DASH Compliance

 My youngest just celebrated her 12th birthday…it is hard to believe that time goes by so quickly.  I remember being told that when I was young and I remember thinking that was a good thing.  But, honestly, the older you get the quicker time seems to pass.  I suppose that it is a good thing to feel younger than I am…I mean, I’m only 25, it’s nearly impossible to have a 15 year old son…but often I find that it gets me in trouble.

For example…I don’t wear the cool clothes anymore – no matter how hard I try.  I don’t listen to the cool music – even though I think what I listen to is cool.  No matter where we go, I am the mom that is embarassing…I also tend to be the LOUD mom, which doesn’t help!  I drive a Volvo.  I have a lap dog.  I think 9:00 is bed time, not dinner time.  When did all of this change?  It wasn’t overnight, but as surely as the sun rises, I am no longer the youngest person in the office or the one who needs the advice…I’m the one that gives it.

Time does fly…but oh the fun I’ve had.  I wouldn’t trade it for the world…I would slow down and soak it up more, maybe, but I would never go back.

Take a few minutes today to remember where you’ve come from, where you’re going, and what a ride it’s been!

What’s worse than a rainy day?  A rainy MONDAY!  It’s been pouring out there all day and all I can say is thank goodness it is not Monday.  I know some of you may be experiencing SNOW and ICE, but the rain is so dreary and depressing.  I know, I know, we need it and I should be grateful, but really?  C’mon.

 Anyway, all this rain made me think about some things you might want to do on rainy days at your community.  You know, when residents are not coming by the office in droves to bother you because they want to avoid getting soaked and it is the middle of the month so you finally have a minute to take a breath…

• Wash the inside of the windows – there is nothing more unattractive than gross, dirty windows
• File – this is a great opportunity to get all of your filing caught up
• Make application, move in and recertification packets – but don’t get carried away.  Remember that a form copied a hundred times is hard to read and generaly lacks professionalism
• Shred – you know that pile sitting in the corner that you’ve been meaning to shred for a month now…go ahead, do it
• Clean out your desk drawers – I know you have a packet of Taco Bell Hot Sauce in there that you’re sure you are going to use any minute now…but I’m sure there are some other things you can toss to make your desk feel clean and new (like that six week old straw?)
• Move the chairs – you know, the one the residents come to sit in when they decide that your office is the best place to have a long conversation?  Move it to the other side of your desk, face it a different direction, make it crooked…anything to give it a new feel.  People will notice.
• Put a mirror up – preferably over your desk so when someone gets mad and wants to yell at you they have to watch themselves do it…makes it a little more difficult to scream

So, there you have it.  Just a few ideas to make a rainy day a little more productive.  We don’t have much down time, but what we do have can be filled with constructive ways to make our offices more efficient.  You don’t need to spend the day reading a book or playing on Facebook (unless you are a fan of DASH Compliance, of course!)…

We’d love to hear your ideas for making a rainy day feel more productive.  Pass them on!