As we approach the end of 2025, there is a familiar feeling settling across the industry. Agents, leaders and support teams alike are pushing through the final stretch, juggling listings, deadlines and expectations while trying to keep enough energy in reserve to make it to the break.
It is the time of year when the gloss often wears thin.
I’ve had my share of “crying in the car” moments, but the one that really stopped me wasn’t in the car at all. It was on my kitchen floor, during the day, between meetings.
Laptop open, lunch forgotten, inbox overflowing.
Somewhere between another “urgent” email and a client crisis, I realised something that terrified me: I had lost my spark.
I’m not alone. Recent surveys show that 70% of real estate professionals experience burnout symptoms.
That’s seven out of ten people silently struggling while keeping a professional face.
And burnout doesn’t care what role you play.
Whether you’re an agent, a team leader, an office manager, or working behind the scenes, the pressures of this industry can affect anyone.
Long hours, constant client demands, and emotional load don’t discriminate, and the result is the same: drained energy, lost focus, and fading joy.
Real estate breeds burnout like few other industries can.
The pressure never stops. Deadlines, client expectations, and sales targets leave little room to pause.
Agents are working longer hours while often earning less per transaction, creating financial stress on top of workload pressure.
Clients expect instant responses, and managing their dreams, fears, and life-changing decisions adds a constant emotional burden.
On top of that, team dynamics, competition for leads, unclear expectations, and interpersonal tension create additional stress.
Technology, designed to make work easier, often keeps us tethered to our phones 24/7. In an industry that rewards endurance, saying no feels impossible.
Burnout doesn’t always look dramatic.
It often creeps in through small but telling signs: unanswered calls and emails, disappearing energy, irritability, overworking without results, avoiding new challenges, poor sleep, headaches, or that creeping feeling that the work that once inspired you no longer does.
For many of us, the first warning is the moment we notice we’ve lost our spark – like I did on my kitchen floor.
I wasn’t failing because I couldn’t handle the work; I was failing because I had no system to manage myself. Rebuilding started with a shift in priorities.
I treated my health as seriously as my clients’ needs.
Sleep, nutrition, fitness, and recovery became non-negotiable.
I added structure, boundaries, and discipline back into my day.
Gradually, I felt that spark returning – the drive and enthusiasm that make this industry exciting and fulfilling.
Mindfulness became a practical tool, not a buzzword.
For me, it’s small moments of awareness: a walk without my phone, a two-minute pause between meetings, stepping outside for fresh air, or a simple end-of-day ritual.
These tiny, consistent pauses reduce stress, improve focus, and help you stay present.
Burnout is not something to push through; it’s a signal to adjust.
The best agents and leaders don’t just survive this high-pressure industry — they thrive by building sustainable habits that protect their energy and focus.
Practical steps to protect your spark:
- Identify your biggest stress triggers and tackle one at a time.
- Schedule recovery and rest as seriously as client meetings.
- Step away from your desk regularly — get outside and disconnect from technology, or throw on your sneakers and hit the pavement whilst you make your calls
- Turn off email notifications or set Do Not Disturb hours each day.
- Remember why you work — your family, friends, and the time that gives you perspective.
Burnout is not a weakness. It’s a signal that your current approach isn’t sustainable.
Pay attention to it early, protect your wellbeing, and you’ll find the energy and focus to not just succeed, but to enjoy the work you do
