Stress can get to all of us at one time or another. One major event could set us off. Or, a small thing could become two small things, three small things, then boom! Every industry professional deals with it and real estate agents are no different. From juggling several clients, fellow agents not returning your calls or incessant sellers, we all reach our boiling point. Clearly, nobody can completely avoid stress but you can take concrete steps to reduce it on a daily, monthly or even hourly basis.

9 stress-reducing tips to help you become a better person and real estate agent.

1. Take a Break.  Stop, step away from what you’re doing and take a breath.  No matter what’s bringing you down, you can  take a step back. Writer’s block keeping you from writing that blog? Want to leave a fiery voicemail for an agent who still hasn’t called you back? Have you worked three straight weeks without a day off?  Whether it’s a 30-minute break, calming yourself by counting to 20 or taking a weekend vacation, escaping from the stressor will better prepare you to handle it when you return.

2. Exercise. We all know tht 30 minutes of cardio a day is head and heart healthy for everyone. You need not sign up for a couch-to-5K, but simply getting outside for a 30-minute walk on a sunny day minus your phone or purchasing a gym membership will release endorphins and make you happy.

3. Meditate.  Find your inner peace.

4. Become a Yogi.  You are well advised to prevent forest fires. But also consider reducing stress by exercising your mind and  body. Plus, if you can’t totally turn off  the work mode,  joining a yoga studio or going to a regular class is a great way to find new business through networking.

5. Listen to Music.  Music can impact us in a powerful way despite our mood. It affects creativity, pumps us up, takes us back to a childhood memory and even help us overcome a painful breakup. Its influence can also help us reduce stress.

6. Improve Your Sleep.  The importance of sleep can’t be overstated. As the saying goes,“Early to bed, early to rise, makes a real estate agent healthy, wealthy and wise.” Many Americans suffer from poor sleep and if you’re one of them, check out these 17 tips to sleep better.

7. Buy a Dog. Having your own pet that you can lavish affection upon will help you forget about yourself and your stressor, even on your worst days.

8. Adjust Your Goals And Expectations.  According to most real estate agents, the bulk of their stress is self-induced. Between working towards accomplishing a huge goal, comparing themselves to others or the endless pursuit of perfection, some agents struggle with finding the right work-life balance.  Striving to be the best is great and having goals is admirable; however, only you can judge when you’ve reached your limit and need to step back and reassess.