I used to be proud of my “24/7 grind” mentality. 

Answering emails before getting out of bed. Responding to client texts late at night. Pausing whatever I was doing to answer calls. Always being reachable. 

Honestly I thought that was the requirement for being a good agent and business owner. 

Well somewhere along the line, work life and personal time blurred together and ya girl… hit a wall.

As an agent, you know how it goes — running around for showings, inspections, meetings and answering calls, texts, and emails every free moment. Always coordinating, strategizing, solving problems, and exerting energy.

So by the time I get home, my brain and body are kinda running on fumes. The problem was… there was never an off switch. 

A “quick” client call during dinner would turn into a 45 minute convo. Or I’d tell myself I’d respond to one email and suddenly I was back in work mode until midnight. During holidays or vacations, my attention was still tied to work. Rather than being present with my loved ones, I’d check on my biz life. Even when I was technically “off”, I was plugged in. 

Eventually I wondered — when did work start slipping into every part of my life? I began noticing my family, health, and hobbies slowly getting pushed aside.

LBH – years from now, I’m not going to wish I responded to more late-night texts, or phone calls during dinner, or showed houses on Christmas Eve. *I made that mistake my first year in real estate — showed homes on Christmas Eve while my family had plans, and the clients ended up ghosting me a few weeks later*.

No. I’m going to remember *and appreciate* the meaningful moments I shared with my friends / family who had my undivided attention, the challenging workouts that mentally recharged my brain + body, and the quality time spent on activities that brought me joy. That’s the stuff that fills your cup.

It also reinforced something I’ve come to learn… your mental, physical, and emotional energy need time to recharge. When you’re constantly connected, everything suffers. You’re less patient. Less attentive. Less creative. And less… yourself.

So over time, I’ve adjusted my availability. Because I want to show up better for myself – and for my clients. 

I’ll set expectations at the beginning, communicate my working hours, and always make sure my clients have support if I am unavailable. Thankfully, my clients have respected this. They don’t need instant access — they want thoughtful, focused service.

Of course there are exceptions – like when we’re under contract or emergencies happen, but those are temporary and situational, not how everyday needs to operate.

I’m allll for the hustle – but burnout shouldn’t be the price of success, and I’ve learned I don’t have to be available 24/7 to provide excellent support and service to my clients.

I share exactly how I set expectations with clients and working hours here: How I Set Working Hours with Clients

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