Property management comes with a variety of stressors and problems that can easily bog you down and keep you from living the best, most present version of you. That’s why practicing mindfulness on the job is so important in helping property managers cut down on stress.
By following these few simple mindfulness tips, you can transform your workday, free yourself from stress, and invigorate your workplace.
What is Mindfulness?
Mindfulness is being fully mentally present in the moment, and it sounds a lot easier than it is.
Many times, we let ourselves become too engrossed in the details of our work and can lose focus on what’s important in the present. When we do this, it is easy to feel overwhelmed by the scope of our work, especially when that includes managing several properties and the host of maintenance and tenant issues that can arise.
Mindfulness, however, allows us to take a step back, experience the moment, and take actions that are more measured and objective and less reactionary.
In short, mindfulness is your best friend. It helps you make productive, proactive decisions that will transform the way you conduct business and cut down on your stress levels.
And here’s how to practice it.
1. Set your daily intention.
Start your mindfulness routine the moment you wake up. That means holding off on checking your phone, as difficult as that can be. We all want to get a jump on productivity and put out any fires that might have started from the second we wake up, but you’ll be more prepared and more productive if you take a moment for yourself.
Instead when you wake up, stop, relax, and breathe. Determine your intention for the day. Your intention can be a simple goal that should apply to all the situations you might face throughout the day. For example, you might intend to stay calm, grounded, or patient with yourself and others.
Setting an intention allows you to check back in with yourself throughout the day to remind yourself of what is important for your mental balance. Maintaining this balance is vital to being productive and stress-free.
2. Remember to breathe.
This next tip is just as simple as it is easy to forget. Taking little breaks to simply breathe and think about breathing can reset your focus and quash the obsessive thought patterns that might be giving you anxiety.
Can’t stop thinking about your missing rent checks? Replaying uncomfortable tenant situations in your mind? Stop and breathe. Taking long breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth every now and then can have a profound effect on cutting your stress and improving mental clarity.
Go ahead. Give it a try right now and see what you think.
3. Schedule time for a daily debrief.
Your time is precious. You want to maximize every moment in terms of productivity. A great way to do this is to schedule some time for introspection and goal setting.
Take some time out of your day to think and breathe, allowing your mind to examine the day while experiencing the moment. This is an excellent practice for relieving stress, setting manageable goals, and checking in on your daily intentions without being distracted by other tasks at hand.
The best part of this reflection and planning time is that it doesn’t have to be done from your desk.
4. Go for a walk.
Get outside. Let your mind wander and clear itself while you experience fresh air and the revitalizing motion of walking and moving your body. We all get restless sitting at a desk—especially when stuck in a home office all day—so get up and get moving.
The power of motion and exercise in clearing one’s head cannot be overstated. Movement lets your blood and oxygen flow more freely and can reset your mental patterns to give you clarity on the issues that have been overwhelming you all day.
While it may not sound productive, taking a break to go for a walk can be just the thing you need to maximize productivity throughout your day.
5. Approach each situation with intention.
As a property manager, you will experience some touchy and uncomfortable situations. Since property management is a people-centered business, you are ultimately in a customer service position between tenants and property owners. Both these parties have very different goals, and a lot of unexpected circumstances can arise. This is the nature of people and real estate.
However, you can approach any situation that occurs with your daily intention in mind, allowing you to slow down, calm down, and act with clarity and proactivity. Whether a tenant is screaming at you or a property owner is telling you how you can improve, breathe and remember the goals you set for yourself.
How can you act for the best impact and result? Starting your day with intention helps you carry that forward into any situation, allowing you to respond mindfully and empathetically.
6. Practice gratitude.
Finally, there are few things as powerful for cutting stress in the workplace than practicing gratitude.
Take some time every day to write down some things you are grateful for. Whether these things be the moments you give yourself to breathe or relax or a positive tenant that you had a great interaction with, the simple act of reflecting on your gratitude has been shown to bring about a multitude of health benefits.
So write down a few things you are grateful for and resume your property management work with a full, calmer sense of the present. Expressing this gratitude to property owners and tenants through cards, gifts, or social media posts can also share the goodwill and maintain a mutually positive work experience.
Reap the Benefits of Being a Mindful Property Manager
There is no end to the benefits mindfulness can bring to anyone’s life and work. As a property manager, mindfulness can bring you much-needed stress relief and calm as you handle the ongoing and unexpected situations that occur throughout your day. So start when you wake up, set your intention, and check in with yourself. You’ll cut down on stress, reduce burnout for you and your coworkers, and ultimately maximize your own productivity.
Go ahead. Take some time to breathe. You got this.
For more information on property management and real estate investment, contact 208.properties today.
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