Escaping the Busy Trap: Avoiding Burnout as a Realtor
My Uncle Art, a successful realtor, was a hardworking man with a heart-felt mission to sell houses in and around New York.
As a child, I cherished Saturdays spent with him at open houses (which always included a lunch date at McDonald's between appointments). He was a role model for me, his smile widened whenever he declared, “Sold!” – which was often in his line of work.
But because of his go-go-go mentality, Uncle Art never seemed to have a moment for himself. His frantic real estate career consumed him, leaving little time for family or relaxation. Tragically, he passed away at 52 from a stress-related stroke.
Relator Burnout: Common Busy Traps
It's easy to get caught in the cycle of busyness. Time management is crucial in maximizing efficiency each workday. In the long run, it's about working smarter, not harder.
In the real estate industry, agents and brokers often fall victim to burnout due to significant time wasters, such as social media, multitasking, email, manual processes, and perfectionism.
The good news is that these traps are avoidable using a proven framework I have created and outlined in my book, Beyond Busyness: How to Achieve More by Doing Less.
I would like to introduce you to the three steps of the Busy-Busting Framework:
Subtraction: Eliminating non-essential tasks to focus on what truly matters, freeing up valuable time and energy.
Mojo-Making: Focusing on activities that boost energy and motivation, improving productivity and personal well-being.
Values-Vibing: Aligning daily actions with core values to ensure meaningful and purposeful use of time.
Let's examine common realtor busy traps and how their solutions fit into the Busy-Busting Framework.
Social Media for Relators: The Digital Rabbit Hole
Social media is a double-edged sword for both up-and-coming and seasoned realtors. While it is an income-generating activity, it also can quickly become a time sink. How often have you logged in to post a listing, only to find yourself scrolling mindlessly 20 minutes later? More times than you care to admit, I bet.
To combat this, time block your social media usage. Use tools like Meta Suite (for Facebook and Instagram) or the LinkedIn native scheduler to schedule posts without getting sidetracked by notifications.
This approach aligns with the first step of my framework: Subtraction. Automating your social media presence eliminates low-value activities, allowing you to focus on high-value tasks that nurture your clients and increase home sales.
Multitasking: The Myth of Efficiency
Contrary to popular belief, multitasking doesn't increase efficiency; it decreases it. Moving attention between tasks stops your cognitive flow. In fact, multitasking can kill your productivity by up to 40% and increase errors by 2.5%!
Enter single-tasking.
Schedule times on your calendar for single activities, like prospecting calls or contract work. Protect these slots by silencing your phone with Do Not Disturb and finding a quiet workspace.
Focusing on one task at a time improves your productivity and reduces stress. You can also use this step to block off time for mindfulness practices: savoring a piece of dark chocolate, stretching at your desk, or practicing deep breathing.
Single-tasking perfectly embodies my Mojo-Making step, which emphasizes creating happiness rituals that result in increased energy, focus, and a positive mindset.
Email Overload: The Constant Distraction
Emails are a necessary evil in real estate, but constant checking is a productivity killer. The average worker checks their email 36 times an hour—an alarming statistic I am sure you have fallen victim to in your career.
To regain control, only check your email several times a day. Turn off notifications and consider delegating routine email tasks to an assistant. To avoid junk emails distracting you, unsubscribe from any newsletters that don’t align with your business.
This practice not only aligns with Subtraction but also with Value Vibing, which is about spending time on tasks that align with your core priorities and values.
Manual Processes: The Redundant Routine
Automation is key to avoid realtor burnout. Manual processes waste time and energy. Invest in a robust CRM system, like Salesforce or Hubspot, to automate lead generation, client communications, and transaction management.
You can also consider using ChatGPT as a brainstorming tool for creating property descriptions and listing narratives. It is good practice not to take the output as-is, so use it only as a prompt to help you publish the listing in ample time.
Automation is a component of Subtraction, which encourages you to focus on what matters: building relationships and closing deals.
Perfectionism in Real Estate: The Unattainable Goal
Perfectionism is paralyzing.
In real estate, specific tasks demand precision, but not everything always needs to be flawless. Here are some tips you can adopt to combat perfectionism:
Save your focused attention for contracts and client interactions.
For less important tasks, adopt a "good enough" mindset.
Set tighter deadlines to create urgency and prevent your preoccupation with perfection.
By prioritizing precision where it truly counts, you free yourself to seize the day, aligning with the principles of the Busy Busting Framework.
Choosing Meaning Over Mayhem
A career in real estate is demanding but can be manageable with the right tools. It’s all about maximizing your time to focus on income-generating activities.
My Uncle Art's story poignantly reminds us of the cost of unchecked busyness. Let it be a catalyst for change in your professional life. Embrace the Busy Busting Framework, and you will boost your productivity and add the word “Sold!” to your vocabulary.
Want to know what other tasks are holding you back from success? Take the Busy Barometer to learn how your preoccupation with a packed schedule affects your well-being in over seven areas of your life.
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