Still Standing: How to Stay Sane, Strong & Human During Peak Season
With Coach B (Brittany Blackman)
You Can Get Thru It!
In the fast-paced world of vacation rentals, peak season can feel like a relentless wave—nonstop calls, never-ending to-do lists, and a pressure cooker of expectations. On June 19, 2025, we welcomed leadership coach and vacation rental industry alum Brittany Blackman to help property managers and hospitality pros hit pause, take a breath, and reconnect with what matters most: themselves.
Brittany, the founder of Discover Freedom, spent over a decade building and running a successful vacation rental company in Destin, Florida. Today, she coaches high-achieving professionals to lead with clarity and heart—without losing themselves in the process. Her webinar, “Still Standing: How to Stay Sane, Strong & Human During Peak Season,” delivered practical tools for managing stress, building resilience, and showing up fully for your team, your business, and your life.
The Reality of Peak Season Stress
Brittany began by acknowledging the shared experience of many in the industry: mounting pressure, emotional overload, and the struggle to stay balanced during the busiest time of year. Signs of burnout aren’t always obvious—but they are common. Short tempers, constant multitasking, lack of sleep, unhealthy habits, and emotional spillover into personal life are all symptoms.
According to Gallup research shared in the session:
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Only 30% of Americans describe their lives as “thriving.”
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Employee engagement has dipped back to 2020 levels.
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Daily stress impacts people at all levels—regardless of age, gender, or job title.
The message was clear: this isn’t a “you” problem. It’s a we problem—and it’s time to address it together.
The Science Behind Stress
Understanding how stress shows up in the body helps normalize our responses. When triggered, our brains release cortisol, preparing us for fight, flight, or freeze. This response increases heart rate and breathing, while slowing digestion and reproduction. Operating in this state long-term takes a toll.
Brittany reminded attendees: if most people aren’t thriving, then most people are operating from a stressed-out place—and the body isn’t built to live there forever.
Tools to Recenter in the Moment
Brittany shared several simple, evidence-based techniques to regain control during stressful moments. Here are a few highlights:
1. Breathing Techniques
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Box Breathing: Inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 4, exhale for 4, hold for 4.
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Out Breath Focus: Gently exhale and let your inhale come naturally.
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4-7-8 Breath: Inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 7, exhale for 8.
These techniques slow the heart rate, calm the nervous system, and create space for clear thinking.
2. Mental Distancing Tools
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Time Travel: Will this issue matter in 24 hours? A week? A month?
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Solomon’s Paradox: Talk to yourself like a friend—use your name to guide your internal dialogue.
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Reframing: Ask yourself, “What else could be happening here?” to gain new perspective.
3. The R.A.I.N. Method
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Recognize what you’re feeling.
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Allow it to exist without judgment.
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Investigate where it came from.
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Nurture yourself with compassion and choose your next step.
These mindset shifts don’t eliminate chaos—but they give you agency to handle it with grace.
Why Naming Your Emotions Matters
One surprising insight from the webinar: mislabeling your emotions can keep you stuck. Are you feeling pressure, stress, anxiety, or fear? Each has a distinct cause—and a distinct path to resolution. Getting specific helps you address the right issue.
Brittany’s comparison: If a guest reports the oven is broken but it’s really the fridge, your repair plan fails. Emotions are no different. Accurate labeling is the first step toward effective response.
For Leaders: Mindfulness Over Mandates
Brittany also spoke to those in leadership roles, urging mindful team support. Not all morale boosters land the same way—happy hours or company retreats may unintentionally place team members in uncomfortable situations.
Her advice: get curious, not assumptive. Ask questions, offer flexible options, and always lead with empathy.
Building Your Emergency Plan
In business, we create emergency procedures for owners, guests, and operations—but not for ourselves. Brittany challenged everyone to build a personal “emergency response system” using the tools shared. Like any skill, these practices take repetition and intention.
We’re All Human
The most powerful takeaway? In the race for metrics, KPIs, and automation, we can’t lose sight of the human element. When we take care of our people—including ourselves—we see improvements in memory, productivity, creativity, and leadership.
Resources
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📚 Permission to Feel by Marc Brackett
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🎧 Huberman Lab Podcast
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🎥 R.A.I.N. Practice (YouTube)
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🔍 OSHA’s Resources on Workplace Stress
