Break Out Before You Burn Out-- How to Step Away From Real Estate

I had a friend actually SHOW a home on Christmas Day. It was my listing and I was stunned she wanted to show it. My clients said, sure, send them over. Two Doctors who were VERY arrogant. DON'T do this! 

Spot on and a well deserved featured post Doug Rogers . I've burned both ends of the candle and it's not a pretty sight. We will all fall into that trap evey now and then. When we do, stop, breath and take time out to rest and re-energize. Great post. 

Great post, Doug. Is reading your blog at 10:38pm a problem, then?  You hit the nail on the head with this article! This can certainly be a 24/7 job if you let it.  You just to time block when to start and, more importantly, when to stop.

Hi Doug - I certainly don't want to be like a phone with a dead battery! What a great analogy you hit upon. I have 7 more minutes, then computer is off and I'm done for the day!

Excellent advice and I would add to that to find time to take a short walk in a 24 hour period.

Thank you for this. Being a new agent I work 24/7. I answer texts and email all day and night. I feel like I'm new and I want to keep every client that comes my way. I have to force myself not to wake up roll over and check email. This article prompts me to talk to my manager about time managment.
I feel guilty when I can't show homes when my clients want to see them because my kids are home from school. 2:30-8:30. Is a rough time because I'm a single mom doing homework, making dinner and bathing my kids and putting them to bed. And I'm returning msg while dinner is cooking. I must grind out

One of the toughest things for this ole redneck to learn.. BALANCE.... 

WOW!  Sometimes you hear a message when you need to hear it.  In the mortgage business, I do the same kind of shedule, working until 11 last night.  Great wake up call.

Great list and post Doug Rogers! We all have to know when to "put the cork in the bottle" at the end of each work day. Likewise with healthy eating, exercise and getting enough sleep. Studies do show that after 10 straight hours of working your efficiency can be as low as 10% capacity in the hours that follow, and that you will spend more time fixing the mistakes you made in those "extra innings" than you would have originally spent by just working a reasonable day and not making the mistakes in the first place.  Of course, ALL of that is easier said than done!

Great agents know it's all about balance

All wonderful advice. I especially like that you encourage agents to set their working hours - and that the good clients will respect that.

I write bios and other marketing material for real estate, and often agents will tell me one of their strengths is being available 24/7. I tell them to STOP THAT!

No one respects a door mat, and it won't take long for you to hate your clients.

Hi Doug

There is some pretty savvy advice here for all to listen to, and follow whenever possible. It's pretty easy to let yourself get sucked into non-stop work which does no one any good.

Jeff

Great post OMG so easy to fall into the 24/7 agent role - great idea about 7pm -wouldnt it be nice to have some family time too!  Thank you Doug.

So important to set  yourself up to succeed!

Great post, Doug and congrats on the feature.  Balance is so important and I struggle with it, but I have made progress.  I found that not setting any boundaries was causing some texts, calls and emails before 7 am and after 9 pm. Being available is part of what we sign up for, but answering inquiries at all hours is a quick way to burnout.

Oh we've all been there....ignore and snap at the ones we love when overworked and stressed.  This is usually b/c clients do not understand we are juggling several deals at once, all in various stages.  Taking some time off--even just a half hour --planning a vacation, turning the phone down--crucial to long term mental health.

I love the advice as well as the comments therefollowing.  I cannot however, work well with those parameters at this time.

For me, working late seems to be what needs to happen.  Here in Seattle, where people get off work 4:30-7pm then slog our horrific traffic just to see a house before they lose it.... I need to be available to show houses 6pm-9pm when the lockbox stills works.  I start taking calls at 10am and if it needs attention before then, my biz partner handles those.

I enjoy working late at night when the phones stop ringing.

As to scheduling days off.... novel concept! lol  I will book times for a play, movie, social time off.  Entire week off was horrible.  It's interesting to hear other people's take on what works!

All very good points. Its' so easy to skip meals, not drink enough water, and work non-stop.  Shutting down and being present is very important for a family!

Preach it Doug, preach it. GREAT MESSAGE!