Managing stress doesn't mean simply avoiding or glossing over challenges. Here are five techniques you can use to deal with the pressures that come with a real estate career.
By John D. Mayfield | February 2010

Because of the independent nature of the work, the travails of the business, and the irregular cash flow, real estate is perhaps one of the more stressful professions to pursue. After 30-plus years of listing and selling real estate, though, I've learned a few ways to effectively deal with stress.

Whether it's a pending real estate transaction that seems like it's about to fall apart, the present economy playing havoc on your closed sales volume, or an unfortunate situation where you dropped the ball for a client, remember these simple tips to help you hold your health, family, and career together.

Remember the odds.

One of the truisms I always remind myself of is the fact that, normally, events work out in some fashion. Think about how many transactions you've had that looked like they would go sour. In most cases, those deals probably worked out, even if they didn't go as perfectly as you might have hoped.

Most transactions will hit a snag here and there, but generally deals do get done.

Constantly stressing out about problems and issues will get you nowhere, and if you ponder the situation too long, it will definitely result in major anxiety. Don't misunderstand—I'm not saying you should avoid problems, but you can remind yourself during rough times that you can still find compromises and solutions in almost any situation.

Eat your big fish first.

When faced with a mounting obstacle, don't blow it off until later. Confront it first thing that day. You might be tempted to put off the problem and tackle the easier, smaller stuff first. But this usually winds up prolonging and intensifying the stressful situation.

Instead, go ahead and "eat the bigger fish" on your plate so you can get it out of your way and stop worrying about it.

Be honest and take responsibility when it's your fault.

Stress can be caused by a wide variety of factors. Sometimes it can be created by our own foibles or when we just drop the ball. It's difficult to tell someone you forgot to put their papers in the mail or misplaced a key. But if you want to avoid further stress, be honest about the situation and take responsibility.

I've found that whenever I've made a mistake and explained to a customer what happened, admitted responsibility, and apologized, it almost always produces a positive outcome. Procrastinating or masking over a problem will not give you any peace of mind, and it certainly won't reassure your clients.

It can be difficult to admit "I made a mistake" or "I'm sorry." But being honest ultimately goes far in winning trust with all the parties involved.

Exercise.

When nothing else seems to be going right, try to squeeze in a workout. Going for a walk, run, bike ride, swim, or other exercise is an excellent way to feel better.

Exercise can improve your mood because it releases endorphins in your brain, a hormone that can even trigger feelings of euphoria. Physical exertion can add a wide variety of benefits to your life and is excellent for relieving stress. Be sure to consult your physician before starting any major new exercise program.

Remind yourself that this, too, shall pass.

Often you can be in a stressful situation and feel as though it will never end. For many real estate professionals, the current environment has been incredibly stressful and shows few signs of relief. But our country has always been able to rebound, and the real estate market will once again rise up from record lows.

Rather than thinking the situation will never get better, remind yourself that it eventually will improve. It may not be in the next few months, or even until the next year or two, but the real estate market will recuperate and make lasting progress. Understanding that better days are ahead allows you to keep going a little farther.

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Fire Safety Tips * Install smoke detectors on every level of your home. Place them near or inside every bedroom and test them monthly. Replace batteries once a year.
* Have heating equipment and fire places checked annually and cleaned. * If you use a space heater, place them three feet away from flammable objects and always turn them off when leaving a room or going to sleep. * Never leave burning candles unattended and always place candles in a base that will not catch fire. * Always stay in kitchen while cooking and keep things that are flammable at least 3 feet away from cooktop. * Store matches or lighters in a locked cabinet and out of the reach of children. * Smoke cigarettes or cigars outside of the house. If you smoke inside, use large, deep ashtrays on a sturdy surface. Run cigarette under water prior to throwing in trash. Holiday Safety Tips * Keep Christmas trees well Watered and away from fireplaces, candles and space heaters. * Never block doorway with a Christmas Tree.   * Always unplug decorative lights before leaving or going to sleep. * Never overload extension cords or outlets. If an extension cord is broken or cut, throw it away and buy a new one. * Always keep your stove top and oven clean from food and grease. * Keep children away from stoves. * In case of an oven fire or microwave fire, keep door closed and turn off appliance. * If you have a fire in a pan on the stove, do not use water to try and extinguish the fire. Water will only spread the fire. Try to place a lid on the pan or use baking soda. * Always turn off oven when leaving house. John Marroni
National Restoration & Facility Services, Inc.

HOOPER, Utah — A farmer has erected a backyard fence made of three old cars sticking up in the air to send a message to new neighbors that he can do whatever he wants on his property.

"This is just a fun way for me to say, 'Hey boys, I'm still here,'" Rhett Davis said. "This is my redneck Stonehenge."

Davis came up with the idea after neighbors who recently moved into homes next to his hayfield complained about his farm.

"The people who bought the homes say, 'Well, we love looking into your yard and seeing the horses and the cattle, but we don't like the flies, and we don't like the mosquitoes,' and when I cut my field to bale it, they say, 'We don't like the dust in the air,' " Davis said.

Neighbors declined to comment to the Standard-Examiner of Ogden.

Davis said he offered to pay for half the cost of a fence between his property and the others and to build it. He said his neighbors declined the offer, saying it would block their view.

Davis said he used a backhoe to dig three large holes on the edge of his property, then took three cars that had competed in demolition derbies and planted them nose-first into the ground.

He said the cars were planted out of humor rather than spite. He stressed that it's important for new residents to realize that Hooper is a farming community.

"I respect that they're here and spent a lot on their homes, but on the other hand, give me a little bit, too," Davis said. "I've been here since I was 7 years old."

He said he doesn't intend to keep the cars up permanently.

"These can come out just as easy as they went in," Davis said.

Your neighbor starts to grow corn for ethanol and service stations sell gas by the pint.

By John Dillin July 11, 2008

10. The White House trades in the presidential limo for a Toyota Prius.

9. You climb into your car, but then decide, "Shucks, it's only five miles. I'll walk."

8. Home heating oil gets so expensive that Al Gore moves into a one-bath bungalow.

7. Your neighbor digs up his backyard to grow corn to make ethanol.

6. Food costs so much that news reports start talking about underweight Americans.

5. The president of ExxonMobil starts commuting to work on a Segway.

4. Your favorite "half-gallon" containers of ice cream shrink to 1.5 quarts. (Oops, that already happened!)

3. US taxi companies replace their cars with pedicabs.

2. Congress votes to pay itself in zlotys.

1. Service stations start selling gas by the pint.

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