13 Little Joy Boosters for Property Managers (From Someone Who Had to Fight for Joy This Year)
This year, something significant in my personal life came to an end. It was painful, unexpected, and exhausting in ways I couldn’t have prepared for. And you don’t have to have lived the exact same experience to understand the feeling.
This was a quote I reminded myself of often as I walked through a hard year.
Every property manager I know has had a season where life at home feels heavy while work demands don’t slow down one bit.
And what makes it even harder is that property managers often carry more than people realize.
I’ve seen:
single parents juggling tours between school drop-offs
managers handling resident crises while coordinating care for an aging parent
people absorbing corporate expectations while quietly struggling financially
teams working short-staffed and stretched thin
people driving long distances because housing costs are too high
professionals who give and give, yet rarely feel appreciated
managers who hold everyone else together while no one asks how they are doing
people navigating breakups, loss, health issues, or transitions in silence
You carry your personal life in one hand and a multimillion-dollar community in the other.
And somewhere in the middle, you try to remember who you are.
That kind of emotional load takes a toll.
In my own hard season, I had to learn something important:
Last month’s personal growth resource in the Spark Monthly Resource Kit + Sprout Membership
Joy doesn’t always show up on its own. Sometimes you have to create it in tiny, intentional ways.
During our November Sprout Membership coaching, I shared 13 Ways to Boost Your Joy, and the response reminded me how deeply you all need these small pockets of light.
So today I’m sharing them with you here.
These are simple. Realistic. Grounding.
And they work.
Here are 13 joy boosters we shared in the Sprout Membership and the Spark Monthly Resource Kit that can make your day feel lighter and more manageable.
Would you rather watch than read? I talk through all 13 joy boosters in this video.
It’s a peek at the coaching videos you get inside the Spark Monthly Resource Kit.
What is the Spark Monthly Resource Kit? I’m so glad you asked! It’s a $7 resource I created for overwhelmed and overworked property managers and onsite teams who need a little boost every month. It covers marketing, retention, social media, and your most important asset - YOU!
1. Appeal to Your Senses
Scents, textures, and light can shift your emotional state fast. Try a calming oil roll-on, a soft throw, warm lighting, or a citrus scent at your desk. When overwhelm creeps in, your senses can pull your body out of “fight mode” in seconds.
Here’s my ‘why’ corner in my office. Photos that bring me happiness + some plants to add some life.
2. Refresh Your Surroundings
Your environment shapes your mood. Add something visual that feels like a breath of fresh air.
A $3.99 Trader Joe’s flower bundle, a mini seasonal décor piece, or a simple framed photo can change the entire tone of your workspace.
3. Add Life to Your Space
Plants calm the nervous system, support focus, and help rooms feel less sterile.
Even one small succulent or fern can make your desk feel more like a sanctuary and less like a stress zone.
4. Keep Reminders of Your “Why” Within Reach
Photos of your kids, your parents, your pets, your friends, or even little-you can help you reset your mindset on hard days. Visual reminders anchor you back to what matters beyond the noise of the day.
Me and Lincoln on a coffee run to break up the routine.
5. Add Novelty to Your Routine
Novelty activates your brain’s reward system. Try a new coffee drink, lunch spot, pen set, playlist, or walking route.
One tiny “new thing” each week gives you something to look forward to.
6. Create Small Rituals That Feel Special
Your rituals don’t have to be elaborate. Use your favorite mug for morning coffee. Keep a sparkling water just for afternoons. Press play on a calming playlist at the same time each day. Rituals create structure and soothe anxiety.
7. Use Music to Shift Your Mood
Music is one of the fastest ways to reroute your emotional state. Make playlists for focus, energy, and stress relief. Put one on while doing paperwork or prepping for a tough conversation.
8. Move Your Body When You Feel Stuck
Movement opens up your mind. Step outside for a minute of sunlight. Do shoulder rolls between tours. Take a walk-and-talk meeting. I’m not saying to become a body builder overnight… just five minutes of simple movement can change the direction of your whole day.
9. Surprise Someone With Kindness
Joy multiplies when you give it away. A small treat for your team, a kind note for a resident, or a simple “I appreciate you” can soften the entire atmosphere of your office.
10. Do One Thing You’ve Been Avoiding
Avoidance is an energy leak. Pick the one tiny task you keep pushing off and finish it. The dopamine hit from completing it is real, and it lifts mental fog immediately.
11. Connect With Someone Who Sees You
A short laugh in the breakroom. A quick heart-to-heart with a coworker. A moment of real connection brings you back into your body and out of your stress spiral.
12. Reward Yourself For Getting Through Tough Moments
A hard day deserves a soft landing. Treat yourself to a favorite drink, playlist, or snack after finishing something stressful. Rewards help your brain feel safe and supported.
13. Keep a “Quick Joy List”
Write down a handful of things that always make you feel better. When the day starts spiraling, choose one and do it ASAP. This becomes your personal grounding toolkit.
Peek some past self care + personal growth resources from Spark Monthly Resource Kit 👀
…Here’s The Truth
Property managers are some of the strongest people I know. You carry so much. You navigate emotional, financial, and human challenges while keeping entire communities running.
But strength doesn’t replace care. And you deserve to feel good, too.
That’s Why Spark Exists
During a heavy season in my own life, I kept hearing managers share their own heaviness too. Some of it was work. Some of it was life. All of it was a lot.
And what stood out to me was this:
Most managers didn’t need a big program or a giant overhaul.
They needed something small to focus on.
Something doable.
Something that made the week feel a little lighter.
Something that they could have access to even if they couldn’t get corporate approval for funding.
So the Spark Monthly Resource Kit became my way of helping in the arena I understand best.
I decided to make sure each Spark Monthly Resource Kit was packed full of:
Small actions that lead to bigger wins in your marketing, retention, and social.
Little moments of joy that brighten your month.
Simple mental shifts that help you feel more grounded and supported.
All at only $7 per month (less than the cost of one lunch out).
I built it through the lens of a former property manager and as a certified wellness coach who knows what it feels like to carry a lot.
Here’s Spark in a nutshell:
Spark is a monthly resource kit designed to lighten your workload with simple, plug-and-play tools, while also giving you a small “Just For You” moment in every kit. It’s equal parts practical relief and emotional support.
Spark helps you do your job better, but it also helps you feel better inside your job.
Here’s real emails from real Sprout users:
December 2025 Personal Growth Resource in Spark Monthly Resource Kit
As we step into 2026 over here at Sprout, the Spark Monthly Resource Kit will be a big focus because managers deserve more than systems and templates. You deserve to feel supported as a human being, not just as an employee.