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Stress, burnout, and work/life balance are problems that characterise the real estate industry — but they don’t have to.
October marks National Mental Health Month, an initiative established by Mental Health Foundation Australia to raise awareness for and promote better mental health outcomes for all Australians.
In the real estate world, RiSE Initiative interim president John Cunningham believes the coming month presents property managers and agents with an opportunity to take stock and conduct wellbeing checks, conversations which he is pleased to have grown in prominence within the industry across the past few years.
“It [mental health] used to be something we didn’t talk about,” he said, describing how agents use to hide their “feelings, emotions, and mental health challenges, masking our true selves out of fear of appearing weak or unprofessional”.
However, he outlined that “those walls of shame and embarrassment have come down”, liberating real estate professionals to not feel alone.
The theme for this year’s National Mental Health Month – Building Resilience: Communities and Connections — is pertinent for the real estate industry, according to Mr Cunningham.
In line with the month’s theme, Mr Cunningham has urged agents to download the Real Care App, a RiSE product “specially designed by the real estate industry.”
In light of National Mental Health Month, Mr Cunningham has provided six ways to help agents and property managers manage their mental wellness, not just in October but year-round.
Reality check:
Stress is prominent in the real estate world, often resulting in agents losing connection to the world around them. It is recommended that all industry professionals step away from work for five to 10 minutes to escape the bustle and feel some relief.
Release tension:
Stress causes tension. Isometric exercises — like planking or air squats — are great methods to release physical tension and reduce stress.
Manage your emotions:
Tough situations breed strong emotions. Should these emotions persist and remain hyper-charged, they can impede on life. Being able to recognise your emotions and implement practices that work for you are critical in overcoming the burden they present.
Urge surfing:
Born from strong emotions, urges to behave unhelpfully to our lives. It is important to manage these urges and calculate which ones should be ignored or adhered to.
Manage your workday:
Develop a schedule tailored to your needs that boosts alertness while working, but also promotes rest and relaxation at the end of the working day. Switching off your blue and white light exposure after a certain time of day and reducing caffeine consumption later in the day are two recommended methods of this.
Free counselling:
Speaking with someone can support your wellbeing and help deal with difficulties is crucial. The Real Care App offers an employee assistance program that provides free and confidential counselling services around the clock.
Mr Cunningham concluded that the “National Mental Health Month provides a perfect opportunity to think about your own mental health and that of your colleagues”.
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