Brokers juggle many responsibilities—leadership, compliance, agent retention and client service, all while trying to stay afloat—not only financially but emotionally. At the most recent Broker Power Hour hosted by the National Association of REALTORS®, Taryn Kelly, a broker-salesperson and certified wellness instructor, offered both actionable advice and heartfelt encouragement for brokers navigating stormy waters.
“Mental wellness for brokers is not a luxury. It is a leader’s responsibility,” Kelly says. “If you don’t take care of yourself, you can’t take care of anyone else.”
The Weight of Leadership
Brokers aren’t just business operators, Kelly says. They are the emotional anchors of their office.
As a broker, you set the tone, and your mental state can influence productivity, morale and even agent retention. If you’ve lost your mooring, “that impacts everyone,” Kelly says.
Tools to Stay Grounded
Kelly shared accessible techniques for managing stress and building resilience, including:
- Digital detoxes: Screen-time boundaries can reduce the feeling of being overwhelmed.
- Mental health days: Taking time off is normal and necessary to recharge.
- Journaling and mindfulness: Daily reflection can provide clarity and emotional release.
- Grounding exercises: Activities such as walking barefoot on grass and deep breathing can help you reset your mental energy.
- Emotional self-checks: A quadrant wheel can help you evaluate your mental, emotional, physical and spiritual wellness. Think of each as making up 25% of your overall well-being. If you assess each quadrant and find that your overall well-being is under 80%, “it’s time to course-correct,” she notes.
Apps like Calm, Insight Timer, and guided meditation tools are also recommended as low-cost support systems.
Creating a Culture of Care
Beyond managing your own well-being, you’re in a prime position to model and foster a culture of mental wellness. Kelly suggests brokers:
- Set the tone with authentic leadership and vulnerability
- Offer quiet rooms and/or invite counselors into the office
- Use wellness-themed activities like “self-care bingo” or walk-and-talk meetings to boost engagement
- Encourage open dialogue and celebrate small wins
“We are built for community. People need people,” Kelly says. “When your agents trust you—and you trust them—you build a positive, connected environment.”
Recognizing the Warning Signs
The cycle of chronic physical and emotional stress known as burnout doesn’t happen overnight. It develops over time—often quietly—until it begins to impact performance, health and relationships. Kelly urged brokers attending the session to recognize the five progressive stages of burnout, assess where they currently stand and take action early to reset.
1. The Honeymoon Phase
This stage comes at the start of a new venture, role or market cycle. You’re highly engaged and optimistic—fueled by adrenaline and purpose. Productivity is high, and stress may feel like a motivating force.
Key signs: Enthusiasm, creativity, commitment, high energy
Risks: Overcommitting, ignoring early signs of fatigue, perfectionism
Kelly warns that while the honeymoon phase feels positive, it can become a setup for imbalance if you don’t put sustainable boundaries in place.
2. Stress Onset
As the demands of the role accumulate, excitement starts to wane. You may begin to feel the weight of your responsibilities—agent issues, client conflicts, industry changes or office politics.
Key signs: Anxiety, irritability, sleep disturbances, forgetfulness, reduced productivity
Risks: Denying stress, pushing through without rest, neglecting self-care
This is a critical stage to implement stress management techniques. Left unchecked, stress becomes chronic and more difficult to manage.
3. Chronic Stress
This stage marks a noticeable shift in mood, behavior and health. The pressure feels relentless, and coping becomes harder. You might start withdrawing from colleagues or lose interest in day-to-day activities.
Key signs: Persistent exhaustion, cynicism, social withdrawal, procrastination, physical symptoms like headaches or digestive issues
Risks: Emotional detachment, strained relationships, unhealthy coping habits (e.g., excessive caffeine, alcohol or overwork)
At this point, stress is a daily experience. Without intervention, burnout is imminent.
4. Burnout
In this phase, the emotional and physical tolls become overwhelming. You may feel defeated, apathetic or trapped. Productivity drops significantly, and even minor tasks can feel insurmountable.
Key signs: Emotional numbness, disengagement, sense of failure or helplessness, complete lack of motivation
Risks: Mistakes with compliance or contracts, team instability, damage to professional reputation
In this stage, you may still appear functional on the outside, but internally you’re struggling to keep going. This is often the phase where others begin to notice something is wrong, Kelly notes.
5. Habitual Burnout (Crisis Mode)
This is the most dangerous phase. Burnout becomes embedded into your day-to-day existence. Mental and physical health may suffer severely, and recovery at this point requires significant intervention.
Key signs: Severe depression, chronic illness, emotional collapse, inability to function in work or personal life
Risks: Career disruption, mental health crises, long-term disability
Reaching this stage can result in serious consequences—not just for you, but also for your entire brokerage, Kelly says.
By identifying these stages early, you can take proactive steps—like seeking support, enforcing boundaries and implementing wellness practices—to reverse course and protect your energy.
