Summary: Mortgage Loan Officer burnout is real. It’s easy to get overwhelmed, or even feel underwhelmed. Here are a few solid tips to navigate potential MLO burnout.
1. Don’t Invest Too Much Time in the Wrong Things
2. Take Time for Yourself; Vacations Are Wonderful
3. Don’t Work Too Much, Too Fast
4. Focus on Your Physical & Mental Health
5. Remember Why You Became an MLO
Don’t Invest Too Much Time in the Wrong Things
Avoid the urge to equate busyness with productivity. Sometimes, MLOs get burned out because they do not prioritize their activities in a way that allows them to reach achievable goals. Although the job requires many duties (prospecting, service, administrative work, etc.), you can decide which activities are most pressing based on three simple criteria: what you love doing, what you’re good at, and what will yield the most profitable returns.
Manage your time by creating a schedule that helps you pace your day. You’ll be able to allocate time to the most integral duties of your job that do not drain you. Additionally, get into the habit of delegating ancillary tasks to staff or using technology to automate other duties. It will take some time to get into your new flow, but once you do, you’ll find that accomplishing your goals will be much easier.
Take Time for Yourself; Vacations Are Wonderful
Instead of looking at vacation time as a reward you have to earn through hundreds of hours of work, view it as a necessity. Because it is. Your vacation should be a complete suspension of work activities (i.e., no checking emails, no work talk at the dinner table) and used as a way to rest and replenish yourself. Participate in some of your favorite hobbies, or just indulge in self-care. If you like to read, pick up a non-work related book, curl up on the couch, and dive in.
Not only do you deserve a vacation, but well-planned time away from work has proven to offer a considerable ROI in terms of energy and outlook. Reinvigorated zest for your job often results in better productivity.
Don’t Work Too Much, Too Fast
Balance matters. Sometimes, newer MLOs may have the urge to go full speed ahead to find new clients and close as many loans as possible. This can result in over-committing to an unreasonable amount of work that will only end in complete exhaustion. If you’ve found yourself in this situation, remember that no one can go 100%, 100% of the time. When you find yourself with a mountain of work and not enough hours in the day, remember that there’s always tomorrow. Try breaking down your to-do list into smaller tasks and allocate generous time to each of those duties.
Focus on Your Physical & Mental Health
The most important factor in your business is you. So make sure you take care of your health in a holistic manner. Being an MLO can be quite sedentary, so make sure to schedule some physical movement each day. This doesn’t mean you have to be a hardcore gym-goer. Light-to-moderate activities like regular walks are shown to boost your mood, increase creativity, and enhance brainpower. It also aids your physical health. In addition, keep a healthy and balanced diet to support a strong immune system which results in fewer sick days.
Your mental health is equally important. Sound mental health is correlated with increased cognitive flexibility and the ability to solve problems more easily. Strong work performance depends on your mental clarity. If you’re struggling, look into wellness practices such as meditation, or consult with a counselor.
Remember Why You Became an MLO
When you find yourself spiraling into burnout, take time to reflect on why you chose this career in the first place. You may have become an MLO for the salary, the ability to help people navigate a big occasion in their lives, or simple job security. Think back to what motivated you to pursue a mortgage career and take a moment to reflect on how far you’ve come in achieving your goals. Give yourself permission to transform aspects of your career while re-committing to your overall ambition.
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