Setting Boundaries: Separating Work and Personal Life in Property Management
Setting clear boundaries between work and personal life is crucial, especially in professions like property management, where things can become continuous and demanding. Without these boundaries, work-related stress can creep in, and you can quickly become overwhelmed, overworked, and become burnt out.
Here are some strategies for effectively helping apartment property managers separate work and personal life.
Designate Specific Work Hours
You need to clearly define your work hours and stick to them as closely as possible. Let your colleagues and residents know your availability. Once your work hours are over, don’t check emails or take any work-related calls.
Create a Dedicated Workspace
Now, set up a dedicated workspace, whether your home office or a desk in a communal area. When you are in this space, you are at work. When you leave your space and are outside work hours, you are off work.
Use Separate Devices
If possible, try using separate devices for work and personal tasks. This will help you create a more psychological barrier and prevent work-related notifications from getting to you while you are on your personal time.
Turn Off Notifications
And that brings us to turning off notifications. Consider turning off any work-related notifications outside your designated work hours and if you are not on call. This includes all notifications, including email, work-related apps, and other messaging platforms.
Prioritize Your Tasks
At the start of each day, take some time to create a to-do list or task sheet. Prioritize your tasks and set aside specific time for each. Once your scheduled work time ends, it is time to stop working on tasks.
Set Communication Boundaries
Make sure everyone, including the residents of your community, is aware of your scheduled work hours and your preferred methods of communication. You can even set an auto-reply on your email that explains your work hours and availability.
Practice Mindfulness
When you engage in mindfulness techniques, it makes the transition between work and your personal life easier. This can be as simple as taking a few deep breaths or spending a bit of time quietly reflecting before or after work.
Setting boundaries is a continuous process and will ultimately make for a more involved and focused property manager for a thriving community. Contact the professionals at Occupancy Solutions, LLC today for more tips and tricks on effectively managing your community.