Rebecca Donatelli

By Rebecca Donatelli

Closing sales, managing my team, serving on my association’s board of directors, working as YPN chair, hosting seminars, blogging about the industry—what a mouthful—and that’s not the half of it.

Selling real estate can be more than a full-time job, so tacking on other responsibilities may seem exhausting and overwhelming, especially when many of them are volunteered opportunities. When I first got into the business, I was interested in getting more involved in my local and state REALTOR® associations, but I had a hard time seeing the value of donating my time to something that wasn’t directly making me money. Well, one thing led to another, and the value quickly became apparent (blog post on the importance of getting involved coming soon). Fast forward to me being heavily involved on the local, state, and national levels, in addition to running a top producing team and a consulting and seminars business, blogging, speaking, and maintaining a personal life. This equates to a very full plate.

So, how do you deal with a packed schedule and the stress that may follow? I have five tips will help you maintain a balanced and healthy schedule while still dominating the real estate industry.

1. LOVE everything you do.

This one may seem like a no brainer, but you’d be surprised how many people take on roles and responsibilities that they don’t feel real passion about. Many people assume roles just to be able to add the titles to their resume; for the prestige of being able to say they’re in that position. However, if you’re not absolutely in love with a position, or willing and able to dedicate the necessary time—whether it’s leading or serving on a board or committee—it may be best to allow someone else to take on the role and focus your energy elsewhere.

2. Learn to say “No.”

@geralt, 2017, pixabay.com

Many people tend to feel uncomfortable saying “no,” so they end up taking on too many roles and responsibilities. When you already have a full plate, don’t feel bad saying no to opportunities that don’t hold as much importance to you or your business as the others you have already committed to. Don’t spread yourself too thin.

3. Delegate tasks when you can.

I’ll be honest, this one was really hard for me. I am that person who wants to be able to do EVERYTHING. However, when you start taking on extra responsibilities, it’s important to delegate certain tasks that need to get done but you don’t necessarily need to do yourself. Consider hiring an admin or executive assistant to handle paperwork, listing input, or run errands to free up some of your time.

@picjumbo_com, 2015, pixabay.com.

4. Create a prioritized “to-do” list.

Writing down your to-do list and your goals can be a real game changer. Whether you are old school (like me) and keep a planner with you, or put everything in your phone, write down a list of that you need to do daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly—and prioritize it. When you have a lot on your plate, organization is a must. The stress it will save you is immense. Your list will help you decide which items you may be able to delegate elsewhere, or even eliminate completely.

5. Find an activity you enjoy outside of real estate and make it part of your daily schedule.

Having an overwhelming workload can be stressful at times. Taking on additional responsibilities while trying to maintain a personal life definitely poses some challenges. My advice is to find an activity or hobby that doesn’t relate to real estate and make it a regular part of your schedule. Whether it’s a physical activity, date night with your spouse, or journaling for an hour each day, include your activity of choice in your daily to-do list.

@nastya_gepp, 2018, pixabay.com.

6. DRINK LOTS OF COFFEE.

Self-explanatory. Necessary, in my opinion.

Now that you have some systems in place, get out there and tackle the day!

Rebecca Donatelli, ABR, SRS, is a top producer at McDowell Homes Real Estate Services in Cleveland who has built a large online presence through social media, specifically Instagram. Follow her @rebeccadonatelli.REALTOR.