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When all is said and done...

As a Realtor I usually get to work everyday...I really don't mind. Sometimes when I need a day off, I just turn my phone off and relax in my yard or by my pool. I learned that if I do not take time off from my job, I get stressed out and cranky.

After going to that seminar by Lynn Gibson a few months ago, I have taken the advice he gave us all and I take my days off. It is not that I won't work, if something comes up and needs to be dealt with, but I have found out that most things can wait until tomorrow.

If tomorrow never comes...oh, well! Taking my day off has brought my sanity back. I would recommend it to every person who has a stressful job and even to those with less stressful jobs.

Taking time for you and your family is more important than any job! Those who love you, should support you, and I bet they will love you more, because you will be more relaxed and it will be easier to deal with everything that comes your way.

Try it and let me know how it works for you!

Posted by Christine Schneider, Realtor/SFR on 04/03/2010 07:10 AM

Comments (83)

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83 Comments on When all is said and done...

APR

2010

Christine.....it's healthy and necessary to take some personal time.....

There is nothing that is more important than your family. Spending time with my wife and kids is a must for me, and when I am with them phone calls are all monitored, if it;s not someone I really want to talk to they go straight to voicemail, which is about 99.9% of all calls. Yes we all need time to do whatever it is we want to do.

Thanks for the post, I agree with you 100% Hope you have a Happy Easter

Semper-Fi

Eric Ristey

wilandandhome.com

Amen! if you don't take time out for yourself once in a while, you will be less likely to perform as well. Rejuvenation is a good thing. I agree, Christine.

I try to take off friday afternoons and sundays. However, my clients don't know that so they still call.

I love to work also BUT I do need some down time every now and then! Who is Lynn Gibson?

Yeah, you really have to have down time or you will crash and burn - it does catch up!

Enjoy life

Norma http://lynngibsoninc.com/coach.html go to his website, he is very inspirational and motivational! Love that seminar!

John, tell people when you are off work, they will respect you and calls will lessen.

thank you all for your comments. find me on facebook and become a fan of Christine Schneider, The Realtor who never sleeps...also posting a great video of the sunrise from New Smyrna Beach this morning! with some still photos already uploaded. It was amazing and just a start to my day off!

I take off whenever I get the chance but pretty much always leave my phone on to check texts, email and the occasional "Panic call". However when I am really on vacation, I am totally out of touch :-)

I take days off, but still check emails and voicemails a few times a day. I only deal with emergencies and forward the rest on days off. But you cannot just disappear with nobody to take your calls/messages. Have a buddy you can forward leads to when you're off.

You work hard, you earn, deserve time off and family is everything to juggle around the list, market, sell hurry scurry. Vacations..just came back from one..week a year is not going to cause the real estate operation to heart attack. Not taking them to reflect, come back super charged to go get them with new vim and vigor could lead to the real thing..big time cardiac yak yak yak as Billy Joel warns in the song about pressure, heart attack tac tac tac. Lucky because Maine's license plate announces it for all to see. We live in "Vacationland", it's in our backyard.

drews lake sunset

I like to think I can approach life with passions and I don't need to compartmentalize my life. That means that work, yoga, healthy food, bicycling, travel, and organizing a Tweetup all work together. Stay facinated.

I need to learn from your advice... I work at every oppertunity... But I am now freeing up more time for myself.

Over the years it seems like we took more vacation time in our best years. Maybe that's because we felt we had more money to spend on vacations. Either way, it was a good thing, as are days off during the week. Being unavailable is a great energy restorer.

Need to know what works best for you. Personal time is necessary to stay focused sometimes.

I should have taken that seminar. :-)

But what my wife and I do is take several days off at a time and either go to Las Vegas to see shows, or go to California to visit family.

Soon we'll go to NY for a few days.

I do take my laptop with me and keep in touch with any pressing business.

Great Post - I needed to read/hear this. Real Estate is a VERY stressful job when you really care for your clients.

I have to recommend a great book that gave me my life back. . I'm intense when it comes to my work and I was burning out. . then I read this book and gave my life back

The Power Of Full Engagement by Tony Schartz

I try to take time off from all the calls and work, however I find myself not wanting to put work off to the next day and end up working anyway. I drive myself crazy somtimes, which is the point, right. This take a lot of self talk for me, I have to tell myself over and over, that it okay to let things rest till tomarrow. I'm still working on it.

It's been a very long six months trying to catch up for the really rough early part of 2009. I simply can't run at a normal pace until most of last year's deficit is made up -- but I'm getting there, thanks for the reminder that a little time off is still necessary.

When things are the busiest it is hard to remember to do that. Good advice.

Good advice. I have paid a very heavy price for taking to long to learn this lesson.

Balance in everything......less is more............We forget to thank ourselves sometimes.......

Christine...we do well to remind each other of this simplicity. Thank you

This, I know! I learned it the hard way.

Last year I felt invincible and was just churning and burning and took NO days off for over 6 months, and then, BAM!! It caught up to me and I went through a major burnout where I was depressed, cranky and irritable.

I had to totally shut everything down for a month in order to gain my sanity back.

And now I make sure I have my time off and I also like you take the approach that the world isn't going to crash if I shut down for one day.

I totally agree. Yesterday afternoon it was bright and sunny and I had 3 hours until my next appointment.

I went home and went out for a bike ride - was great for my state of mind!

Christine:

It is so wonderful to just turn off everything and get back to nature and our nature.

Makes sense...because I am just starting back in the business, I am pouring my heart and soul into work to get things rolling. When Spring market cools down, I will take a much needed break!

If we don't take care of ourselves, we can't take the best care of our clients, either - because we're not at our own best!

Christine, I learned 2 things many years ago that have helped me tremendously.

In our buisness we will NEVER be caught up
Ther are NO real estate emergencies

One you get your head around these things you can then set a schedule that works for you and your life. For me:

I rarely make appointments after 2pm
I only work on Saturdays if I have an appointment.
I never work on Sunday.
I cut my phone OFF at 8pm every day.

As long as potential customer/clients know these things before they decide to hire me we never have any issues.

I believe in time off & truth be told, in this market I am not hard pressed to find it. And when I actually leave home to GO on vacation, I do not check voicemail, e-mail, etc.

Very rarely is real estate a life threatening emergency. If your house is on fire, call the fire department.

Stay happy, stay focused, take care of yourself & your family & ENJOY YOUR LIFE. This may be the only one you get. (but I am not convinced of that!)

God took one day off :)

Very true! It's hard to step away sometimes, but I try to occasionally take off time to do activities with my husband. I'm guilty of always bringing along my Blackberry and checking emails, though!

Yes take some time off everyone needs to have some fun with Friends and Family.

After about 7 years in this business I'm slowly learning this!

Even God rested on the 7th day! We need time to rest and enjoy how good life really is.

Christine:

taking time for yourself and your family is critical not only in out industry but in any field of work. We cannot put our bodies through the daily stressors of life continuously without rest.

Hi Christine, Having just spent a week in the local cardiac unit I am trying to adjust my work load.

Real estate is a career with no boundaries--it is 24/7. It is up to each agent to establish guidelines that work for them. Recharing with rest and relaxation is undervalued in our profession.

After my wife came down with breast cancer 4 years ago it hit me as to what really mattered in my life.....it changed her ....it changed me.....I make time for family and myself and everything else has its place....I haven't lost a client yet because of it....btw....she is cancer free so we are all smiles....

Christine, thanks for reminding us that most business related things can wait until tomorrow.

This is soooo true. After a harrowing week full of appointments and grumpy people (can you say full moon), I decided to take this Easter weekend off. After the Easter Egg hunt with my grandchildren, I check voice mail. "Hi this is (former client). Thanks for meeting with us last month. We've finally decided to put our house on the market. Can you come out this afternoon? " Um, no. Yes, even God took a day off, and I'm sure he had bigger fish to fry than I do.

I agree with you. I used to think I needed to work 24/7, not any more, I take time for myself and try to enjoy doing the simple things in life. Everyone needs time away from work even if it is to just stop and smell the roses.

Hi Christine -- Good for you. I zone out everyday in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, taking my two dogs hiking -- communing with nature, etc. It refreshes my spirit, mind and body in a way that nothing else can -- except a good licensed massage therapist (LMT) -- but the hiking is free! :)

IT's a balancing act for sure....Put your mind to it and you can do anything.

Patricia

IT's a balancing act for sure....Put your mind to it and you can do anything.

Patricia

I agree that personal time is important and we should take it and enjoy it.

Patricia

I agree that personal time is important and we should take it and enjoy it.

Patricia

Christine I just gave you some link love in my last post. Your's got me thinking. Thank you!!

There are blocks of time I leave my phone off. And I do feel relieved during those times. So while I am not always leaving it off for a day I get what you are saying

Good post right as we hit Easter Holiday. We need our batteries recharged, too.

Great post. I have found all work and no play make me less get me less business. Plus when I'm tired I tend to not focus on important little things that can cost me business.

I really try to leave my Sundays free-- tough if I'm doing an Open House... but for the most part, I don't schedule anything=-- work, social, golf, ANYTHING on Sunday. It is my reprieve! Kathy

I'm absolutely a workaholic so I'm always struggling with this. I'll be sitting there writing up an offer at midnight so that I can sleep better knowing it's done and out of the way. You give great advice, and one of these days I'll get better at following it.

You are so right. We all need time to enjoy life. All work and no play is no fun

My wife and I were just talking about this, I have earned the right to my time like the rest of the people that work for a living.

Christine - We can all use some time off. It makes a huge difference in so many aspects of our lives.

In order to be our most productive and effective we all need our time off -- or burn out we will. Many of us do so in many different ways, but time off is like a necessary life line.

One thing that does always seem to happen -- dare to plan and arrange everything for a week away -- and all kinds of stuff seems to happen as you are trying to get out the door! But unless it's a life or death matter -- continue out that door!

Sue of Robin and Sue

Hi Christine~ It can be very stressful especially when you put your heart and soul into real estate. Time off is definitely needed! It refreshes and rejuvenates!

I do my best to not work Saturday or Sunday. I work 60-60 hours a week Monday through Friday to allow my weekends to be mine.

The whole point of working for ourselves is fun..time when we need/want it...Good for you and congrats on the feature.

That's why I work for myself so I can schedule around important personal events.

APR

2010

Hi Christine. Awww, I bet you don't have a cranky bone in your body. Your point is a good one to take to heart however.

Does it count if I read your blog on my day off? Thanks, eaxcellent post.

Christine, we need to take some time off and enjoy life. Thanks for the reminder.

Christine: Isn't it great how such a seemingly small thing can bring such valuable rewards. Enjoy your time... you've earned it. :)

Awesome post!!! I recently attended a Mastermind session in New Orleans, and the biggest thing I learned was that there is never an emergency in real estate. I have worked over 90 hour weeks consistently in this career, and almost burned out. I couldn't agree with you post anymore than you do. Well done!!!

Christine, everyone needs a day off, and I mean off, unplugging it all.

I am taking today off, AR is relaxing for me, and my whole family went golfing after church and dinner.

I hope you're taking today off - have a happy Easter Sunday!

I have a problem unplugging it ALL. I still check emails and cell messages on days off. Even today. I replied to an email and a text to an agent who needed me.

It's great you've set boundaries because if you don't the 'real estate train' will run over you and you family.

When you are working - work with focus and intensity. When you are off - be off from work.

I took this entire weekend off. I did NOTHING that I didn't want to do. I walked, rode my bike, read a book, sat and watched the hostas grow. And I feel great and ready to go back to work tomorrow. It's been a long time since I took an entire weekend off.

APR

2010

thank you all for your comments and input. I took yesterday off and to my surprise had all these comments to read this morning. Hope you all enjoyed your weekend as much as I did!

We all definentely need a significant amount of R & R to stay on top of our game! I think that having some great help in place is also key...keeping your business running while you are relaxing from time to time is a good thing!

Christine,

This is the second time I heard this today. One agent earlier told me that I need to relax and don't have this feeling of it has to be done now. I'm always that type of person working seven days a week. It's killing me. I really need to focus more on me and my family. You know I am going to take your advice right now... It's three and I am closing down for the rest of the day. It's my son's birthday and I am going to pick him up early from daycare to spend more time with him!!!! He deserves it and I DO TOO!! Thanks for your advice.

APR

2010

Good point Christine,

there is an old German saying. Only wood works all the time. Are we REALTORS wood or what? LOL

I say if we can't do our jobs within 40 to max 48 hours per week and have at list 4 weeks vacation per year, then we should be doing an other job.

Realtor Timo Kansas City

Christine, Great advice. I think I should heed your advice.

APR

2010

Awesome post!!

AUG

2010

Kudo's It's your decision who runs your life. Thank you for writing about this and being a good example for others.

APR

Christine,

Thanks for the great post. I'm learning to take time off, but it's hard. My wife told me the other day that I take too many phone calls. So, I've decided to take Sundays off. No phone calls after 8. And last but not least, turn the phone off during family time.

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Christine Schneider, Realtor/SFR

Edgewater, FL

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Schultz Realty

Address: 3329 Queen Palm Drive, Edgewater, FL, 32141

Office Phone: (386) 846-3383

Cell Phone: (386) 689-5438

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