Over the past 4 months, I’ve managed recovery and repair projects at 14 estates through 3 hurricanes and 2 wildfires in bi-coastal locations. Two of those homes were completely destroyed in the Palisades fire. My team has dealt with the logistical challenges of relocations, insurance claims, property repairs, vendor shortages, and displaced families and staff for multiple homes; each with unique needs, personalities, SOP’s, and Family Offices. It’s been a constant state of troubleshooting, prioritizing, and making sure the people and properties under our oversight experienced a sense of security, progress, and confidence that they would get through all of it.
For a Director of Residences or multi-property Estate Manager, this level of activity and responsibility is not that unusual. Even when a natural disaster isn’t unfolding, estate management is a career built around crisis mitigation. Unlike other roles where unexpected challenges arise sporadically, Estate Managers are in a near-constant state of anticipating, preventing, and responding to an onslaught of issues.
The role demands adaptability and quick decision-making, often in high-pressure situations, with an expectation that every problem will be solved efficiently and seamlessly. This level of responsibility is what makes the role so vital, but it can create immense pressure, leading estate managers to push through even when their capacity is depleted.
Crisis Fatigue
Crisis fatigue is the exhaustion that comes from this continuous prolonged exposure to high-stress situations and high-level decision-making, especially in challenging circumstances. Unlike general burnout, which builds over time due to chronic overwork, crisis fatigue is directly tied to repeated high-stakes situations that require rapid and immediate action, processing a high volume of complex information, and constant availability.
Clinically, crisis fatigue manifests as a mix of physical and mental exhaustion. It can lead to difficulty concentrating, decision paralysis, disrupted sleep, and a sense of emotional depletion. It’s been widely discussed in fields like healthcare, law enforcement, and disaster response where professionals face ongoing, high-pressure situations without adequate recovery periods. Estate Managers operate in a similar way; although instead of life-and-death emergencies, we deal with high-value assets, complex logistics, and the demand for immediate solutions.
Strength Through Strategy
Combating crisis fatigue requires a critical management strategy that must prioritize both effectiveness and sustainability. The goal is not just to manage immediate challenges but to create a structured approach that balances urgent demands with strategic delegation and proactive planning. There was a TV show about a Scientology-esque cult following in Hollywood called The Arrangement a few years back. Their mantra was to ‘rightsize’ a situation and one’s role in it. That’s what needs to be done. An Estate Manager has to accept that they are only one person with 24 hours a day and everything can’t be the most important thing. These are some of the ‘rightsizing strategies’ we deployed in order to stay afloat.
Leverage resources effectively – Call on your support networks. Whether it’s vendors, staff, or external advisors, delegating responsibilities ensures that no single person carries the full weight of a crisis. Only do what only you can do – Linda Bruckheimer.
Reprioritize non-urgent tasks – Not everything requires immediate attention. Understanding which tasks are truly urgent and which can wait allows for better crisis management without unnecessary overload. Some estate projects can be postponed until stability is restored.
Bring in additional support – Whether it’s hiring temporary staff, calling in specialized vendors, or restructuring workflows to distribute tasks more efficiently, getting extra help when needed can prevent overwhelming demands from becoming unsustainable.
Shift out of reactionary mode – A crisis-driven mindset can become an operational norm if Estate Managers aren’t careful. Allocating time for proactive planning rather than constant reactive problem-solving helps regain a sense of control and allows for more strategic decision-making.
You may also need to accept that some factors are out of your control. Not everything is immediately fixable. Recognizing when a situation requires patience, rather than immediate action, can help reduce unnecessary stress.
Preserving Your Well-Being
The same level of care applied to estate assets and inhabitants must also be applied to the person managing them. Just as properties require maintenance and repair, strategic oversight, and preventative measures to ensure longevity and efficiency, Estate Managers must take proactive steps to preserve their own resilience by investing in personal well-being. Admittedly, this is challenging for our personality type, but try anyway.
Establish Recovery Moments – Finding small opportunities to reset, whether through structured breaks, personal routines, or brief moments of disengagement, helps prevent prolonged stress from becoming overwhelming. A few minutes to step outside, eat a meal without interruption, or engage in a brief, non-work-related activity can provide much-needed mental clarity.
Protect Your Physical Health –Prioritizing consistent sleep schedules, proper hydration and nutrition, and regular physical activity (not just pacing back and forth) supports sustained energy levels and decision-making capacity.
Push a Mental Reset – Establishing designated off-hours, creating structured communication boundaries, or having a trusted backup contact for non-urgent matters can help prevent the feeling of being perpetually on alert. Even short, intentional moments away from estate responsibilities contribute to long-term resilience.
Engage in Restorative Activities – Engaging in activities that have nothing to do with professional responsibilities like reading, listening to music, cooking, (watching Formula 1) or any personally enjoyable pastime, provides a mental reset that strengthens overall endurance.
By incorporating small, intentional acts of self-care into daily routines, estate managers can preserve their effectiveness, navigate crises with greater clarity, and maintain their ability to perform at the highest level.
Leveraging Your Network to Thrive
One of the most valuable yet often overlooked resources is your professional network. Reaching out to colleagues, industry peers, and trusted vendors provides fresh perspectives, shared experiences, and solutions that may not have been immediately apparent.
Whether through professional associations like the Estate Management Network, mentorship, or informal discussions with fellow Estate Managers, leaning on a network of experienced professionals can offer guidance, reassurance, and practical support when facing particularly demanding situations. Estate management is a unique profession, and those who navigate it successfully understand the importance of collaboration and shared expertise.
Crisis fatigue is an inevitable challenge in a profession defined by high-pressure decision-making and constant problem-solving, but it does not have to be a lasting state. Recognizing when stress levels are escalating, adjusting workflows, and reaching out to trusted colleagues and industry connections for support all contribute to sustained success.