It completely amazes me with Realtor ads in those Home magazines where some in the profession claim availability 24/7 to their clients. Are they crazy? Then there was the old National Association of Realtors ad that says real estate was our life. Like there was no life outside real estate. How dysfunctional.
I am here today to let you know about
THE ART OF THE DISCONNECT.
Allow yourself to be disconnected at times from the Blackberry, Treo, email, phone calls, cell phone, the office, problems, etc. Easier said than done you may add, particularly with negotiations, contracts, employees reporting to you, relocation clients, you name it. Think of yourself as an old time switch board operator at the phone company. Envision all those wires and simply "unplug" them from time to time. You know what, life will still go on. You will preserve your sanity. And like sleep, something tremendously devalued nowadays, it will net you out more energy and clear thinking to be your best. Think of yourself as having "on the clock times" and "off the clock times."
Why should you disconnect? First off I'll tell you that this decision is "ok" despite what anyone else tells you.
Secondly, I am always the curious one with others' suggestions. I don't always care about the "what" of a rule, but want to know the underlying "why" I should do something.
The picture here says it all. There are more important things in life than just work. If we keep that perspective and erase all those 24/7 terms from our marketing materials and allow ourselves to disconnect on a daily and weekly basis we will be much healthier.
In All Areas Of Our Lives!!
Good luck to you. It's not really as hard as you think. Like any behavioral change it just takes a little
PRACTICE : )
Krista: If we are doing this we don't feel the effect. If we are not disconnecting from time to time we feel overwhelmed.
Patricia: Good point of everyone driving towards a goal. But you have to take time to sharpen the saw, sharpen the axe, as you continue to chop the trees down.
Great post Gary,
We must take some time for ourselves and our families or we won't be doing justice to our clients because we will be too on edge!
John: A stressed out person cannot help another person who is experiencing stress.
Midori: Great point about delegating and backup on phones. I like the idea of your setup where a human voice answers the phones. Very personal touch.
Liz: You have MY permission to disconnect where appropriate! : )
Charles: And who needs burnout in our lives? That ruins what should always be a fun job.
Teri: Disconnecting will rejuvenate you and give you MORE energy!!
Darleen: They say we have to love ourselves before we have the energy to love others. Taking care of ourselves with the unplugging takes care of that little problem.
Nyles: I think with age we let go of things we know now don't work for us. There will always be tomorrow to pick up your work where you left off. Keeping the two worlds separate is the challenge for all of us today.
Leslie: I really like your voice mail coverage idea. If it is critical, you pick it up. You are providing coverage nonetheless.
Karen: Mountains and spotty cell coverage are the solution. I like that! A more rural setting has to be relaxing for you as well.
Missy: And on the seventh day was rest. Something to that biblical foundation isn't there? I talked with agents of many years and most told me of periods of burnout and they had to step away from the whole business awhile to catch their enthusiasm again. If you and your assistant are taking periodic breaks you already figured out how to not burn out.