Admin

If you are a STRESSED out Realtor...READ THIS! Fool proof stress busters!!

By
Real Estate Agent with 360 Realty 239529

Hello everyone out there in Realtor land.  Tracey here in Sunny Greensboro, NC in bloggersvile.  Last night was a local builder's yearly party for all of the Realtors that have sold one of their properties throughout the year.  There was a DJ, lots of nice food, and FREE BOOZE.  So, as you can guess...there were quite a few Realtors enjoying free booze. 

I was with my sister, who also happens to be a broker under me, and we had a terrific time!  But with all good things, I noticed a few things that I wanted to chat with the world about.  It seems that 3 out of 4 Realtors wanted to complain, bitch, moan, stress, and generally talk down about our profession in "this market".  I can understand that yes, this is a trying time to be in real estate.  I understand you are stressed out.  I get it. 

So instead of saying all the clique things like, "it will get better" or "just wait it out"...I went searching for ways to RELIEVE REALTOR STRESS!!!  So here goes...

1. LOL cats.  Google LOL cats and video and you will discover or possibly rediscover the funniest thing on the interweb.  If I am dealing with 11 closings and my phone is ringing, and I am frazzled...I take a minute and LITERALLY Laugh out loud.  Seriously, TRY and watch the videos without even a giggle.

2. Start FIESTA FRIDAYs in your office!  We initiated plan Fiesta Friday a couple years back, and if we have had a particularly rough week...we throw a party at the office!  We invite staff, friends, and clients to the office.  Last time, we got a grill and some hotdogs and cooked out.  We bought the "Margarator" for homemade Margaritas, and we partied in the parking lot like college kids.  Random folks driving home stopped in too!

3. Bring tennis shoes to the office.  In the middle of the day...WALK!  Get your booty on the street and walk it out!  I am also a bit fan of punching things.  My sister bought the man shaped punching/self defense guy and he is terrific.  Kick, scream, punch, and all together kick ass on this guy!  He could care less.  AND you are less likely to bring it back into the office

4. Buy a KREUG one cup coffee maker!  These things are the bomb!  We bought one and now we all have tea and coffee time together.  Makes the office smell amazing, and you don't waste any coffee because you make one perfect cup at a time!

5. Buy a Nerf Dart gun of some sort!  There is no adrenaline rush like hiding behind a door in the middle day and running out to shoot a coworker in the beak over the cubicle!  We have a fun styrofoam type gun with multiple bullets.  I am thinking about getting the Rambo one with a clip of a hundred bullets!  Wham!  Be scared office mates!

6. Bring your pet to work day!  We often have dogs in the office for the day.  It makes you smile, people are happier around dogs, and the dogs like it!  Unless they poop on the carpet...then it is not as much fun.  My mom often brings my "sister" Babette into the office on her pink harness wearing her Chanel perfume!  It's great.

7. Make a DREAM BOARD.  Every year I make a dream board of all the things I want to happen in my life.  I hang it on the wall across from my desk so that I can see it all day.  It is mostly pictures of tropical beaches and the abs I want to have one day.  So it is a nice escape, and all I have to do is look up.

8. Collect something weird!  I collect photos of people's teeth and cut them out.  Now I have a wall of teeth behind my desk.  When folks come in my office, it breaks the ice and then they want to know why I have teeth on the wall.  Of course, you could collect something normal...but weird is cool too.

9. Leave good magazines in the bathroom!  I have a basket of magazines in my bathroom here at the office and I "escape" at least 3 or 4 times a day.  Sometimes I don't even need to tinkle...I just wanna get away.  People, OK, and the juicy tabloids are in there, as are Maxim and Elle.  Don't take your phone either...get away!

10. SMILE.  Even if you don't feel like it.  And listed to your I-pod...that helps too.

 

Good luck all you stressed out Realtors.  Here's one Nerf bullet to your sanity!

 

Tracey G. Shrouder

360 Realty

www.360realtygreensboro.com

Show All Comments Sort:
Anonymous
Renee Files

Hey,

Thanks, Great tips.  We do need to lighten up a bit.  Find little things to help us thru those trying days.

Renee Files

Mar 27, 2009 12:32 AM
#15
Anonymous
Julie Raese

Great ideas!  We also have "secret santa" all year long.  You treat that one person during the year

for no reason.  It really means a lot!

Keep up the good work!

Julie

Mar 27, 2009 12:35 AM
#16
Anonymous
Patty Neri

Tracey

What a great blog!  If you cannot have fun in this business then why bother!  Everyone is under more stress these days thanks for taking the time to lighten it up for all of us.  We can all be more productive if we can stay a little more upbeat and not take ourselves too seriously.  Sounds like you are in a great office as am I.

Patty Neri, Keller Wiliams Realty, Palm Harbor, FL

Mar 27, 2009 12:49 AM
#17
Tom McClaren
United Country Dowd & Forbes Realty, Edenton, NC - Edenton, NC
Realtor/Broker putting your needs first

Tracey

Great blog!! Thanks for reminding us we need to have fun in this career and that it  can be stressful.  Plus, no one likes to be around those who are  constantly negative or complaining including buyers!!  Okay, got to go and find myself a nerf bazooka!

Tom McClaren, RE/MAX, Edenton, NC

Mar 27, 2009 01:38 AM
Tracy Santrock
Santrock Realty Group Inc. , - Cary, NC
Raleigh - Cary Broker

Tracey,

This is so cute!! In this environment it pays to have a sense of humor and a few cute ideas..

Mar 27, 2009 01:45 AM
Anonymous
Doreen Johan

Laughter is the best "medicine".  I have a grandson that often comes to my office, and he recently asked me about the "iburpoften" bottle on my desk....I was confused and had him repeat it, and then laughed when I realized he was looking at the "IBUPROFEN" medicine bottle.  He actually thought I had a medicine called "I BURP OFTEN".  I have been laughing for days about this.  Distractions, and respect for the MOMENT are what keep my stress to a minimum.   Every day has an opportunity for humor!  Pure and simple.  Thanks for the helpful reminders to do our best to keep stress AWAY!

Mar 27, 2009 01:45 AM
#20
DeAndrea "Dee Dee" Jones
Samson Properties - Manassas, VA
DMVRealEstateChick

Your greatest tip is to not take the phone with you to the bathroom.  We all have done that before.

Mar 27, 2009 03:14 AM
Eileen Begley
Coldwell Banker, DelMonte - Carmel, CA
Monterey Real Estate

Loved your blog Tracey! Think I will go find a nerf gun! Thanks for the smiles.

Mar 27, 2009 03:33 AM
Leslie Prest
Leslie Prest, Prest Realty, Sales and Rentals in Payson, AZ - Payson, AZ
Owner, Assoc. Broker, Prest Realty, Payson,

I checked out the LOL cats, and you're right- I laughed. And I'm going to try the walking in the middle of the day. Thanks.

Mar 27, 2009 05:37 AM
Jackie DeShazer
Montana Country Real Estate - Libby, MT

Hey Tracey,

Thanks for sharing I must admit that the google vidoe of the cat is pretty hilarious! Great tips for how to relaxe and have some fun in the middle of the week at the office.

Mar 27, 2009 09:49 AM
Patricia Beck
RE/MAX Properties, Inc., ABR, GRI, SRES - Colorado Springs, CO
Colorado Springs Realty

Sometimes it is tough to get away for a walk or a jog but when I do take a break, I always feel so much better!  I will definitely google #1 LOL.

Mar 27, 2009 11:46 AM
Jeff Daniel
John L. Scott Ocean Shores - Ocean Shores, WA
Managing Broker, John L. Scott 360.581.9020

Hi Tracey. Nice article. I got so stressed I hardly even go into the office anymore. I'm working from home all but for about 5 hours a day, two days a week and my numbers have been way up since i quit "the office..." Cheers!

Mar 27, 2009 01:48 PM
Sandy McAlpine
RE/MAX EXECUTIVE - Cornelius, NC
Search Lake Norman Homes For Sale - Lake Norman NC

What a wonderful blog. Very helpful information. I am going to try your linking tips this week. Thanks so much for sharing!

Mar 28, 2009 01:38 AM
Anonymous
Anonymous

Thanks for the upbeat message. Great to read.

Mar 28, 2009 02:20 AM
#28
Barbara Delaney
Park Place REALTORS, Inc. - Roanoke, VA

Dear Tracey,

What a fun post! Great stress reducing ideas!

Barbara

Mar 28, 2009 06:28 AM
Robin Turner
Happy House Real Estate - Cocoa Beach, FL
Robin Turner

Robin Turner Thanks for the inspiration. It helps counter all the negativity the News Media feeds us on a daily basis.

Mar 29, 2009 02:30 AM
Tracey Shrouder
360 Realty - Greensboro, NC
Listing Specialist

The one exception was the time I accidentally brought my phone into the potty with me, and it got me a new friend!!!  I was chatting with a salesperson from DS News, because it rang and we Realtors are trained to ANSWER it.  So I was chatting, and not even thinking about it...flushed!!!

Yes, I flushed.  I guess the cave like bathroom echoed, because after a few silent and a.w.k.a.r.d. seconds, he said, "Are you talking to me from the toilet?"  Instead of lying, I fessed up and said, "yes sir I am...even the best of us have to stop and pee".  From that moment on, I had a friend for life!

Joe, my buddy, from that moment on helped me in this industry.  One toilet flush, and we became instant friends.  Instead of him being a telemarketer to me, he became human, as did I for him.  He no longer works for DS news, but I ended up advertising with him and started getting REOs within the next 6 months.  In 2008, I sold 40 REO listings for more than 10 banks.  We are still friends, and YES...I still talk on the toilet sometimes.

Tracey :)

Mar 29, 2009 07:00 AM
Diana Santos
Douglas Elliman Real Estate - New Fairfield, CT
Real Estate Salesperson in New York & Connecticut

Hey Tracey - Great post!  Being happy is being healthy!  Lots of great ideas I will be using!

Diana

Mar 29, 2009 09:16 AM
Tony Favata
First Class Properties - Milford, DE

This was great! Sounds like a lot of fun! I think my coworkers might get a little mad if I shoot them with a dart gun, or held a party in the parking lot, but I could definitely get away with it at home....you know what they say.... what happens in my home, stays in my home!!! HAHA.

Mar 30, 2009 12:39 AM
Carol Simonson
ReMax - Westlake Village, CA

Brilliant ideas, absolutely brilliant!

Apr 26, 2009 07:20 PM