The STR Sisterhood

Balancing Life & Business: Time Management Strategies for Short-Term Rental Hosts with Melissa Mondzelewski


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What if your weekly calendar was designed to fit your life—and not the other way around? In this inspiring episode, I sit down with Melissa Mondzelewski—a powerhouse mom of four, Airbnb host, short-term rental entrepreneur, and master of intentional living. Melissa pulls back the curtain on how she structures her “ideal week”—a flexible, evolving framework that helps her stay grounded in what matters most while managing a thriving Airbnb business, motherhood, and personal growth.

From themed workdays to long-term vision planning, Melissa shares the systems and routines that keep her short-term rental business running smoothly without sacrificing her sanity. We dive into how she balances hosting, handles disruptions in her Airbnb operations, and embraces delegation as a key to growth.

This isn’t about rigid schedules or perfection—it’s about creating a week that aligns with your life, your business goals, and your values. Whether you’re managing one vacation rental or scaling a portfolio of Airbnbs, Melissa’s approach will inspire you to rethink what balance and productivity look like as a short-term rental host.

If you're ready for more alignment, more ease, and more clarity in how you run your Airbnb or short-term rental business (and your life!), this episode is your permission slip to build success your way.


HIGHLIGHTS AND KEY POINTS:

[01:09] A short introduction about our guest Melissa Mondzelewski and how she got started in the world of short-term rentals

[03:44] Melissa talks about how balancing motherhood and business requires constant adjustment and shares that her “ideal week” evolves regularly

[05:03] Melissa’s ideal week concept and how it evolved from managing a busy family schedule to setting firm personal and family priorities first

[08:29] Melissa share her experience and approach to navigating disruptions and prioritizing family over business during a crisis

[11:27] Melissa share her weekly planning tools and strategies for family and business balance

[16:31] Melissa’s advice for non-planners highlights how planning helps manage stress and progress toward goals

[23:19] How Melissa manages guest communications for her four properties and the importance of delegation

[29:03] How  Melissa structures her workweek to keep herself on track and productive

[32:56] Melissa shares how she structures her workdays, incorporating creative time and flexibility

[36:48] How Melissa handles the unpredictability of her schedule and the importance of avoiding overwhelm

[42:12] The lightning round


Golden Nuggets:

  • “There are certain things that I just won't compromise on. I won't compromise on my kids schedule. I won't compromise on my workouts. I won't compromise, doing family stuff. So when I create my ideal week, all of that goes into my week first, then I put the business stuff in.”

  • “I think you really need to have that five year vision of where you want to go. And if you don't have that five year vision, you're never going to get there.”

  • “I think those priorities come front and center, and they're always there to remind us, hey, I have a business. I love my business, but my family comes first.”

    • “Be true to yourself and your values; find your why and just stick to it.”
      • “Talk to yourself like you would your best friend.”

      • This episode is brought to you by StayFi — the easiest way to grow your direct bookings!

        ⁠http://stayfi.com/STRSisterhood⁠

        Use the code “SISTERHOOD” at checkout for 50% off your first 3 months.


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        Website: https://www.stylishstay.com/

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        The STR SisterhoodBy Stacey St. John

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