Balancing Stress and Success in the Real Estate Industry

Over eighty percent of new real estate agents experience burnout within their first two years on the job. This statistic isn't surprising given the demanding nature of the real estate industry. 

From searching and evaluating properties to listing them, realtors can be described as "busy bees." Additionally, the constant pressure to develop new approaches and methods to thrive in the saturated realty sector is mentally tiring. 

A lack of routine and schedule can make even the most upbeat agents experience signs of burnout. Although the industry’s nature makes burnouts hard to avoid you can steer clear from the brain drain. 

How?

By giving your well-being and business the attention they deserve sustainably while putting your needs first. 

But there's more. In this guide, we'll run you through what real estate agent burnout entails and how you can avoid it. 

Let's dive in!

What is Real Estate Agent Burnout? 

Burnout is a genuine threat in any industry, and the real estate industry is no different. 

Real estate agents working in hot markets are often busier than usual and more likely to experience burnout. Their hectic schedules make finding time for relaxation challenging. Since these agents grind it out regardless of prevailing circumstances, they become susceptible to burnouts in the long run.

Burnout is different from regular stress. Feeling physical exhaustion is normal when your workload suddenly doubles or triples. However, burnout symptoms include a lack of desire to work or increased tension that isn't alleviated through conventional stress management techniques. 

During burnouts, you'll experience Sunday Scaries more often. It's also possible that you'll lose interest in pursuing new clients. 

Although each person's root cause of burnout is unique, universal causes exist. Notable mentions include:

• Stress Over Sales

Sales being slow might make you feel stressed and eventually experience symptoms of burnout. 

Extreme pressure builds up when home sales fall short of what's required to maintain a comfortable standard of living. 

Although the real estate market has witnessed an upward trend since 2020, many people have lost their jobs. Conversely, those still gainfully employed have encountered reduced hourly wages.

So, if your client number and commissions are at an all-time low, it's normal for your financial worries to increase. Financial strain can be exhausting over time and lead to burnouts.

• Inadequate Work-Life Balance 

When the work-life balance of realtors leans too much in favor of work, burnout is a real possibility. Setting aside time for rest is essential for managing long-term stress and avoiding burnout. 

However, several realtors find it challenging to relax because they're constantly engaged by clients to facilitate profitable real estate deals. 

Although this might seem great (with the cash rolling in like no man's business), not taking breaks can steer you towards burnout territory.

How to Avoid Work Burnout 

Preventing burnout as a real estate agent requires conscious effort. For starters, you must discover why you're experiencing stress and burnout to successfully tackle it. 

Psychological assessment instruments like the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) can help you discover why workplace burnout occurs. Exhausted parents looking to manage job stress can utilize the Parental Burnout Inventory (PBI). 

With these tools, you can identify the reasons behind your burnout and take evasive action.

Here are some general tips that'll help you avoid burnout caused by any form of workplace stress:

1. Stay Organized

The real estate industry is highly logistical; therefore, easy access to all relevant data, including reports, properties, and contracts, is vital. Establishing a reliable method of tracking these datasets reduces the likelihood of missing important information.

Most agents use a real estate customer relationship management (CRM) system to monitor their data. These services aren't expensive; you'll find alternatives starting from $30 monthly.

If you're still deciding whether to commit to CRM, use your phone's calendar app to quickly enter any notes or appointments you have. With this calendar, you can monitor everything relating to your work and schedule. Also, you're less likely to overbook yourself, which is one of the many ways to prevent burnout.

2. Always Take Time for Yourself

The likelihood of making mistakes and experiencing frustration toward oneself and others increases once emotional exhaustion sets in.

Taking breaks from your office space is great for avoiding burnout at work and improving your mental health. You shouldn't wait for warning signs of potential burnout before excusing yourself from the office. Even if you must miss work for a day or set vacation time aside, giving yourself a break from work often is recommended.

Make time to relax and rejuvenate. Relaxing does wonders for your physical health and overall well being. You can use this time to address your physical complaints and other warning signs of burnout. 

In addition, a break gives your mind and body a chance to recharge. As such, you can go back to work without feeling drained. Studies show that people can accomplish more in fewer hours after getting enough physical and psychological rest. 

So, if you'd like to lead a positive life and cater adequately to your client's precise needs, taking a break to avoid burnout is non-negotiable.

3. Leverage Brokers Support 

Getting the proper amount of help and encouragement can significantly impact your career path and improve your general well-being. Many real estate agents are employed by firms that provide inadequate resources for them to seamlessly execute their jobs. 

Working in such firms can negatively affect your well-being and make you physically exhausted. 

One way to reduce burnout as an agent is by engaging a broker with the resources to help you excel as a realtor, including the time, space, and expertise necessary for success.

To make the right pick, ensure you outline your needs. Do you need any advice, accountability, or mentorship? If your wants aren't catered to by your current broker, do yourself a solid and look elsewhere.

4. Create a Work/Life Balance

One of the many tips for avoiding burnout and work-related stress as a realtor is creating a healthy balance between work and social activities. 

Squeeze in a quick yoga session or stroll in between work activities. You can also set aside time each week to talk to a family member, either virtually or physically. Just make sure you're comfortable with your preferred communication route.

Since time is a scarce resource, setting aside time for leisure may make you feel like you aren't as productive as you once were. But doing things that aren't related to work can have a positive effect and help you get more done when you're actually working.

5. Maintain Proper Stress Management 

Exercising and taking deep breaths are free, low-effort ways to avoid burnout and improve your well being. If you feel overwhelmed, going for a stroll around the street is advised. Alternatively, you can perform regular exercise that gets your body moving.

Taking time away from work to focus on a creative pursuit or a pastime is one of the best ways for avoiding burnouts and improving your mental health. 

Also, maintaining proper sleep habits is an essential stress management technique. To combat burnout and low productivity, take your night's sleep seriously. 

6. Plan Meals and Activities

Planning your meals and weekend activities is regarded as one of the best tips to avoid burnout and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Organizing your meals for the week and planning your weekend in advance makes your life less hectic and more enjoyable. 

Incorporate healthy and filling into your meal plans. Eating well increases your stamina and enhances your cognitive ability. Hence, if you want to perform at your best, choose foods that are readily accessible and beneficial to your physical and mental health.

7. Seek Help When Needed

Seeking assistance while struggling is a great stress and burnout prevention strategy. An essential aspect of understanding how to reduce burnout is by seeking help from a professional group, a therapist or counselor, or a trusted friend. Counseling services are provided by various groups and organizations to assist real estate professionals.

Once you notice the symptoms of job burnout or negative emotions, don't suppress them. Rather, seek support. Whether you'd prefer professional counseling or venting to a buddy, help is readily available when you need it.

Feeling exhausted by your job is a common occurrence among people. Realtors frequently experience job stress and burnout. However, your reactions determine the outcome, professionally and personally.

8. Use a Schedule

What's one way to prevent burnout as a realtor? An effective method is creating and adhering to a schedule. When you write down your to-dos and stick to them, you'll feel motivated by your progress and relieved that you're not drowning in work. 

Furthermore, a proper schedule would help you avoid crowding your day with different tasks that stress you out. You'll discover you have extra time in your day for self-care if you can exercise the discipline necessary to follow up your schedule.

9. Learn to Say "No"

Shortening your work hours is the only option if you want more time for leisure activities or socializing. As such, you might need to decline certain tasks that may present themselves. However, this is a challenging feat, especially in a commission-based industry where your earnings are based on how many transactions you execute.

Although you may be feeling guilty about it, saying no might be the only way to keep your sanity and reduce stress. Remember that only one person is responsible for your mental health — YOU!

Therefore, prioritize your needs, even if that means declining an opportunity that could catapult your professional growth. 

10. Set Limits

It's easy to get caught up in a single project or customer's demands, negatively impacting your well-being as time passes. But you can avoid this by imposing time limits and tight deadlines for yourself. 

For instance, you might only want to spend a certain timeline attending to real estate prospects daily. As such, set a timer specifying how long you'd like to remain focused on this task.

Setting limits reduces the possibility of burnout and will help you free up a surprising amount of time. As a result, you'll be able to take on more customers, make more sales, and increase your earnings — all at your own pace!

11. Focus on Your Strengths

Conduct a self-assessment to determine your strengths and weaknesses at an organizational level. This assessment will reveal your strong points so that you can hone them. 

You'll experience increased job satisfaction by devoting more time to working in such a place and developing your skills. When you're happy with your role, you won't encounter stress or burnout symptoms. 

Also, establish connections with other realtors and outsource jobs you can't perform proficiently to them. Doing this doesn't mean you're avoiding challenges beyond your comfort zone. Instead, this strategy allows you to grow your business while preventing burnout.

12. Celebrate Your Success

Celebrating your accomplishments is an essential step towards stress and burnout prevention. When you celebrate your little wins, you're encouraged to work harder towards the next goal. 

Hence, create time to celebrate once you've accomplished a milestone. You can do this in various ways, including gifting yourself, getting a specialty coffee, or hiking for a few hours.

You can also celebrate with your team to improve employee engagement and foster streamlined operations within your realty business.

Final Thoughts 

In the real estate industry, burnouts are a constant. You'll find realtors working late nights to close deals and earn juicy commissions. 

At first, this might seem like a worthy endeavor. However, as time goes on, your mental health suffers, leaving you susceptible to burnouts.

If you find yourself in this spot, it's normal to make Google searches along these lines — how to avoid burnout? Thankfully, you can weave past burnouts by implementing the suggestions highlighted in this guide. Godspeed!

Burnouts have been associated with realtors from time immemorial. But things are changing. To avoid getting stressed about client acquisition and retention, subscribe to the Icons of Real Estate Podcast. On each episode, you can listen to our guests dole out tips and tricks vital to becoming a top realtor within your target market. Tune in today!