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Top 10 Things to do To ENJOY Your Time Off

By
Real Estate Agent with 101 Main St. Realty 518539

Top 10 Things to do to Enjoy Your Time Off.




A weekend at Matagorda, TX

10. Recognize that just because you are enjoying time off, does not mean that you are abandoning your responsibilities.  If an emergency comes up, you can still take care of it -- or better yet -- delegate it to someone who can. Even doctors take time off. They have a trusted colleague who is on call for them.




9. Prepare for your time off by tying up all loose ends and leaving detailed information for your trusted colleague who will be taking care of things for you while you are away.

 

Quick trip to Eureka S[rings for the Passion Play8. If you are taking multiple days off, prepare your clients by letting them in on the vacation plans. They will be excited for you once you show them how you have tied up all of the lose ends, and provided them with the same detailed list of information that you have given the trusted colleague.  This shows them how important they are to you and assures them that your colleague is prepared to help them at any given time.
 


7. Inform friends, family, and clients to contact your trusted colleague in case of emergency. Assure them that your trusted colleague is the FASTEST way to contact you in case of an emergency.  
 



Shot at the Great Sand Dunes6. Know the difference between an emergency and a concern.  The scheduled closing for today is not going to close because you, the listing agent who is in North Carolina on vacation, did not sign the last page of the sales contract.  THAT is an emergency! Docusign it to me and I can sign it on my cell phone!  




5. Schedule “needs and wants” for when you return. Just because your seller has changed the color of the hand towel in the half bath, DOES NOT MEAN that you have to leave the spa in the middle of your massage to go and take a new picture of the “remodeled” half bath. WHY were you answering your phone during the massage in the first place?! Hello!!
 
 


Taken at a Family Reunion in Rowlette, Texas4. Get over your fear that someone might think less of you for taking time off. The opposite could be true. People may wonder why you can not manage your time well enough to take even a day off. If you can’t manage your own time, how will you manage the time it will take to find someone a home or to get one sold? OR BOTH! (Oh my!)   
 


3. If you will be away for multiple days and will only be checking emails from your trusted colleague, set up an auto response for your email account(s) explaining that you will be away from email until a specific date and that, if it is an emergency, the fastest way to contact you would be to call (you guessed it) your trusted  colleague.
 


Genesis 2:32.  Get off of the pedestal. Recognize that you are not more important than, attorneys, bakers,  CPA’s, dishwashers, ditch diggers, doctors, firefighters, golf pros, nurses, pilots, police officers, professors, WalMart greeters, xylophone players, zoo keepers, or any other person. Every profession allows for time off.
 


1. Be like Nike and JUST DO IT!

WHY?
 
 
Because YOU CAN!

You are blessed!

 

Enjoy your time off!
 


Top 10 Things to do to Enjoy Your Time Off.



Comments (79)

Margie Kopp Sorrell
Coldwell Banker Lake Oconee Realty and Lake Country - Greensboro, GA
Lake Oconee Real Estate

I forgot to mention that his method doesn't necessarily work for everyone. I prefer to break my vaca days up into smaller segments and a little more frequent. Keeps me from going crazy waiting for those days off! And I say that with all due respect to my job as a Realtor (which I love).

Feb 01, 2012 02:40 AM
Gina Tufano
Ask Gina & Company with Pearson Smith Realty - Sterling, VA
Ask Gina & Company, Northern Virginia Real Estate

You are so correct, proper planning can give everyone a deserving break every once in awhile!

Have a nice day!

Feb 01, 2012 02:45 AM
Carie Shapiro
North Shore Suburbs & Chicago Real Estate - Evanston, IL

Although not always easy to achieve, balance is so important.  Time for work and time for play.  It seems like Murphy's Law always happens while playing -- but as you pointed out, there is a difference between an emergency and concern.  At least now with all the technology, there are ways to turn the mountains into molehills. 

Feb 01, 2012 02:52 AM
Ciara Brennan
Mass Homes Realty - Hanover, MA

In this profession we actually have to decide to take a day off and schedule it. Otherwise, we will always find something to do!

Feb 01, 2012 02:55 AM
Steven Zimmerman
Belloise Realty Tropical - New Port Richey, FL
Husband & Father, @Gulf_Harbors Resident Realtor

Joni,

Good afternoon and great post. So many people / Realtors as well are the worst at time management.

Sure, everyone needs 'time off' but my issue is ... don't be afraid to share it ! 

I love time off ...at our Canal front Pool, Private Gulf front Beach, even while Coaching our local Pop Warner Football Team, and have always been very up front with my Clients about my personal / Family time.

Fortunately, most of my Clients are very understanding, but then I'm not just selling Homes ... I offer a Lifestyle ! The very same I enjoy and can be found posting about to my Facebook and Twitter pages, but I guess that's the price I pay for my 'free time' while living on Florida's Gulf of Mexico.

Have a great day ... later we've got Basketball Practice ;)

Steven Zimmerman Realtor ABR GRI

Feb 01, 2012 03:25 AM
Joni Bailey
101 Main St. Realty - Huntsville, TX
Your Huntsville / Lake Livingston Area REALTOR®

Erv: EXCELLENT!

Andy: We've all needed to hear this at some point and probably will again! HA!

Margie: We have to do what works for us. Your FIL sounds like a great man and YOU are a GORGEOUS bride. I love your profile picture!! :)))

Thank you Gina!

Carie: EXACTLY!

Ciara: I put my personal time on my schecule and treat it as if it is an appointment with someone else. (Of course special circumstances can change things... but again, know the difference in an EMERGENCY and a Concern).

You go, Steve!! I like your lifestyle! Have a great basketball practice! GO TEAM!

Feb 01, 2012 05:09 AM
Terrie Leighton
Ferrari-Lund Real Estate - Reno, NV
Reno Real Estate Agent ~ Selling Homes in Reno

"Letting Go" and "Delegating" are probably two very hard things most self employed folks have a difficult time doing. But this is such a great list of ways and reasons why we all need to take a little time off. Worth reblogging for sure. Thank you for the terrific post Joni.

Feb 01, 2012 07:05 AM
Mike Yeo
3:16 team REALTY - Frisco, TX

Execllent points Joni. We should take time off to recharge

Feb 01, 2012 07:08 AM
Pam Miller
Realty Associates - Conroe, TX
Broker Associate - Water Crest on Lake Conroe

Joni - I am late to the party....again!  Really, really great post!  When I get too wrapped up in real estate, I lose my sunny disposition!@# 

Feb 01, 2012 07:16 AM
Bryan Robertson
Los Altos, CA

I'm addicted to my business and not letting go has ruined a couple of vacations because I didn't properly delegate my work.

These days, I will NOT take call from any client for any reason while I'm away.  I can't relax if I have to re-engage.

Feb 01, 2012 07:26 AM
Joni Bailey
101 Main St. Realty - Huntsville, TX
Your Huntsville / Lake Livingston Area REALTOR®

Thank you, Terrie!

Mike: Absolutely! And your precious wife and son deserve some of YOU! ☺

Pam: I can NOT imagine you without your sunny disposition! :)))

Bryan: You go, boy!

Feb 01, 2012 08:01 AM
RealSupport, Inc.
RealSupport Inc. - Schaumburg, IL
- Virtual Real Estate Marketing

Joni, this was the perfect post! Taking time off is supposed to be relaxing, not stressful! Doing these things before you take a few days for yourself will ensure that you're not spending your days off thinking about work. After all, you're trying to escape, not create more stress!

Great blog. Thank you so much for posting it!

Feb 01, 2012 09:22 AM
David Krichmar
www.DaveYourMortgageGuy.com - Legend Lending - Sugar Land, TX
DaveYourMortgageGuy.com

Joni, awesome post.  We all need to do this and i think it also goes for "family" time.  You need to have a balance. 

Feb 01, 2012 10:01 AM
Joni Bailey
101 Main St. Realty - Huntsville, TX
Your Huntsville / Lake Livingston Area REALTOR®

VA: And we can hire folks like you to take care some of the other things for us while we are away. Like putting listings on MLS, resizing our photos, claiming our listings on Zillow... etc.

Dave: You are so right!!

Feb 01, 2012 11:16 AM
Lindsey Hasford
Edina Realty - Elk River, MN
Bringing you home...

Joni! This deserved the feature that you got!!! And, I'm happy that you have so many comments to reply too. Hopefully you aren't going on vacation today.... LOL. You offer great reminders of why time off is not only important, but doable and necessary. Sometime soon I'll be hanging up the phone to head to Texas!

Feb 01, 2012 11:43 AM
Steve Hoffacker
Steve Hoffacker LLC - West Palm Beach, FL
Certified Aging In Place Specialist-Instructor

Joni,

This post is now featured on "Tuesday's Treasures." Congratulations. :)

Steve

Feb 01, 2012 01:02 PM
Donald Reich
Prudential Centennial - New Rochelle, NY

Joni, these are great vacation tips! And remember, everyone needs a day off sometimes!

Feb 01, 2012 02:42 PM
Sandy Acevedo
951-290-8588 - Chino Hills, CA
RE/MAX Masters, Inland Empire Homes for Sale

I have no problem taking time off. I can't always shut off my brain, though. It keeps wondering what is going on. So when this happens, I opt for one of those glasses with the umbrella in it, or one with the purplish stuff in it.

Feb 01, 2012 05:05 PM
Liz and Bill Spear
Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com - Mason, OH
Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs

Joni, Taking time off and totally shutting down?  It's just not something I'm wired to do.  If there's a physical way to do it, I'm probably checking my day job email, Liz's real estate related email, and yes, visting the Rain! :)  Bill

Feb 01, 2012 10:21 PM
Mimi Foster
Falcon Property Company - Colorado Springs, CO
Voted Colorado Springs Best Realtor

Congratulations on the feature, and thank you for your kind words.  Sometimes it's fun to keep them guessing :D

Feb 02, 2012 03:01 AM