There is a lot of coverage online, encouraging agents to support their community and stay positive. Whilst doing daily tasks and being proactive in your community is essential in the current uncertain times, it is important for everyone to look after their own wellbeing.
Agents and staff are understandably feeling uncertain and demotivated in the current climate, so we have put together some guidance to help cope with feelings of anxiety and also to motivate.
The global coronavirus pandemic is not just affecting people’s physical health. The anxiety, stress and uncertainty of it along with the sweeping changes we’re having to make to our lifestyles, are also having an impact on people’s mental health too.
If it’s making you feel that way, then you’re not alone. It’s quite normal to feel this way in such a difficult and unpredictable situation.
Here are some tips and strategies to help you cope,
Keep a routine.
Many people are working from home for the first time in their lives, and some will now be juggling a full-time job and home-schooling their children.
Plus, there are people whose usual activities have been curtailed by self-isolation. Dawn advises that keeping a routine can be really important.
“Without a routine, negative thinking and anxiety can escalate. One suggestion is to create a day to day plan of things you will need to do.
For instance, create a morning exercise programme, a work plan, cook something different.
Use the time you have to develop personal and professional skills, maybe study a qualification or have a look on You tube – there are loads of painting, exercise, music and dance courses available online.
Charlotte added that it is important to plan the day bearing in mind restrictions you may have in the working environment.
“Set a clear plan for the day, whether that is identifying 10 vendors or landlords to call and offer property advice.
You could discuss things such as:
Whether they still have a desire to move and what their plans are? How much activity is still going on via your agency?
How well do you know the people on your mailing list? Take a chance to get to know them and offer advice.
Are any of your vendors or landlords vulnerable, who may live alone or have health problems? This is a great time to support the community, as well as offering professional property advice.
Choose a place to work and shut the door when you don’t want to be interrupted – let your family know that this is a clear boundary.
Keep these work periods short and to the point and be as productive as possible. Set a plan for each work session and monitor what you have achieved.
Try to restrict access to news media and social media.
Think about how and when you access the news or social media and more importantly, how is it making you feel.
This may involve choosing to withdraw from some social media platforms in favour of news sources you trust.
Avoiding social media channels filled with speculation can, for some, transform your anxiety.
Charlotte also added that this applies to your clients too, having a chat about something mundane, like de-cluttering ready for a move, might be a very welcome distraction.
Keep connected with friends and family and colleagues.
In our new world of self-isolation and social distancing, we can’t meet up with family and friends like we used to. However, keeping connected to them is vital.
Connecting online with friends and talking about other stuff, inventing new fun ways to connect – an online pub quiz among friends, learning a dance routine, or maybe start your own friends and family choir.
In terms of your working environment, you may usually spend more time with colleagues than you do at home, so keeping interaction with them now is vital – plan in Zoom calls for example for 15 minutes morning and afternoon.
Another thing to consider is that, unless you are the lister, you may never have seen the face of your landlords or vendor!
So, although times are tough educate your vendors in the joy of Facetime, Zoom calls and the like!
It is much easier to engage with a client face to face rather than over the phone. Take this time to be human and really get to know your clients.
Tomorrow, in Part 2, Dawn Reay of Kiln Associates will write about maintaining wellbeing in a time of uncertainty.
Charlotte Jeffrey-Campbell is Director of The Able Agent.
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