Oxnard ($15), co-ed sand volleyball in Westlake Village (free), and swimming in Ventura ($5). Check out the Sports & Fitness or Health & Wellbeing categories for more.
  2. Cycling the hundreds of miles of road bike routes and mountain bike trails that Conejo Valley has to offer can provide a fantastic journey to fitness success. You can always venture out alone, but why not join a local club like the Conejo Valley Cyclists. At only $35, membership includes group cycle routes for any skill level in addition to social events like Sunday coffee and rides to/from local restaurants. More advanced mountain bike riders might enjoy the night rides through various local trails.

Local and Free!

  1. Pepper Tree Park – Just down the road from Hollywood Storage Center, this park offers a .8-mile loop that runs around the perimeter of the recreational area. Not only is this perfect for getting in your daily step count, but the loop also includes exercise stations along the way for added physical challenges.
  2. Rabbit Flats Disc Golf Course at Thousand Oaks Community Park – If you’re looking to get started with a new sport, how about disc golf? Rabbit Flats offers 9 acres of hilly elevation making for some interesting frisbee shots. And with three baskets at each hole, beginners can enjoy the shorter-range positions (red) before going for a second loop to try the longer shots (blue and yellow). If you play all 18 holes, you’ll walk a little over 2 miles!
  3. Public Tennis courts from Calabasas to Camarillo – Tennis is an excellent option for those seeking to improve muscular strength and endurance while raising their heart rate. And because you need a partner to play, it’s fun to meet a friend for a game after work or on a Saturday morning. In Thousand Oaks alone, you’ll find over 150 free courts to get your swing on!
  4. EventBrite –  Did you know EventBrite has more free opportunities to get fit? On Saturday, January 29th Yoga on the Mountain returns to King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas with live acoustic music to get your body flowing. You’ll need to make a reservation for this free event.

We hope this list of activities motivates you on your 2022 fitness journey. If you lack space for an exercise area at home, consider stopping by Newbury Park storage. We can help find the right-sized storage unit at the Lowest Price – Guaranteed in the Conejo Valley! One less room full of furniture is one more step towards fitness success!

 

Boosting Holiday Self-Care from Self Storage Thousand Oaks

‘Tis the Season!

The month of December is usually a busy one as many of us celebrate various holidays and start preparing for a new year. As a result, it’s easy to get caught up in the cycle of go-Go-GO! Our self storage Thousand Oaks team is here to remind you to press pause just a bit and care for YOU. That’s right! Setting aside some moments to try new things or do something that brings you joy can boost your spirit and help you stay jolly through this fun but stressful time. To get you started, your friends at Hollywood Storage Center have prepared a list of small things you can do to recharge this season.

6 Easy Self-Care Strategies for the Holidays

Sleep!
Especially this time of year, getting a solid night’s sleep is one of the best ways to refresh our bodies and minds. If getting to sleep or staying asleep is a challenge, consider introducing things that help create the right environment. You can sip on some calming herbal tea, use a weighted blanket, spray your pillow with some lavender and rosemary essential oils, or get lost in a book.

Make a Special Playlist!
Sometimes there is no better therapy than your favorite tunes. Music promotes wellness, it helps manage stress, as well as boost motivation. Depending on the mood you wish to create, oldies but goodies may be the way to go. Or why not explore and try something new? (Hello, Spotify!)

Have a Picnic!
With so many grab-and-go options at our local markets, treating yourself to a favorite meal or snack and going outdoors is an easy way to unwind for a few minutes. Taking a lunch away from the office and visiting a park is a great way to carve out some – you – time to recharge. We like to keep a blanket and a pair of walking shoes in the trunk for outings just like this.

Buy Yourself Flowers!
Um, because you deserve it! Enough said.

Start a Gratitude Journal!
One of the best ways to get through this month, (and every month thereafter) is to spend five minutes a day jotting down positive thoughts. Include things you’re grateful for, as well as items you’re pleased to have accomplished. Staying aware of the good things around you is always great for the spirit.

Opt out!
You don’t have to say yes to everything. And during a season when we always put others first, doing so at the expense of our own physical or mental energy can deplete us. So, prioritize the things that really matter. A simple “Sorry, I’m already booked,” works wonders.

Relax Your Way!
Whether you like to go for scenic drives, meditate, or stay in for a warm bath, take the time to just relax. These simple moments of peace will reenergize you and make holiday responsibilities easier to handle. Breathe in slowly, hold, breathe out, and repeat. You got this!

We hope these ideas encourage you to slow down and care for yourself this holiday season.

At self storage Thousand Oaks, we’re so grateful to be part of this community. We’re also proud to offer the lowest-price guaranteed on storage units that are perfect for helping you live your most stress-free life!

We want to wish all of our guests, from Agoura Hills to Camarillo, a healthy and happy December!