As real estate agents, we have the luxury of creating our own schedule. While this may seem like a great advantage from the outside, we on the inside know how difficult it is to find time for our own lives in such a competitive, fast-paced business. Over time, your family life, social life, and even your sleep schedule may begin to suffer due to your well-intentioned dedication to creating a successful real estate business.

Today, we’re sharing recommendations to improve your work-life balance. Whether you’re new to the industry or are a seasoned pro looking to regain some time for yourself and your loved ones, our tips will help you navigate this tricky dynamic.

It Never Stops

A successful real estate career means that you’ll always have a pile of tasks waiting to be completed. If you aren’t careful, it can feel impossible to move from one type of task to another, especially because you’ll probably have to leave some portion of your work incomplete for the moment.

Our Tip: Create a schedule and stick to it as much as possible. Rather than creating a long list of tasks that you must complete, prioritize your list by separating tasks out into must-do, should-do, and may-do categories. Then, divide your time into clear categories as well. For example, answering emails for 30 minutes, returning phone calls for 30 minutes, working on your social media for 30 minutes, then taking a 20-minute break. This will allow you to move on to your next goal without feeling as though you haven’t done enough.

You should likewise schedule set times you’ll spend on your personal life, so read on for tips on how to do so.

Constant Connection Can Wear You Down

30 years ago, a real estate agent who wasn’t in the office would offer you the opportunity to leave a message and would get back to you as soon as possible. Now, thanks to our smartphones enabling constant connection to our work, the expected response time has been drastically reduced.

Over time, though, a self-imposed round-the-clock availability will rob you of any sense of work-life balance. We do not recommend this approach because it is absolutely not sustainable for most people.

Our Tip: While it’s important to respond to communication during your established hours, it’s equally important to disconnect and give yourself dedicated hours of peace and quiet to tend to your own life. Make your hours clear on your social media profiles, website, and through your out-of-office automated email response and follow through with your promise to reach out the next time you’re available.  

We Work When Our Clients Don’t

One of the more challenging things about real estate work is that we have to be available to our clients when they aren’t working. That means we’re often heading out to work when our own family members and friends are free and ready to socialize. If you notice that you’re missing out on more events and outings than you’re comfortable with, it’s time to make a change.

Our Tip: Even during the busiest times, it’s reasonable to set aside 4 hours per weekend during which you don’t see clients or answer messages. During the slower seasons, you may be able to take one full weekend off per month, or even every Sunday. Just because you have to make time for clients who can’t see you Monday thru Friday from 9 – 5 doesn’t mean you have to work every other available hour.

Take advantage of times your clients are busy with their own work to respond to your emails and social media messages, create and advertise listings, film video tours, go live on Instagram or Facebook, and tackle paperwork. This way, you’ll only have to work in the evening or on the weekend if you have time scheduled with a client.

Sometimes the Market Is Sizzling Hot

During the market’s hottest moments, homes will be selling like hotcakes. If you aren’t one of the first agents to show a home, your client won’t stand a chance. During these times, you may struggle to work less than 60 hours per week. While this carries significant financial benefits, it’s also true that your personal life will be under strain.

Our Tip: Communicate clearly with your friends and family about what’s happening. Make plans to do coffee or lunch meetups with friends instead of spending a long afternoon golfing or hiking. Cook a meal with your child instead of taking them to the movies. By searching for open windows of time, however short, and spending them with those you love, you can find a better work-life balance.

If you’re great at prioritizing others, but fail to set aside time for yourself, consider scheduling a massage, taking a morning yoga class weekly, or taking a short nap once per week. You may be surprised by the benefits you’ll gain from tending to yourself consistently!

The Takeaway

The benefits of maintaining a work-life balance have been shown across cultures, and include improved sleep patterns, better health in both mind and body, strengthened interpersonal relationships, and longer lifespan.

Did you know, though, that setting aside time for yourself also improves your performance at work? It’s true. Stepping away from work regularly will improve your ability to engage fully when you are working, make you better at connecting with your clients, reduce your need for sick days, and make you more productive overall.

From every perspective, it’s clear that the path to success is best walked at a measured pace, complete with rest breaks.