May is Mental Health Awareness Month: Let’s Talk About Prioritizing You
Because your well-being is key to your success
By Hope Cunningham
Greenbrier Valley Board of REALTORS®
As Realtors®, we’re often so focused on serving others, our clients, our team, our community, that we forget to take care of the most important asset in our business: ourselves. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and it’s the perfect time to check in with yourself, reset, and commit to prioritizing your own mental wellness.
The Real Estate Hustle is Real… and Draining
Long hours, emotional transactions, market pressure, and the constant demand to be “on” can take a toll. It’s not uncommon to feel burnout creeping in, especially when you’re juggling multiple clients, negotiations, and personal responsibilities. Mental fatigue can lead to poor decision-making, low productivity, or worse, complete burnout.
Here’s how to shift the narrative and put your mental health first:
1. Set Boundaries. Yes, Even with Clients
You don’t have to be available 24/7 to be a great agent. Set realistic communication hours and stick to them.
Example: One agent adds their “office hours” to their email signature and voicemail greeting to manage expectations.
2. Protect Your Downtime
Take a walk. Meditate. Crochet. Sit in silence. Recharge in whatever way works for you, and treat that time like you would a listing appointment: non-negotiable.
Example: A colleague schedules “quiet coffee breaks” mid-day and doesn’t check her phone during them. Just 20 minutes makes a difference.
3. Lean on Your Community
You are not alone. Join Realtor® support groups, mastermind circles, or simply have a chat with a fellow agent over lunch. Talking through shared stress is powerful.
Example: A team in our area does a monthly “Walk & Talk” around the park to decompress and connect.
4. Get Help When You Need It
There is strength in seeking support. Whether it’s through therapy, coaching, or a mentor, having a sounding board is vital.
Example: One broker hosts optional group check-ins each month with a local wellness coach for agents who need a safe space.
5. Celebrate Your Wins
In the whirlwind of closings and contracts, it’s easy to skip celebrating. But you’ve worked hard, recognize it.
Example: Try writing down three small wins at the end of each day, it’s a simple habit that boosts positivity and confidence.
Mental health isn’t a luxury. It’s a necessity. You can’t pour from an empty cup, and you deserve to feel strong, balanced, and fulfilled, not just for your clients, but for you. Let May be the month you commit to taking care of your mind just as much as your business.
Take a breath. You’ve got this, and there’s always Hope.
