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Alongside depression and anxiety, stress is one of the most prolific mental wellbeing problems in the US. It’s particularly prevalent in demanding jobs, and if you’re a hotel manager, you’re probably no stranger to overwhelming days. But, when it’s starting to get in the way of your work, what can you do?
To lend a helping hand, we’ve put together 5 tips on how managers can reduce stress in the workplace.
Chronic stress isn’t easy to deal with by yourself. Left untreated, it can have a negative impact on your day-to-day life and lead to a number of serious knock-on effects, putting your overall well-being at risk.
You might find, for example, that chronic stress puts a strain on your relationships and social life. It can also create feelings of anxiety, particularly around stress triggers, and you might find activities you used to do with ease now cause panic.
Stress has been linked to major depressive disorder (MDD), too, showcasing the link between doing too much and your mental health. This also makes it clear that anyone experiencing chronic stress should take the problem seriously and seek professional help.
A trained therapist can work alongside you to find the root cause of your stress and put coping mechanisms in place to keep you calm, making it easier to manage your emotional responses in different situations.
Consider reaching out to a talking therapist or a professional trained in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). The US has over 900 stress rehabs that immerse you in proactive therapy while reducing your exposure to the work that’s triggering you.
Aside from seeking professional help, there are ways you can minimize stress as you work. A key step is to make the tasks that cause you stress simpler, which is where automation comes in handy.
By implementing digital tools within your hotel workspace, you can reduce the labor needed to keep the business up and running and skip repetitive, time-consuming tasks.
Comprehensive hotel management software, for example, can take bookings, assign rooms, manage inventory, and bill guests without needing any work from your side. This leaves you more time to get on with the jobs you enjoy doing, like chatting with guests and dealing with queries, and reduces the stress of repetition.
Even if you don’t deal with these tasks yourself, you’ll find they improve the work of your team. Staff will be better able to carry out their duties with real-time information available 24/7 and digital communication tools, reducing hotel turnover and making your role as manager a whole lot easier.
As hospitality wellness resources go, these digital systems can have numerous benefits well beyond your stress, too, leading to a better-run hotel and boosting profits.
Workplace burnout is a type of stress. It’s usually characterized by feelings of overwhelm and a lack of motivation, leading you to question whether you want to work or why you’re doing your job at all.
Common symptoms of burnout in hotel managers or owners include:
By dealing with burnout, you could see your stress levels reduce and your resilience to difficult tasks increase. But, when your motivation is low, how can you bounce back?
One option is to shake up your workday. Rather than following the same list of tasks or routines, do things a little differently. Delegate a task to another member of staff and do one of the odd jobs you’ve struggled to make time for but feel more positively about, like visiting a supplier or sampling a new food menu. By breaking free of the constraints of a tight routine, you might find new joy in your work.
If you’re burnt out from overworking, take some time off. A break might be just what you need to rid yourself of stress and get back on top of your job.
When burnout persists and you find yourself stressed and unmotivated no matter what you do, it’s time to look at whether you’re in the right role. Is there another job out there that could suit you better?
As a manager, you might think that an endless to-do list is normal. But, this isn’t always the case.
In fact, as a manager, you need wiggle room in your schedule to deal with unplanned events, and being agile in your workday is a must for effective leadership. If you’re constantly too busy to deal with emergencies, it’s time to make a change to your workload.
There are two ways in which you can free up some space in your to-do list. The first is to get used to delegating. Just because a task needs to be done doesn’t mean you have to do it, and chances are there’s an employee with less on their plate that will be happy to help.
It’s also crucial you learn how to say no. Whether it’s a co-worker asking you to do something or a guest being too demanding of your time, learning how to politely but firmly say no is a must if you want to stay in control of your stress levels.
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There are plenty of stress-relieving practices out there that can improve your mental wellbeing.
One technique to start with is breathing. By simply controlling how you breathe, you can give your brain a moment to rest, recalibrate, and rid itself of the stress you’re experiencing. In one study, slow breathing (in which you take 10 breaths or less a minute) was proven to have a direct effect on the autonomic nervous system, enhancing relaxation and reducing psychological stress.
Other ways you can start reducing stress include:
Sometimes, stress is unavoidable. In the fast-paced hotel industry, there will likely be days when there’s too much to do and not enough time, or when you just aren’t feeling at your most resilient. In these moments, it’s important to pay attention to your body and mind.
Learn the symptoms that stress is on the rise. It might be that you start becoming irritable, your heart rate rises, or perhaps your body physically feels tense. As soon as you notice these triggers, implement your stress-busting techniques to help maintain calm.
Take 5 minutes out to practice slow breathing or get out for a quick walk, resetting your mind for a calmer response to your workday.
When it comes to how managers can reduce their stress in the workplace, these tips are a great way to get started. Do remember, though, that if you think your mental health is at risk, the best thing you can do is speak to a trained professional.
Daniel Groves is a coach and author, constantly developing his knowledge and sharing his experience with like-minded entrepreneurs, business owners, and growth strategists.
HotelMinder is a leading advisory agency for hoteliers to maximize business performance with hands-on advisory & project management services; a free and unbiased hospitality knowledge platform with Tech, Marketing, Revenue and Operational content; and a marketplace for professionals from all over the world to find hospitality specific software and services that best match their vision and requirements.
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