Taking Time Off Can Be Life Saving

Taking Breaks from Work Helps Mentally and Physically

BY LEE NELSON

Many Americans don’t take their vacation time, whether they are self-employed like most Realtors® or working for a company with paid time off benefits.

A third of those surveyed by the American Psychological Association remarked their work makes it difficult to take days or a week off at a time. Plus, 42% of those who do take time off are anxious about returning for fear their workload has built up to an overwhelming status.

Not going away for awhile or even just taking a long weekend truly can lead to burnout. Burnout is “an occupational phenomenon” so prevalent the World Health Organization declared it “a syndrome in the international classification of disease.” The WHO describes burnout as resulting from chronic workplace stress that hasn’t been talked about or remedied.

Some symptoms of burnout include:

• Feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion.

• Increased feelings of attachment and cynicism towards one’s job.

Before making the switch to real estate, Victoria Tudor was only 25, and making six figures at an international solar company.

“The reason I left was that I was consumed with the work, and had one son at the time and felt guilty when I was going to his soccer game and guilty when I was working so much,” said Tudor, now a Realtor® and the broker/owner of True Real Estate Group in West Milford.

She found real estate to be a great fit for her ambition and her need to get away occasionally, relieving stress and avoiding burnout like she experienced in her previous career.

“You can have your career and your life, and you can enjoy it with the people you love around you,” said Tudor. “I’m living my dream.”

She learned she needs to escape every two months and spend time outside in the sun.

“I like relaxing vacations and cultural places which allows so much more connection,” said Tudor.

Her story reflects many agents’ worlds–working many hours helping others, but Tudor figured out the importance of relaxation and time away from her career.

• Reduced efficiency in work-related tasks.

Other research verifies stress from work can trigger health issues such as alcohol or substance abuse, heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure. A study published in the Psychology & Health journal at Syracuse University discovered those who vacationed more in a year had a reduced risk of metabolic syndrome compared to those who spent less time on vacation. Metabolic syndrome describes a cluster of conditions that occur together, increasing your risk of heart disease, stroke, and Type 2 diabetes.

“I hear so many stories of agents or other vendors becoming sick, and I truly believe stress impacts your overall health,” said Realtor®, broker associate, and partner of Queenston Realty, LLC, Princeton Vanessa Shives. “Going away places in a different environment from your usual day-to-day can have a calming effect. Just that change of scenery or a different vibe like at a beach town can help you decompress.”

She wears an Oura ring (a sleep and activity tracker) and saw her sleep and heart rate metrics change dramatically when on vacation.

Traveling Keeps You Fresh

Shives took a three-week vacation with her family this past summer, visiting places like Spain.

“That was too long to be away at one time, but I was making up for not taking my children on vacation since 2021,” said Shives. “My children are getting older, and I felt I missed so much of their lives when they were younger because of working weekends and evenings.”

She makes sure to do short trips with them, even if it’s attending their sports tournaments because “it’s better for our relationship” and gives her a break from work.

At her agency, everyone covers for one another.

“I’ve always offered to help my peers, including when I’m doing a deal with a co-broker who is away,” said Shives.

She suggests when an agent goes away, they have one dedicated person to cover them. Also, agents should inform their clients and make sure they have the contact information of the person helping while you are unreachable.

“The job of a Realtor® is also a physical one—driving all the time to appointments, meeting with inspectors and contractors, helping facilitate repairs, or even bringing garbage cans in before a showing,” said Shives. “I believe that time is your most valuable currency, and it’s important to take a step back from work to be there for your loved ones.”

Getting Back to Your Roots

It had been 29 years since Susie Adamson last visited South Korea, where she was born, but this year she planned a two week vacation to visit.

“It’s hard. I don’t love going away for more than a week, but you can’t go to Asia in that short of time. I still had relatives there to visit,” said Adamson, Realtor®, principal, co-team leader, and operators lead at Tandem Real Estate Group with Compass, South Orange.

She’s learned through the years of being in the business that if you don’t calendar your vacations early in the year, you will never do it.

“You will never feel like it’s a good time to take off. You always feel like you have to keep your foot on the gas,” said Adamson.

Her agency encourages everyone to take time off. They don’t have a vacation policy but encourage anyone to take the time they need when they need it.

“People are responsible, and everyone has integrity,” said Adamson. “We don’t care if they take every Wednesday or the weekend off. We will figure it out.”

Many Realtors® are parents, and she feels it’s not just what’s good for me or my clients, but what’s good for kids.

“Working hard does afford you a better life for your family. But if I’m not spending time with them, what’s the point?” said Adamson.

Her kids are still in elementary school, and if she doesn’t block time off, her default would be to work. She sets aside time to make dinner, grocery shop, and sit down with her children.

She believes even taking a walk around the block or playing with Legos with your kids for 15 minutes helps your creativity.

“It gets you a different perspective and you see different things that give you inspiration. Real estate is problem-solving, so you need a new stimulus,” said Adamson.