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As entrepreneurs and small business owners, we dream of our business ideas taking off. As real estate agents and broker-owners, we wear multiple hats on a daily basis. Sometimes we have so many tasks to do each day to make things happen that when our idea does take off, we no longer know our exact role or how to keep up. Burnout is real, and it can happen if you do not keep grounded and true to yourself. Here are some life hacks that help keep me balanced and focused in my real estate business.
Choose Your Attitude
You can choose how you feel and how you react to situations. It might be natural as your business is heating up to find yourself stressed and therefore having a shorter attention span or less patience around your employees. Something may happen completely out of your control, and you take this situation too personally and act out.
If the weather is bad, enjoy the fact that it is raining. When the weather is great, let it enhance your mood. If you get bad news, don’t allow it to impact who you are and how you operate. You can choose to dismiss it. The challenge is to choose to be cognizant of how a situation affects your mood, choose to shorten that window or allow it to impact you for a long time, if needed.
Instead of letting the stress of your busy day take over, be grateful your hard work is paying off and business is picking up.
Get Outside
As simple as it sounds, spending some time with Mother Nature can help keep you grounded and well. While it is not always easy to leave your computer screen, it’s better for your business if you make time to get outside and move around.
Research has found spending time in nature can help alleviate mental fatigue by relaxing and restoring the mind. The outdoors provide sunlight, which can help supply you with vitamin D and elevate your mood. Additionally, spending time outdoors can also improve your problem-solving skills. According to one 2012 study, participants who were immersed in nature performed 50% better on a cognitive test than they did previous to the multiday hike.
It can be hard to step away from the screen and put down the phone when your clients or employees require your attention. But let nature refresh your mind, body and soul for the good of your work. I value spending time outside, and I go hiking with my family every Sunday.
Practice Meditation
Meditation is a simple, effective method that can help you to improve your productivity. One study examined amygdala activity in the brain during meditation and found negative emotions and anxiety decreased. The study also found the distress-reducing effects of meditating can be recalled when someone is not in a meditative state, which can help with stress management. If you are completely relaxed and stress-free, then your mind will also work more effectively. I’ve personally found that meditation can also increase energy, creativity and increase the blood circulation of your brain.
Regularly invest some time into meditation so that you can gain some fruitful results in return. Acknowledge your thoughts and release without emotionally reacting. I personally meditate each morning. I use apps like Calm, Headspace or 10% Happier for quick meditation sessions that can last as little as two to five minutes.
Keep Up The Hustle
You may be thinking at this point, you are already putting in a full day of work and then some. While you are staying busy, keep up the hustle and stay on course.
Continue to find inspiration. I have a life book and a vision board which allow me to visualize the achievements I want to reach and keep me moving to reach bigger and better goals. While it is important to celebrate your achievements along the way, always continue to push forward.
Many real estate professionals and entrepreneurs are competitors at heart. Dig into your inner desire to compete. Find someone better than you at the job and work to try to reach their level. Or, you can add an accountability partner — this colleague or friend can help keep you on track to reach your business goals.
We all dream of our career plans coming to life, so when your real estate business is booming, remain calm and remember to enjoy the process. While staying focused on business, apply helpful practices like these to enjoy the process.