“Is there a way to clone myself?” many Canadian real estate agents—just like you—ask.
They’re half in jest, half in frustration at the time challenges that face them every day.
Here’s the good news. You don’t have to find a mad scientist to solve this challenge.
All you need are a few tips to help you stay productive, even when you’re crazy busy.
1. Keep the End Goal in Mind
When productivity coach Deb Johnstone faces a time crunch and piles of paperwork, she reminds herself of one thing to keep her focused on the task: to focus on the end goal.
Even when you’re swamped with tasks you’d rather not do, look at what getting all of it done will accomplish in the long run.
2. Set an Earlier Deadline
Set an earlier deadline than the actual one. When you create an earlier deadline to accomplish a task, the sense of urgency will drive you through the boredom to help you complete it successfully—and on time.
Making this a habit will give you a sense of underlying calm, knowing you’ll not only be on time, but will have finished your work early.
3. Delegate
Harvard Business Review’s workplace dynamics writer Amy Gallo advises stressed-out business people to find competent people to whom one can delegate. And then do so.
Delegation is one of the most “underutilized and underdeveloped management capabilities”. (Click to Tweet) And it’s especially needed for real estate agents, whose time is best spent working out in the field with their clients.
Delegate photography, copywriting, videography, and ad layouts to the experts, and focus on what you do best.
4. Learn the Power of “No”
Dawn O’Connor, Productivity Canada’s self-proclaimed “productivity ninja,” recommends overstressed, overbooked business people to get real with themselves. You’re not helping your clients when you take on more than you can realistically do in a day.
In fact, says O’Connor, you need uninterrupted time away from clients and anything that smacks of “work” to recharge your productivity. When you try to squeeze in more than you can do, quality suffers—and so do your clients. Really.
5. Take It One Step at a Time
One of the things that can overwhelm, says Johnstone, is when you think about all the tasks you need to do instead of the present one.
Concentrate on only that one task, she says. This will make you calmer and more effective on the job, too.
After you finish the current job, tick it off your list. The sense of achievement it gives you will help drive you forward.
6. Back Away from the Screen
Dr. Edward Hallowell, a psychiatrist who has written a book on today’s crazy-busy life, calls the seductive power of screen time “screen sucking.” As powerful as the craving for cigarettes, too much time spent with cell phones, laptops, and televisions will limit your productivity—and your creative side.
Find some time every day to disconnect from screen time and interact with nature. You’ll find it will jumpstart your creative side and boost your productivity.
7. Start the Day with Wellness
Finally, as Johnstone recommends, begin each day with a routine that includes both exercise, mindful gratitude, and some sort of meditation. It may be deep breathing, visualisation, or another form of relaxation.
Don’t put it off until the end of the day. Getting off to a good start will power you through even the toughest days.
With these powerful productivity tips, you won’t need to visit your local mad scientist for a clone job. You’ll be less crazy-busy, more productive, and will enjoy all the things that made you choose a career in real estate even more.
Pixilink can’t lead you in meditation every morning, but what we can do is take a whole lot of busywork off your plate. To delegate marketing tasks like photography, videography, drawing floor plans, and home inspections, contact the Pixilink team today.
