Like a badge of honor, many of us defend how much we are not morning people. We binge on TV and scroll through Facebook until all hours of the night, only to drag ourselves into the office at the latest possible, acceptable moment. This is hardly a recipe for being an SPM.

However, Smart Property Managers know by getting an early jump on their day, by getting good rest and using their peak energy to enhance performance is what will boost their reputations and careers.

Let’s address sleep first: Most of us require between 7-8 hours of sleep to actually benefit by its magic. To get those magic hours, we need to determine our rising time and ensure that there are plenty of hours between to really rest and unplug.

Arianna Huffington, founder of The Huffington Post, who once collapsed because of exhaustion, says, “Our creativity, ingenuity, confidence, leadership, and decision making can all be enhanced simply by getting enough sleep.”

And to do that, she recommends getting to bed, without technology, in the most relaxed manner possible––think hot bath and a good old-fashioned paper book here––that’s not work related.

Women, who generally have more commitments on their plates than men, are more at risk for sleep deprivation since sleep is erroneously put at the bottom of their priority list. And being innately nurturing, they often find it difficult to commit to taking care of themselves.

The property manager who says, “I am so not a morning person,” is usually the one who’s up until 1:00am watching ‘late night’––and (duh) isn’t performing optimally in his or her role.

Now don’t get me wrong. I like watching TV as much as the next guy. But I record what I want to see so the shows I watch are on my schedule. Plus, I don’t overdo it and get to bed around 9:00pm so I can read and get to sleep before the evening news tempts me to stay tuned in.

To really stand out in the crowd, we need to be performing above and beyond our counterparts. That takes strategic planning not only of our “to do” list but our energy as well.

SPMs tap into their best energy first thing in the morning. They know when they get a jump on the day, they’re in control. They get the most done because they have uninterrupted focus time.

I started waking up earlier when I was in my 40s so I could beat the traffic on a long commute to work. I was usually the second one in the office when I strolled in at 7:00am. The first one arrived at 6:30am.

When I compared notes with the other person, I discovered that we both loved the absolute quiet before the “storm.” With 2-3 hours of focus time, we could do what otherwise might take 3-4 hours once the day got started.

These days, I’m up around 4:30am and in the office by 6:00am. I appreciate the peace and space I have to think and work on my most important outcomes for the day––without interruption.

SPMs aren’t just a master jugglers of the schedule. They know how to optimize their early morning energy and refuel their bodies and minds efficiently.

Moreover, they know ‘morning people’ are a unique tribe. They are proud members of this tribal community and wish they knew more who are like them.

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