Finding a work-life balance in your career can be difficult, but it’s especially hard in real estate, when you’re constantly expected to be on call. So, how can you find time for your social life, whilst still doing everything that needs to get done? Read on to find out more.
1) Set Realistic Expectations
It’s definitely possible to nail a work-life balance as a real estate agent, but it isn’t always easy. As a result, it’s important that you set realistic expectations from the get-go. This might be a career where you’re expected to sacrifice your evenings and weekends, but you also need time for yourself.
To be successful, it’s crucial that you iron out that all important “me time” once in a while. Otherwise, it’s simply not going to be sustainable in the long-run. Allocating your time effectively is key, so if you’ve said you’re not going to work on Thursday night, don’t work.
2) Mirror Your Clients’ Lifestyles
We’re not saying you’ve got to assume their identity, but mirroring your lifestyle with theirs can win you that all important down-time. For example, if your clients are particularly busy around 3pm for the school run and on weekends, plan your own time off around that.
If you start to look at it as flexibility as opposed to a burden, you’ll be in the right mind-set to make the most of it. Summer holidays are usually good times to plan your own break, as families are likely to be taking some time out.
3) Get Off the Grid
If you want to be able to nail a 100% work-free holiday, you need to make sure you’ve got the colleague support and systems in place to make that happen. The worst thing you can do is just disappear from the office without making arrangements, as you’re only going to damage your business.
Hand your workload over to another team member and remember to thank them by taking them out for some food, buying them a bottle of wine, or even offering them a slice of your commission if any deals complete whilst you’re away.
4) Stay in Touch with Your Loved Ones
One of the easiest and best ways to ace your work-life balance is simply to stay in touch with your friends, family and significant other throughout the working day. If you’ve got to work long hours but can still stay in touch with the people you care about, it takes the edge off the grind.
5) Know When to Call it a Day
After putting in a solid day’s work, you need to know when to call it a day and head home. This doesn’t only give you the chance to do the things you want to do, it’ll also mean you’re mentally fresher when you get back to the office the next day.
Making sure that you take a time-out at the end of each day and spend time doing things you enjoy is essential to creating a sustainable work-life balance.