Whether you’re refining your business model, mastering new technology, or finding a strategy to take advantage of the next market boom, Inman Connect New York prepares you to take a bold step. The next chapter is about to begin. Please join us. Join us and thousands of other real estate leaders from January 22-24, 2025.
Every year, most people make at least one New Year’s resolution. What you are most likely to break is to value yourself more.
Whether you’re planning to exercise regularly, lose some holiday weight, or spend more time with your loved ones, those goals can get pushed aside when work or personal obligations get in the way. I’ll put it away.
As we head into 2025, self-care needs to be a daily priority, not just a solution. If you’re ready to start putting self-care first in 2025, here’s how.
Schedule time for self-care and recharging before you schedule anything else
It’s not uncommon for real estate agents to suffer from burnout. The real estate business requires long working hours, constant customer service, high-stakes negotiations, and often at the expense of personal health.
The most common mistake real estate agents make is not scheduling a personal vacation and treating that time slot like a listing reservation. In other words, don’t cancel your appointment with yourself unless there is an emergency or other emergency.
If a buyer or seller tries to invade your family or personal time, here’s how to respond:
Agent: “I have another commitment at that time. Would 2pm or 7pm tomorrow be more convenient for you?”
There is no need to justify or explain what your promise is. Note that “no” is a complete sentence.
Create a personalized self-care plan
Creating a personalized self-care plan involves a combination of daily habits, setting regular times to relax and recharge, and enjoying some pampering along the way. The ideal recharging routine is different for everyone, but one proven approach is to tap into four core areas: physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional.
By incorporating habits that include all four areas, you can create a sustainable routine that boosts your energy while protecting your health.
1. Fuel and physically recharge your body for peak performance
Recharging physically is one of the most effective ways to begin your self-care journey. Good physical health means better stamina, better mental clarity, and even more resilience. Important things to consider are:
Make sleep a priority: Lack of sleep can lead to burnout, stress, and decreased productivity. Set a non-negotiable bedtime and aim for at least one “deep sleep” morning a week to allow your body to fully recover.
Move your body every day: You don’t have to do strenuous movements to see results. Try fitting a short daily walk, a yoga session, or even an at-home workout into your schedule. Many real estate agents find that daily physical activity reduces stress and helps them stay sharp when working with clients.
Choose healthy nutrition: A job in real estate can be a low-hanging fruit. Planning ahead with easy-to-eat, healthy snacks and meals will keep you energized throughout the day without stimulating your body with caffeine and sugar. Apps like MyFitnessPal and Noom allow you to track what you’re eating and make healthier decisions on the go.
2. Clear your mind and recharge mentally
Mentally recharging involves finding ways to quiet your mind and shut out the stressors in your life. Here are some tips.
Stop multitasking: It is important to realize that effective concentration only occurs when the mind is focused on a single task. The conscious brain (frontal lobe) can only focus on one thought at a time. The truth is, when you think you’re multitasking, you’re actually task-shifting. Shifting tasks not only takes more time, but also reduces the quality of the work completed.
Meditation: Meditation apps like Headspace and Calm offer quick, guided sessions to help you mentally recharge. Just 10 minutes of mindfulness a day can improve mental clarity and reduce stress.
Engage in a spiritual hobby: Shift your focus from real estate by solving crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, word games, or games like chess. These activities distract your mind from worries and give you a chance to play with your mind.
Journal: Keeping a journal is a powerful way to not only clear your mind of clutter, but also to spark solutions to problems you’ve been having trouble solving.
3. Reconnect with what matters and recharge spiritually
Many people overlook mental well-being, despite the powerful role it plays in resilience, motivation, and stress reduction. Spirituality comes in many forms. Here are some suggestions.
Immerse yourself in nature: Spending time outdoors and interacting with nature has been proven to reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and lift your mood. Make it a weekly habit to visit a park, go for a hike, or simply enjoy your morning coffee peacefully outdoors. Expressing gratitude in moments like these can be even more powerful.
Participate in activities that connect your body and mind and recharge your spirit. Yoga, tai chi, and prayer typically help you enter a calmer state of mind and increase relaxation. Many people experience a deep sense of peace and increased energy when they perform these practices. You can easily incorporate these into your daily life by signing up for live classes or watching online videos.
Engage in acts of service: Helping others is a proven way to nourish your spirit. Whether it’s volunteering in your community, mentoring a child in school, or simply being a helpful resource for your clients, acts of kindness and generosity bring a sense of purpose and fulfillment. Also, when you give something back to others, it always comes back to you, often in unexpected ways.
4. Fill your cup with joy and recharge your emotions
In a business centered around serving others, real estate agents often prioritize their customers’ needs over their own, leaving little emotional energy for themselves. Recharging your emotions is essential for real estate agents, and it’s surprisingly easy.
Laughter therapy: Studies have shown that laughter releases endorphins, reduces stress, and even boosts immunity. Make a habit of watching funny shows, reading humorous books, and sharing laughter with friends and family.
Strengthen your relationships: Set a regular time to meet with family and friends and make an effort to be present. Research shows that spending quality time with loved ones not only reduces stress but also increases life satisfaction.
Practice Gratitude: It’s helpful to start and end each day by listing five things you’re grateful for. Also, if you are expressing gratitude, it is virtually impossible to get angry. This is a great habit that will help you start and end your day with a more grounded and positive outlook.
Incorporate self-care into your daily life
Once you have planned your recharge plan, the next step is to incorporate it into your daily life. It’s best to start by setting aside time for self-care just like you would any other commitment. Treat it as a promise, not an option.
Stay on track with technology
Many cell phones have apps that track steps, sleep, heart rate, and stress levels. Technological tools like Fitbits and Apple watches can also monitor these and assess how well your self-care is going.
Small actions can cause big changes
Taking small action steps consistently will yield big results over time. Examples include drinking water when you wake up, taking a 5-minute stretch break every hour, and setting an alarm to take a lunch break, walk, or time to wind down from the day.
Evaluate and readjust regularly
Life can change quickly, especially in real estate. Review your self-care plan every few months to make sure it aligns with your needs and lifestyle. Please be flexible and adjust as needed.
Are you ready to embrace a happier, healthier you?
If so, start by making self-care a priority. By working on your own well-being, you will not only improve your quality of life, but you will also experience more energy, productivity, resilience, and most importantly, more productive business and satisfaction. You can have a good personal life.
Bernice Ross, President and CEO of BrokerageUP and RealEstateCoach.com and founder of RealEstateWealthForWomen.com, is a national speaker, author, and trainer who has published more than 1,500 articles.
