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Every year, many people make at least one or more New Year’s resolutions. The most common is that you may have violated better self-care.
You aim to exercise regularly, shed those holiday pounds or spend more time with the people you love, but those goals are pushed aside as business and personal commitments get in the way.
As we move into 2025, self-care needs to be more than just a decision — it’s a necessity that should be a daily priority. If you’re ready to start making your self-care a priority in 2025, here’s how.
Plan your time for self-care and recharge before planning anything else
Salespeople can get tired. The real estate business requires long hours, constant availability to clients, and high levels of negotiation, often at the expense of your personal life.
The most common mistake Realtors make is failing to schedule their personal time off and treat those time slots the same way they would treat a listing appointment. In other words, you do not cancel the appointment with you unless there is an emergency or other emergency.
If a buyer or seller tries to cut into your family or personal time, here’s how to respond:
Agent: “I have another appointment at that time. Would tomorrow at 2:00 pm or 7:00 pm work for you?”
There is no need to justify or explain what your appointment is. Remember, “No” is a complete sentence.
Create a personal care plan for you
Creating a personal self-care plan involves a combination of daily habits, scheduled time to rest and recharge, and enjoying some form of indulgence along the way. While each person’s process of recharging will be different, one proven method is to tap into four key areas: physical, mental, spiritual and emotional.
By combining practices that cover all four areas, you can create a sustainable routine that improves your energy while also protecting your health.
1. Recharge physically by refueling your body to perform at a higher level
Physical recharging is one of the most effective ways to start your self-care journey. Good physical health results in increased stamina, improved mental clarity, and greater stamina. Here are some important things to consider:
Prioritize sleep: Lack of sleep is associated with burnout, stress and decreased productivity. Set a non-negotiable bedtime and aim for at least one morning “sleep” each week to allow your body to fully recover.
Move your body every day: Movement doesn’t have to be intense to be successful. Try short, daily walks, yoga sessions or a home exercise routine that fits your schedule. Many Realtors find that moving their bodies every day helps reduce stress and keeps them sharp when working with clients.
Choose healthy foods: Real estate can be a grab-and-go job. Planning quick healthy snacks and meals ahead of time can help you stay energized throughout the day without having to deal with caffeine or sugar. Apps like MyFitnessPal or Noom it allows you to track what you eat and make healthy choices on the go.
2. Clear your mind by clearing your mind
Rejuvenating the mind involves finding ways to quiet your mind and shut down the worries in your life. Here are some tips.
Stop multitasking: It is important to note that effective concentration occurs only when the mind is focused on a single task. Your conscious brain (frontal lobes) can only focus on one thought at a time. The truth is that if you think you are multitasking, you are actually changing jobs. Changing jobs not only takes more time but also reduces the quality of the work you complete.
Meditate: Meditation apps like Headspace again Calm down offer quick, guided sessions that can help you rejuvenate. Just 10 minutes of meditation a day can improve mental clarity and reduce stress.
Engage in a mental hobby: Take your focus away from real estate by solving crossword or jigsaw puzzles, word games, or games like chess. These activities distract your mind from worry and give your mind a chance to engage in mental play.
Journal: Journaling can be a powerful way to de-clutter and a stimulating solution to issues that have been difficult to resolve.
3. Recharge spiritually by reconnecting with what matters
Many people neglect their spiritual well-being even though it plays a powerful role in strengthening, motivating and reducing stress. Spirituality can take many different forms. Here are some suggestions.
Focus on nature: Spending time outside and connecting with nature is a proven way to reduce stress, lower blood pressure and lift mood. Make it a weekly habit to visit a park, go for a hike or simply enjoy a quiet morning coffee outside. Showing gratitude in these moments makes it even more powerful.
Engage in activities that engage your body, mind and spirit: Yoga, Tai Chi and prayer often induce more relaxation as you enter a calmer state of mind. Many people experience a deep sense of peace or even a surge of energy when they practice these practices. Sign up for live classes or follow online videos that make it easy to incorporate this into your schedule.
Engage in acts of service: Helping others is a proven way to nourish your spirit. Whether it’s volunteering in your community, tutoring a child at school, or simply being a helpful resource to your customers, acts of kindness and giving result in a sense of purpose and satisfaction. And, when you give back to others, it always comes back to you, often in unexpected ways.
4. Analyze emotions by filling your cup with happiness
In a service-oriented business, real estate agents often put their clients’ needs before their own, leaving little emotional energy for themselves. Emotional recharging is important for Realtors, and it can be incredibly easy.
Laughter therapy: Research has shown that laughter releases endorphins, reduces stress and strengthens the immune system. Make it a habit to watch funny shows, read funny books, and share laughs with friends and family.
Strengthen relationships: Schedule regular time with family and friends, and make an effort to be fully present. Research shows that spending quality time with loved ones not only reduces stress but also increases life satisfaction.
Practice gratitude: A good way to start and end each day is to write down five things you are grateful for. Also, it is almost impossible to get angry when you show gratitude. This is a great practice that can help you start and end your day with a focused, positive perspective.
Integrate self-care into your daily routine
Once you’ve created your recharge plan, the next step is to integrate it into your daily life. The best place to start is to block your self-care appointment just like you would any other appointment. Treat it as an obligation, not an option.
Use technology to stay on track
Most phones have apps that track your steps, sleep, heart rate, and stress levels. Tech tools like Fitbits and Apple watches can recognize this and assess how well your self-care journey is going.
Small actions can lead to big changes
Small steps taken consistently can produce big results over time. Some examples include drinking water when you wake up, taking five-minute breaks every hour, or setting an alarm to remind you to take a break for lunch, take a walk, or start winding down for the day.
Regulacheck and fix
Life changes quickly, especially in real estate. Re-evaluate your self-care plan every few months to make sure it still fits your needs and lifestyle. Be flexible and willing to adjust as needed.
Are you ready to embrace a happier and healthier you?
If so, start by making self-care a priority. By committing to your well-being, you not only improve your quality of life, but you will also gain more energy, productivity, resilience and, most importantly, have both a more productive business and a more fulfilling personal life.
Bernice Ross, president and CEO of BrokerageUP and RealEstateCoach.com, and founder of RealEstateWealthForWomen.com is a national speaker, author and coach with over 1,500 published articles.
