@Lizzie
Ah, balance...Yes, I do reward myself : )
I still enjoy this and feel awesome when everything's perfect. One of my favorite things to do when I finish early (preferably the day before next check in) is pretend I'm a guest and sit on the couch or the deck with a glass of something cool and watch a little TV or the sunset. It also helps me catch little changes I'd make if I were my guest. In fact, I had a rare 3-days in a row unbooked and actually stayed 2 full days as if I were a guest and got to feel what it was like (to be pampered by me), and it offered the added gifts of noticing a few things I adjusted to save myself time, add comfort/ambience, and cut costs.
Here's an interesting question for the community: How many hosts have actually played being a guest and stayed in thier own Air BnB's?
Shortening the routine... It depends on the condition it's left in, but so far, most have been respectful guests. One aspect I'm eternally grateful for is installing berber rugs everywhere except the kitchen and bath with earth tone flecks. They're attractive, simple, match everything, and a god send at camoflaging sand and the odd pine needles that come in on people's shoes, so, if I'm pressed for time all I have to do is damp mop the smooth floors and shake out the throw rugs inside the entries and everything looks perfect.
Kitchen- I planned granite-look countertops to avoid red wine and coffee stains...and learned the hard way about providing cutting boards...so now I put them ON the counter in plain sight with a shiny stainless paring knife (rather than in the drawer) and added that detail to my house rules/kitchen signs as cause for added countertop repair/replace fees if they don't use them (Ikea has replacements for $2, so they're much less expensive to replace).
Bath- I have one set of bath/hand towels arranged on the towel racks, and a backup set and washcloths on the shelf--I found most people don't use washcloths and the towels on the shelf next to them are rarely touched, saving laundry and re-set time. Soap and shampoo/conditioner are always in pump dispensers-much neater and easy to refill, eliminating more plastic.
Bedroom- have 3 sets of bedding and 2 kinds of sleeping pillows for different tastes (in addition to matching throws and shams for the spread, which are clearly NOT meant to be used) one fluffy/feather set and one thinner/firmer alternative, but I do NOT put both on the bed...the second is kept on a nearby shelf with the extra blankets. It offers an added comfort within close reach, but they're rarely used, so keeping them seperate also saves a ton of laundry and wear and tear.
Dishes- My place fits 3 people and I offer full kitchen with amenities, but keeping the serving ware to 4 of everything seems to prevent dirty dish buildup and better dishwashing compliance than the set of 8 that I had there in the beginning.
Coffee- I know everyone's using them, but I can't in good conscience deal with waste and expense of the single serving units, so I had a drip coffee maker and a french press, and found most folks used the press and those who did use the drip always left the grounds in or did not clean it up fully or clogged the drain with them. So, I removed the drip machine and left the press, and have had no complaints or clogged drains.
Pets- I love them and tried allowing dogs, and it added a lot of cleaning time onto my routine, plus scratched floors and outside cleanup regarless that the owners said they would do it...so I ended that in favor of maintaining a safe haven for couples getaways and the highly sensitive. With so many other local hosts advertising "pets welcome" (and the complication of deposits and hefty added fees up front) I've only had 2 potential guests ask to override my house rules--and stood my ground.
I also increased my (previously non-existent) cleaning fee to what I would be earning in my regular job, with no complaints. My booking rate has actually increased after both changes and I can much better manage my turnover time and energy.
I love being a host and everything I offer is because I enjoyed it during my own travels, and my guests appreciate the special touches, so focusing on what makes my place, my place, has really boosted my happiness quotient... and my bookings : )