4 Tips for Managing the Stress That Comes with Landlording

Whether you have a single property with a problem tenant, or dozens of properties spread across the country, being a landlord can be extremely stressful. If you want to be successful for years to come, it’s important that you learn how to manage this stress in a healthy way.

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4 Healthy Tips for Managing Your Stress

“Stress is primarily a physical response,” Stress Management Society explains. “When stressed, the body thinks it is under attack and switches to ‘fight or flight’ mode, releasing a complex mix of hormones and chemicals such as adrenaline, cortisol and norepinephrine to prepare the body for physical action. This causes a number of reactions, from blood being diverted to muscles to shutting down unnecessary bodily functions such as digestion.”

Acute stress in isolated situations is both acceptable and natural. Chronic, long-term stress, however, is a huge issue that will affect you physically, mentally, and emotionally. It also adversely affects your personal and professional life, which can cause you to spiral out of control.

If you’re a landlord who is constantly dealing with taxing situations, it’s imperative that you find healthy and constructive ways to deal with your stress. Here are some suggestions:

1. Join a Local Rec League Team

Exercise is one of the best ways to burn off stress. Not only does it remove your focus from your stressful situations, but it also releases powerful, pain-killing endorphins into your bloodstream.

While there’s nothing wrong with simply going to the gym, consider joining a local rec league team (which also offers the benefit of social camaraderie). A hockey league is always fun. Not only is the season fun, but you can also participate in workout programs during the offseason to keep in shape.

2. Stop Watching the News

When was the last time you saw something happy or uplifting in the news? Apart from the occasional 60-second feature at the end of the nightly news, almost every topic is depressing, divisive, and anxiety inducing. You don’t need that in your life. Turn off the news, unplug your devices, and instead, spend time doing things that are constructive and healthy.

3. Play Games With Your Family

.When your kids are grown and have moved out of the house, do you think you’ll to regret not stressing over your properties or worrying about tenants? No – you’re going to regret not having spent more time with your kids.

One effective way to manage stress is by spending more time with your family. Consider participating in activities that provide perspective – like playing board games. Not only does this give you an opportunity to gather around the table with your family, but it also teaches new skills.

4. Watch Your Diet

When you get stressed, it’s easy to resort to eating unhealthy food. For many, it’s a coping mechanism. Unfortunately, the food you eat can exacerbate your symptoms and create even more stress. Thankfully, the inverse is true as well. By eating certain foods – like asparagus, avocado, berries, cashews, and even chocolate – you can fight stress and enjoy a much more relaxed lifestyle.

Give Yourself Room to Breathe

There are plenty of advantages and perks to being a landlord. There’s also an immense amount of stress that comes with managing property upkeep, collecting rent, and dealing with problem tenants. It’s good that you take your business seriously. However, you need to know when to step away and deal with the stress in healthy, constructive ways. Discover a system that works for you and find someone who will hold you accountable.

Do you have any tips for reducing stress? Let me know in the comments below!

Note By BiggerPockets: These are opinions written by the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions of BiggerPockets.