This May marks Inman’s sixth annual Agent Appreciation Month. Look for profiles of top producers, opinions on the current state of the industry and tangible takeaways you can implement in your career today. Plus, the prestigious Future Leaders of Real Estate return this month, too.
Stress doesn’t always look like a meltdown. For many high-achieving real estate professionals, it sneaks in quietly, through over-functioning, emotional detachment, short fuses or a creeping sense of numbness, even after big wins.
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After years of observing, interviewing and collaborating with top performers, one pattern is clear: Those who sustain their success over time have rituals, boundaries and mindset resets that help them manage stress without losing their ambition.
Here are 15 practical ways healthy high achievers do it
Use what fits. Leave what doesn’t. Sometimes, just one small shift is enough to break the pressure cycle and reclaim your energy.
Stress relief doesn’t necessarily mean slowing down. It’s about pacing in a way that’s actually sustainable.
1. Set a ‘no reply needed’ rule
I noticed this a while back as I was working to clear my own inbox. Every once in a while, I’d come across an email that added this simple phrase to the end of their message:
“No reply needed unless something’s off.”
I loved that I could read it and do as I needed, but didn’t have to feel obligated to respond by saying “Thank you” (which often signals the obligatory return “You’re welcome” email). By adding this one simple statement, you can effectively reduce the mental load for both the sender and recipient.
It builds a culture of clarity, especially in instances where more than one person is on the email, direct message or group text.
2. Start the morning outdoors
Before touching a phone, consider trying this mindset hack many high-performing leaders start their day off with. Step outside, even if it’s just for 60 seconds. That small act grounds the body and signals the brain to lead, not react. I’ll admit, I am still training myself to do this one, but when I do remember, it really helps.
3. Dump the mental clutter
Do you ever get a case of the overwhelm? So many things quickly piling up and deadlines closing in on you like a pressure clamp? Force yourself to stop what you’re doing for 60 seconds and do a super quick brain dump.
Here’s the part that’s hardest for me. Use pen and paper to do your brain dump (NOT your phone, iPad or laptop). The act of writing pen to paper (or pencil if you are a Ticonderoga fan like me!) can lower stress levels instantly.
This tip was shared with me by way of more creative folks in our space who are always showing up to events with their notepad, journal and favorite pen. I used to think these folks were typing challenged or tech adverse, but later learned they were just better at stimulating their calming vagus nerve than most of us.
Consider doing this between showings or after a tough call to avoid carrying emotional residue into the next moment. (P.S.: Sorry to anyone I silently judged for going old school.)
4. Interrupt the autopilot
Tell the truth: Have you ever done this? Check or refresh your inbox during family dinners? Or do you ever instinctively open TikTok (or maybe Facebook) when you’re feeling stuck or bored in a task?
No judgment; we all have been conditioned to be always on, but if you do catch yourself doing this, consider pausing and ask yourself, “What am I actually feeling right now, and what would help me move through it instead of distracting myself from it?”
Recognizing the pattern is the first step toward interrupting it.
5. Speak to yourself the way you text your friends
Do you ever notice that your internal dialogue sounds harsher than how you’d talk to a struggling friend? If so, it’s time to rewrite the script. Self-talk isn’t fluff. It’s a strategy. Be your own best friend, and give yourself the much-needed grace that the world often forgets to deliver.
6. Create a calm-down corner
I realize this sounds like something we do for our temper tantrum toddlers, but hear me out. An agent whom I really respect recently shared with me that she keeps a rolled-up yoga mat, noise-canceling headphones and a small diffuser in her office closet.
When the day gets noisy, literally or emotionally, she steps away for five minutes and resets without explanation. It’s not dramatic. It’s just protective.
7. Use music like a mood remote
I learned this tip from a brokerage I once trained at. The broker created playlists labeled by vibe and taught the office manager to play the music based on what was happening in the office. I remember playlists labeled “Focus Mode,” “Shake It Off Energy,” “Team Meeting Hype” and “Win the Day.”
I thought this was a really clever touch, and it’s something that can be adopted by any of us, even in our own home offices. When used intentionally, music can become a switch, not just a soundtrack. The goal isn’t to fake a better mood. It’s to help shift into the one that serves the next task best.
8. Do the task, not the setup
Are you a control freak who overorganizes things to feel in control of your surroundings? (Asking for a friend.) Guess what? Type A’s who get overwhelmed may organize their desk or color-code a calendar to recalibrate, but if they never get to the actual task, it’s pointless.
High performers report that the quickest stress relief often comes from completing one small thing that was hanging over their head, even if it’s ugly or imperfect. Focus on momentum over perfection.
9. Don’t create anxiety for others
Sorry if this is you, but you need to hear it. Have you ever received a text that just says, “Hi Stacey…” with no follow-up? It lands like a mental cliffhanger. Until you respond, you have no idea if it’s good news, bad news, a favor or a fire drill. These message tactics, whether intentional or just a habit, create unnecessary stress for the recipient.
High achievers often think about their own performance but overlook the micro-stressors they create for others. Be clear. Be kind. Don’t let your communication style become someone else’s burden. It’s one of the easiest ways to lead better and live calmer.
10. Name your overwhelm
Stress tends to build when it stays vague. Putting words to what’s weighing on you can shift it from something foggy and emotional to something concrete and manageable.
Some people say it out loud during their commute. Others write it on a sticky note, crumple it up, and toss it as a release ritual. And for those who have a partner or colleague they trust, simply voicing it, without needing advice, can be a real game changer.
The goal isn’t to fix anything right away. It’s to name it, so it stops running the show behind the scenes.
11. Make one decision ahead of time
Stress often hides in micro-decisions such as what to wear, what to eat, what to post, what to start working on first. Highly productive and well-balanced entrepreneurs are masters at picking one category, like “Wednesday lunch” or “Saturday outfit for showings” and decide it once for the season. Fewer choices mean more energy for what matters.
12. Anchor transitions with a ritual
True story. I know an agent who lights the same candle before logging into her CRM and a team leader who does three shoulder rolls between Zoom meetings. These aren’t performance tips. They’re grounding tools — little signals that help the nervous system shift from one mode to the next. What I once thought was quirky now tracks as brilliance.
13. Define what ‘done’ looks like today
It’s easy to carry a to-do list that never ends. The savviest operators give themselves a stop point each day, even if the list is longer. “If I get these three things done, I’m off the hook tonight.” Guilt-free endings equal better rest, which fuels higher performance tomorrow.
I know this sounds impossible, but setting stronger cut-off boundaries for yourself can help you to identify if it’s time to hire a virtual assistant so you can protect your sanity while remaining effective.
14. Let the silence breathe
In fast-paced industries such as ours, silence can feel awkward or unproductive. Seasoned pros know that short pauses in conversation, or in life, can create room for people to catch up, connect or rethink.
A breath before answering. A pause before replying. Be intentional about providing fewer reactions and offering more thoughtful responses.
15. Keep a ‘no for now’ list
One broker I highly respect keeps a running list titled “Not this quarter.” It’s full of good ideas that don’t fit her bandwidth right now. Saying “no” feels less like loss when you know it’s just no for now. That simple shift keeps the mind focused and the nervous system unburdened. Give it a try.
You don’t have to burn out to prove you’re all in. Success doesn’t require suffering, and rest isn’t something you earn; it’s something we all need.
Whether you try one of these shifts or circle back when things feel heavy, just remember, high performance and peace of mind aren’t mutually exclusive. This spring, give yourself permission to make space for both.
Author Stacey Soleil is the SVP Community & Engagement at Inside Real Estate, Inman contributing writer and national speaker.
