Burnout is all too common for professionals today. Whether you’ve found yourself in a rut at work or are just completely exhausted, burnout can be seriously detrimental to our success. It can drain our productivity, lower the quality of our work, and prevent us from striving for the success we want. There’s no denying that busy mortgage entrepreneurs have a lot on their plates. So, how do they navigate it all without burning themselves out? Here are some key tactics:
They know their capacity
Whether it’s creating their schedule for the day or goals for the month, successful mortgage entrepreneurs understand the difference between pushing themselves and working too hard. When they sit down to work on their calendar for tomorrow, they have a real sense of what is reasonable to accomplish. They don’t set themselves up for failure with a mile-long to-do list. Instead, they plan realistically with the knowledge they have about themselves. Beyond their own planning efforts, knowing their capacity also allows them to better field requests to take on more work. Instead of blurting out a yes just to keep from disappointing the other person or because they want to be able to accommodate their request, top performers know how much more their schedule can accommodate, and they respect that. This allows them to keep their day-to-day work life from getting out of control and eating away at their personal life.
They find inspiration
Many professionals start to feel burnt out when they see the repetition in their work. They might start to feel like they’re just going through the motions instead of actively striving for success. To prevent this, successful professionals stay inspired. They surround themselves with motivated people, they consume material that makes them excited about their work, and they tune into why they chose this work in the first place. Keeping in touch with your sources of inspiration and continuing to cultivate new ones helps keep you from getting into a rut. It keeps you better connected to the meaning in your work, and that is a major deterrent of burnout.
They continue learning
Top mortgage entrepreneurs aren’t content to just maintain, they want to grow. Rather than getting bored with their current position or growing complacent in what they do, these professionals are always seeking out new things to learn. From advice specifically for mortgage professionals in their field to more general information on things like branding and marketing, the best mortgage professionals never think they know it all. Their continued desire for learning keeps their job fresh and allows them to grow instead of becoming stagnant.
They value breaks
Burnout is both mental and physical, and one of the best ways to combat it is to take breaks. It’s that simple. Mortgage entrepreneurs know that if they regularly overwork themselves, they won’t be able to give their best to their business and their clients. Over time, doing so can significantly reduce their potential for success. If you want to avoid burning out, give yourself time to pause. Step away from your desk a few times during the day. Enjoy your lunch without staring at your computer screen. Go for a walk or grab a book that you enjoy. The activity itself isn’t so important. What really matters is that you give your mind and body a chance to recharge.
Burnout can put significant limits on our success. If you’re an ambitious professional striving for growth, avoiding burnout should be a top priority. Have you experienced burnout before? What do you think are some of the most common causes? Please share your thoughts with us.
Kirk Brewer
Branch Manager | Loan Geek | NMLS #150287