How to Train Yourself to Stay Positive on Tough Days (Even When Guests Aren’t!)

Alam mo ‘yung araw na lahat ng guest may reklamo?”

Yung tipong kakabukas mo pa lang ng shift, may nagrereklamo na sa aircon.

Tapos sunod-sunod na — late check-in, missing towel, “bakit wala kaming view of the sea?” kahit nasa city hotel kayo. 😅

At habang ikaw, pinipilit ngumiti, deep inside gusto mo na lang maglagay ng “Be Right Back — Taking Deep Breaths” sign sa counter.

We’ve all been there.

Front desk life isn’t for the faint of heart.

Pero kahit gaano ka-busy, toxic, or nakakainis minsan, staying positive is part of what makes you a pro.

Hindi lang kasi siya “good attitude.”

It’s a skill — and yes, pwedeng i-train.

Today, pag-uusapan natin paano mo matitrain ang sarili mong mindset to stay positive, kahit sa pinaka-stressful na araw.

Let’s do this, Front Desk Warrior 💪

The Real Reason Why Staying Positive Feels So Hard

Let’s be real — hindi madali maging kalmado at cheerful sa front desk.

Lalo na kapag sabay-sabay ang mga problema,

May nagrereklamo sa breakfast
May walk-in guest na demanding
May room na hindi pa ready
May boss na biglang dumating na may “urgent meeting”

At ikaw?

Ikaw ‘yung nasa gitna ng gulo.

Positivity sometimes feels fake, diba?

Parang, “Eh paano ako magiging positive kung gusto na akong batuhin ng guest ng keycard?” 😂

Pero here’s the secret,

Being positive doesn’t mean ignoring stress.

It means training your brain to respond differently.

You can’t control guests.

You can’t control shift schedules.

Pero you can control how you handle your mindset.

That’s where the training begins.

Step 1 — “Reset” Before Every Shift

Simple lang pero powerful,

Have your pre-shift ritual.

Kasi aminin natin — kung gising ka pa lang bad trip na, buong shift mo, bitbit mo na ‘yun.

So bago ka magpunta sa front desk, try this mini ritual,

Take 3 deep breaths. Yung legit, hindi ‘yung parang galit ka.
Say one positive intention. Example: “Today, I’ll handle every guest with calm energy.”
Smile kahit fake. Your brain actually follows your facial muscles — the moment you smile, your mood starts to follow.

Ako dati, naglalagay ako ng mini sticky note sa drawer ko,

👉 “Be the calm in the chaos.”

Every time gusto ko na magreklamo, nababasa ko ‘yun.

Instant reset.

Step 2 — Know Your “Energy Drainers”

Minsan hindi mo napapansin, ikaw pala ‘yung nagda-drain ng sarili mong energy.

Na-trigger ka kasi sa isang guest.

Tapos dala mo na buong shift.

Or may coworker na sobrang negative —
at napansin mo, pati ikaw, biglang naging “complain mode.”

Here’s what I learned,

You can’t control their behavior.

Pero pwede mong bantayan ‘yung sarili mong reaction.

Pag may nagdrain sa energy mo, step back mentally.

Sabihin mo sa sarili mo, “Hindi ko ‘to problema, trabaho lang ‘to.”

Then smile again — not for them, pero para sa peace of mind mo.

Ang secret ng mga veteran front desk staff?

They protect their energy like they protect VIP bookings. 💼

Step 3 —Feed Your Positivity (Literally and Mentally)

Kapag gutom ka, walang positive mindset na magwowork. 😅

So first rule, kumain at mag-hydrate.

Kasi hindi mo pwedeng labanan ang stress kung ubos ka.

Second, feed your mind.

Listen to uplifting music bago mag-shift.

Follow motivational pages (like Frontdesk Mastery, syempre 😉).
Or read quick mindset boosters — kahit 5 minutes lang.

Pro tip:

Meron akong playlist na tinatawag kong “Pang-Survive sa Guest Mode.”

Lahat ng songs dun feel-good.

Pag naririnig ko, bigla akong nagiging chill kahit may nagagalit sa line 2.

Try mo rin gumawa ng ganun.

You’ll be surprised how powerful music and mindset prep can be.

Step 4 —Practice the Art of the “Mini Break”

Hindi kailangan ng 1-hour spa break para mag-reset.

Minsan, 2 minutes lang sapat na.

Kapag ramdam mong sumusobra na ang stress, gawin mo ‘to,

Magpunta ka sa CR or pantry.
Hinga ka ng malalim ng 3 beses.
Sabihin mo sa sarili mo: “Kaya ko ‘to. One guest at a time.”
Balik sa counter na parang walang nangyari.

Ganun lang.

Hindi mo kailangang maging robot.

You just need mini pauses to breathe and reset your brain.

Yung mga pinaka-effective front desk staff?

Hindi sila laging chill —Marunong lang silang magpahinga sandali bago bumalik sa laban. 💪

Step 5 — Vent (But Vent Smart)

Lahat tayo kailangan maglabas ng sama ng loob minsan.

Pero ito ang golden rule,

Don’t vent to guests or on duty.

Gawin mo sa tamang lugar at tao.

After shift, magkwentuhan kayo ng coworker na “gets ka.”

Yung tipong pag naglabas ka ng rant, sasabihin lang niya,

“Same, besh. Pero at least may room upgrades tayo today.” 😂

Then tapos na. Move on.

Ang purpose ng venting ay release, hindi to spread negativity.

Pag na-release mo na, ibalik mo ulit sa “game face” mode.

Step 6 — Remember Your Why

Ito ‘yung pinaka-importante sa lahat.

Bakit mo ginagawa ‘to?

Bakit ka nasa hospitality industry?

Hindi lang ‘yan dahil sa payslip (though, kailangan din ‘yan 😅).

It’s because you love helping people.

You love making someone’s stay memorable.

You take pride in turning problems into smiles.

That’s the heart of hospitality.

Every time may guest na sumigaw,or may day na gusto mo na mag-resign sa isip mo,

balikan mo ‘yung why.

Because that’s what keeps you grounded.

Quick Reality Check: Positivity ≠ Fake Smiles

Let’s clarify something.

Being positive doesn’t mean pretending everything’s perfect.

It’s about staying composed kahit may chaos.

It’s about finding humor kahit gusto mo na mag-walkout.

It’s about choosing kindness kahit pagod ka na.

That’s not fake — that’s mastery.

And that’s what makes front desk pros different from the rest.

FAQs — Real Questions from Real Front Desk Staff

Paano kung sobrang negative ng mga ka-team ko?

Try mo maging opposite energy. Hindi mo kailangan magsermon — just lead by example. Smile, stay calm, and eventually, mahahawa rin sila sa vibe mo.

What if may guest na rude talaga?

Remember, hindi ikaw ang issue nila. Calmly handle the situation, don’t take it personally, and use empathy lines like, “I understand, sir/ma’am. Let’s see what we can do to fix this.”

How do I recover from a bad start of shift?

Mini reset! Take a deep breath, step away for 1–2 minutes, and tell yourself, “This is just one part of my day.” Huwag mong hayaan masira buong shift mo dahil sa 5-minute incident.

What if I really feel burned out?

Rest. Walang hero award sa overworked front desk staff. Use your rest days wisely — disconnect from hotel stress, do something creative, and recharge.

How can I stay motivated long-term?

Set small wins daily. Appreciate your progress — like handling one tough guest better than before. Over time, ‘yan ang magpapatibay ng mindset mo.

CONCLUSION: The Calm Warrior Mindset

Positivity isn’t magic — it’s training.

At tulad ng lahat ng skills sa hospitality, mas gumagaling ka habang pinapractice mo siya.

So the next time may guest na sumigaw, or may coworker na nagtanong ng “Bakit ikaw pa laging night shift?”,

take a breath.

Smile.

And remind yourself,

You’re not just a front desk officer —
you’re the face of calm in a chaotic world.

Front desk life is tough.

Pero ikaw? Tougher. 💪

So keep showing up.

Keep training that positive muscle.

And remember — every “tough day” is just another story you’ll laugh about sa next coffee break. ☕

P.S👉 Download your FREE eBook — “Frontdesk Survival Hacks”
Learn the mindset, communication, and guest-handling tricks every hotel warrior should know.