The Fundamentals of Time Management for a REALTOR®
Louisiana REALTORS® • January 20, 2020
Time is money. This is a common saying, but time can actually be more valuable than money, and there are good and bad ways to spend and save both. The way you organize your schedule and manage each day plays a vital role in your success. This is especially true for REALTORS®. Because of the relationship between time, money, and success are so interconnected, it’s important to understand the fundamentals of time management.
The Eisenhower Matrix
Each day there are tasks that need to be done. There are also tasks that can get done but aren’t necessarily necessary. Prioritizing your day is a great way to work smarter, not harder. The Eisenhower Matrix helps you to make decisions about certain tasks so you can work as efficiently as possible. This matrix features four categories: do first, schedule, delegate, and don’t do. The top of the matrix has two characteristics: urgent, and less urgent. The left side of the matrix also has two characteristics: important, less important. Tasks that are important and urgent should be done first. Tasks that are important and less urgent can be scheduled for another time. Tasks that are less important, but still urgent can be delegated. Simply don’t do the tasks that day that are less important and less urgent.
Maintain a Schedule with Flexibility
Booking every minute of every day is a recipe for disaster especially when dealing with a variety of clients. Not only will it wear you down quickly, it doesn’t allow for any change in plans or unforeseen events. Again, prioritizing is very beneficial, but allow your schedule to be flexible. This makes it easier to account for a change of plans and new opportunities. It is important to be sure to determine what activities are income-producing and which activities could be busywork.
Time Blocking
Time blocking has proven to be an effective time management strategy. It’s as simple as it sounds. Instead of trying to accomplish a variety of things in a random, disorganized way, set a block of time and focus on one task, and complete it. This added level of focus can be centered on your most important tasks, making you more thorough and at the end of the day, more productive. A good example of this is setting aside a concentrated block of time for prospecting and follow-ups. Having a time block helps with focusing those efforts and producing-better outcomes.
Take Quick, Regular Breaks to Maintain Productivity
By nature, your brain can only focus on one activity for an hour or so. Once you reach this point in time, your actual productivity drops tremendously. In order to counteract this effect, set an alarm to remind you to stand up and take a break for a few minutes. Instead of trying to trudge through and finish a task, these quick, regular breaks can end up saving you time and make you more effective.
These are only a few fundamentals of time management. Implementing them can allow you to get more done in less time. As a knowledgeable, professional REALTOR® you can provide the highest level of service to your clients when your schedule is organized and efficient.
Tax Questions & Updates for 2026 Webinar Recording Now Available
NAR is pleased to share the latest consumer guide that explains the concept of home staging, offers DIY staging tips and missteps and shares the latest NAR member sentiment on how staging can help buyers better visualize the property as their future home and potentially net sellers a higher price. As a reminder, all guides in this series are available for download—in both English and Spanish—on facts.realtor . Please allow up to two weeks for the Spanish version of the latest resource to be translated and uploaded. For ease of reference, below is a list of the most recent guides: NEW: Staging Your House for a Sale Spotting Deepfake Scams in Real Estate Are You Ready to Invest in Real Estate? Thinking of Selling? 7 Factors to Consider How to Make Your Home More Energy Efficient Thank you for your continued engagement with the “Consumer Guide” series and for sharing the resources with prospective clients to ensure they have the information they need to find success in their home buying or selling journey. Remember that these guides are for informational purposes only and are not meant to enact or change any existing NAR policy. Be on the lookout for the next consumer guide, which discusses home mortgage options that allow buyers to fold in renovation costs.
With legislative work wrapped for week two of the session, here is your look back at what took place inside the halls of the Capitol. This week was defined by one major theme: workforce. Across both chambers, lawmakers moved a substantial package of measures focused on workforce development and reforms to Louisiana’s labor and workers’ compensation systems. House Labor Committee One of the busiest areas of activity was the House Labor Committee, which met Thursday morning and took up a slate of bills tied to employment policy, workforce structure and independent contractor issues like measures on portable benefits. The committee’s work underscored the broader push this session to modernize Louisiana’s workforce. Workers’ Compensation Reform The conversation around workers’ compensation reform also gained serious momentum. On the House side, additional labor-related bills addressed independent contractor definitions and other employment law issues. This week marked one of the first major pushes of the session on labor and workforce policy. House & Governmental Affairs Beyond labor-focused legislation, activity also continued in other key committees. In the House & Governmental Affairs Committee, lawmakers advanced multiple bills dealing with the timing of bond and tax elections. Tax, Commerce and Property Looking back at the broader week-two agenda, the Legislature also began considering several tax, commerce, and property-related measures, including proposals impacting property tax assessments, homestead exemptions, and the issues affecting private property. While workforce dominated the week, these issues are starting to gain traction as the session moves forward. A portion of our legislative package will be heard next week as HB 468 moves to the House Commerce Committee and HB 292 moves to the House Civil Law and Procedure Committee. Be on the lookout for any potential calls-to-action for these, or any other upcoming bills. Please view the weekly bill tracking report provided by our lobbying team over at Harris, DeVille and Associates.
