By Another morning and you don't feel like going to work. You're tired of calling real estate leads everyday, trying to drum up business, showing houses to clients who cannot make a decision, and you're just plain burnt out. You've lost your spark. Read on to learn more about overcoming burnout so you can enjoy your work again.
How do you feel when you wake up each morning? Uninterested in facing the day? You might be burnt out.- Going through the motions, day after day
- Feeling hopeless
- Exhausted at the end of the day
- Complaining about work
- No longer excited about your career
When you've reached the point of burnout, it's time to take action to keep your career alive and well. Without desire and motivation, you're losing money. It's time to break free and find your passion again. Consider these tips for overcoming burnout so you can feel excited about your work again.
Do Something You Love
When you are doing the same thing day in and day out, it's not surprising you get burnt out. Find something that you love to do, which has nothing to do with work, and fit it into your daily or weekly schedule. When I worked with a Life Coach, I found this instrumental as I transitioned from work to home. Leave work at work and focus on a project that is completely unrelated, even if it's only for 30-60 minutes. Changing your mindset will shift your attitude and help you find more balance and pleasure in your life.
- Pick up an old hobby or start a new one
- Practice positive thinking
- Meditate
- Do something for someone else
- Walk the dog
- Listen to positive, motivating podcasts
Each day, try one of the options listed above. Shift your thinking from work to something you enjoy (ex. bowling, drawing, helping out in the community, etc.). If you do this consistently for a week or more, you will begin to create more of a balance in your life. Work will no longer rule your entire day, you'll start to overcome burnout and be more productive at work.
Change Your Energy
If you're drained at the end of each day, try changing your energy throughout the day with some of the following suggestions:
- Exercise
- Clap hands vigorously (yes, really!)
- Visualize
- Positive thinking
Exercise is always a good way to change your energy. Run up and down the stairs 3-4x, hit a punching bag for 5 minutes, or go for a walk around the block. Even visualizing a vigorous workout will increase endorphins/strength and promote better energy. Only have a minute? Tony Robbins, motivational speaker and entrepreneur, uses vigorous hand clapping to create instant energy and it works!
Mentor or Professional
When you're around someone who knows more than you, you can grow faster, stay focused on your goals and limit or avoid burnout. A mentor, a business coach, or maybe a professional therapist can make all of the difference in pulling you out of a funk. Find someone who inspires you and wants you to grow and improve. Their motivation will help you focus on why working in real estate is so important to you.
Healthy Habits
Without healthy habits, overcoming burnout might be more challenging. There's no doubt good eating habits will improve our overall health (less sugar and fat; more vegetables and water) but sleep is also an important health factor. Consistently go to bed at the same time and try to get 8 hours of sleep each night. If you're a morning person, do more work in the morning. If you're a night owl, do most of your work during the middle of the day and in the evening.
Time Management
Are you constantly flooded with interruptions? Are you returning calls left and right? Do you ever take a vacation or days off? If you answered yes, yes, no, it's time to adjust your schedule.
Block out uninterrupted time to return phone calls and follow up with leads versus constantly switching between tasks. Manage your personal time by limited the amount of work you do at home and block out time for family. For example, you might mute your phone and put it in a drawer after 7pm each night so you can focus on your family without being distracted by phone messages.
I realize most agents are available around the clock, but make it a priority to set expectations with your clients in the beginning. If they know when you're available, they won't be calling you at 9pm to ask about scheduling a walkthrough of a house they just saw online.
- Blocks of uninterrupted time
- Set expectations with clients
- Family time
Conclusion
Burnout happens to most real estate agents at one point or another. Finding balance in your life can stave off burnout and leave you feeling motivated. Take time to eat healthy, exercise, block out time for family, set expectations with your clients, and enjoy a hobby as a healthy distraction. Remember to take time off now and then and don't forget to plan a vacation this year. As the saying goes, "work smarter, not harder". You've got this!
