| The housing market has definitely taken a beating in | | | | for hobbies and family activities, as these distractions |
| many parts of the country over the last year. When | | | | will help re-energize you in the workplace. Get outside |
| just a couple years ago record numbers of people | | | | as much as possible, as sunlight is known to have |
| were entering the real estate industry, today many | | | | positive effects on mood. Being around nature, even |
| of those same people are leaving the business | | | | if it's just a small city park, will work wonders on |
| because they're unable to make a stable living. As the | | | | your mood, and will help your brain to reboot. |
| economy struggles to get back on its feet, there are | | | | Exercise is a classic stress reducer, so be sure to |
| things you can do to keep yourself in the industry | | | | move a little bit every day. This can include activities |
| that you love, and maintain some semblance of | | | | such as golf and racquetball, salsa dancing lessons, or |
| peace while doing so. | | | | walks on the beach. As long as you are active, your |
| A little bit of stress can be invigorating, like when you | | | | brain pumps out stress relieving endorphins, which will |
| take on a new client who has a difficult property to | | | | improve your mood throughout the day, as well as |
| sell. While you may feel a bit overwhelmed at first, | | | | keep your immune system functioning well. |
| soon your creative juices start flowing, and you see | | | | In the office, try to have plants around. They not |
| this task as a challenge to overcome. You're able to | | | | only emit fresh oxygen into the room, but they also |
| figure out innovative ways to market the property, | | | | help to make you feel more connected with nature. |
| and learn a few lessons along the way. This is | | | | In addition, the sound of a fountain or aquarium in |
| positive stress. | | | | the background can also be very soothing and |
| Negative stress comes when there is a constant | | | | aesthetically pleasing. If you can, bring in pictures or |
| stream of challenging situations, and little sense of | | | | ornaments that make you happy. One woman in the |
| control and stability. Right now news headlines declare | | | | industry keeps a miniature Zen garden at her desk, |
| that foreclosure rates are skyrocketing, property | | | | complete with a smiling Buddha figurine. Every time |
| values are plummeting, and that we're in heading into | | | | she gets stressed, she looks at the Buddha's jovial |
| a recession. This can make anyone feel scared and | | | | little face, and instantly feels calmer. |
| unsure about her future in this industry. There is a | | | | Little steps can add up to big changes. Exercising, |
| looming sense of dread and unknowing, and this can | | | | getting outside, and making sure that you have a |
| lead to agents becoming burnt out very quickly. | | | | fulfilling life outside of work will help you immensely |
| Of course the more stress you're under, the more | | | | when it comes to dealing with stress. Other ideas |
| you feel the effects physically. Fatigue, headaches, | | | | include journaling, getting regular massages, or |
| and depression can take hold, which only exacerbates | | | | surrounding your home with nice smelling candles and |
| the problem. If you're tired all the time, your ability to | | | | classical music. All these simple things can all help shift |
| think creatively is negated by your physical and | | | | your brain from being in a state of fight-or-flight, to |
| mental exhaustion. Your inability to look at things in a | | | | being receptive and calm. |
| more positive light makes it harder to come up with | | | | Once you're able to block out some of the work |
| innovative solutions to problems, which then leads to | | | | stress, you will be able to look at the present market |
| poor performance and less income. Naturally this leads | | | | conditions as being a challenge that you can rise to. |
| to more depression, and the cycle continues. | | | | The more breathing space that you give your brain, |
| To get off this hamster wheel, you need to take | | | | the more exciting ideas and innovating selling |
| care of your mental health at all times, not just when | | | | techniques it will give you in return. |
| the market is slow. Get into the habit of taking time | | | | |