How to Create a Winning Routine (Real Estate Edition)

Hey there, Real Estate Rockstars – it's Crystal here. 😊 I’ve been a little MIA on my Thursday videos (truth: I just didn’t feel like it for a bit). But I’m back, espresso in hand, and ready to dish out some real talk about getting your groove back. We all talk about time blocking, consistency, focus, and finding that “one thing” that moves the needle. It’s heard, it’s understood – and then... life happens and we don’t act on it. Sound familiar?

Well, consider this your friendly kick in the pants (delivered with love 💖). I sat down and came up with 8 simple steps to help you create a winning routine. These are the exact tips I shared with my team on how to stay on track and crush those goals, day in and day out. It’s authentic, a bit no-nonsense, and totally doable. Let’s dive in!

1. Just Start (Don’t Overthink It)

“I need to plan everything perfectly before I begin.” Ever caught yourself thinking that? Stop. The first step to winning is to just freaking start. Don’t overthink it. Your plan or project can be messy – that’s fine! The key is to get moving. Whether it’s prospecting calls, prepping for an open house, or finally tackling that CRM cleanup, dive in and do it. No more paralysis by analysis. As I tell my team, done is better than perfect. You can always polish things later, but you can’t edit a blank page. So, make that call, send that email, write that post – just start. 🚀

2. Stay Calm (Stop the Panic)

Take a deep breath, friend. 😮‍💨 In real estate (and life), we all have moments of OMG panic: “Am I doing this right? What if I mess up?” Here’s the deal: you know what to do. You’ve trained, you’ve learned, and you’re ready for it. So the second step is stay calm and carry on. When that anxiety creeps in, remind yourself that you’ve got the skills and knowledge to handle it. Panicking only slows you down. The next time you feel that frantic energy bubbling up before a client meeting or a prospecting session, pause and center yourself. Trust your training, trust your gut, and keep your cool. You’ll think more clearly and make better decisions when you’re calm – and your routine will thank you for it.

3. Plan Your Tasks (Time Block Like a Boss)

If it’s not on your calendar, will it really get done? 🤷‍♀️ Let’s be real: intentional planning is a game-changer. Every evening (or morning), plan out your tasks for the day and block time for them. Need to prepare for an open house? Mark it in your schedule. Planning to call five past clients just to say hi or invite neighbors to your new listing’s open house? Block out 30 minutes for those calls and stick to it. When the clock starts, focus and grind: “From 9:00–9:30, I’m calling five people to check in or share a neighborhood update.”

Keep it simple. You’re not solving world peace with one phone call. 😅 You’re just taking the next step in your business. By scheduling tasks, you create a roadmap for your day. Pro tip: Give yourself a realistic timer. Tell yourself “I’ve got 15 minutes to knock this out” and by gosh, try to get it done in 15. If it actually takes 30, no worries – now you know to block 30 next time. The point is to use your time intentionally. When you plan your work and work your plan, winning becomes a routine.

4. Focus on One Thing at a Time (No Multitasking!)

This is the kicker right here: Multitasking is a myth. I’ll say it louder for the people in the back: We cannot multitask effectively! 🙅‍♀️ Our brains are not wired to do five things at once. (There’s a reason entire books have been written about focusing on “The One Thing.”) If you think you’re the exception, let me ask: ever been in a meeting, half-listening while checking emails on your phone, and then completely blank on what was just said? Yup, been there, done that. The truth is, when you try to juggle tasks, you do all of them poorly.

So here’s my rule: Be where your feet are. If you’re writing an offer, close out everything else and just write that offer. If you’re with a client, put the phone away and be 100% with that client. By focusing on one thing at a time, you’ll finish tasks faster and do them better. Plus, you won’t end the day wondering, “What the heck just happened?” because you’ll actually remember what you did. Focus is your friend – embrace it.

5. Remove Distractions (Create a Protected Workspace)

Distractions are the silent killers of a great routine. 📵 Think about it – how many times have you sat down to do your prospecting, only to get derailed by a pinging notification or someone walking into your office? It happens to me, too. I love being available to my team and clients, but when it’s time for my One Thing, I have to set boundaries. That might mean shutting my office door, putting my phone on Do Not Disturb, and closing all those tempting browser tabs.

Give yourself a protected workspace. Let family or colleagues know “Hey, I’m in the zone for the next hour.” Trust me, the world will survive if you’re unavailable for 60 minutes. 😉 By eliminating distractions, you’ll get your task done in a fraction of the time it would take if you were constantly switching gears. Remember, this ties back to Step 4: single-tasking. Removing distractions is how you guard that focus. So go ahead – create your distraction-free bubble and get it done!

6. Break Tasks into Steps (Make It Bite-Sized & Fun)

Big tasks can feel overwhelming, so let’s make them less scary. Break it down! 🗂️ Any large project or goal can be chopped into smaller, bite-sized steps. This not only makes the work more digestible but can also add a little energy boost to your routine. For example, if you need to follow up with 20 leads today, split it into 4 rounds of 5 calls. After each round of five calls, give yourself a 5-10 minute break to stretch, grab a coffee, do a quick happy dance – whatever keeps you energized. Then come back and hit the next five.

By stepping your work, you create mini-wins throughout your day. And who doesn’t love checking things off the list? ✅ Each small victory pumps you up to tackle the next. It’s like gamifying your day. This approach is especially helpful if you’re the antsy type (hi, I see you 👋) who needs frequent variety to stay engaged. Five calls, quick break, five calls, quick break – boom, 20 calls done before you know it. Breaking tasks into steps keeps you moving forward and makes even the most daunting projects feel totally doable.

7. Stay Consistent Every Day (Yes, Even When It’s Boring)

Here comes the not-so-sexy secret to a winning routine: Consistency. 🤐 Yep, the every-single-day, even-when-it’s-boring kind of consistency. High achievers, top producers – the real estate rockstars you admire – they’re not surfing some constant wave of excitement. They’re doing the boring stuff over and over without fail. And that, my friends, is their superpower.

It’s tempting to chase shiny new strategies or only work when you “feel inspired.” But success often comes from living in the boring. Making your calls every day, updating your CRM every day, door knocking or sending personal notes every day – even when you’d rather be watching Netflix. Most people won’t do it. If you do, you automatically set yourself apart as uncommonly dedicated. Consistency is what turns ordinary actions into extraordinary results. So love the boring. Embrace the grind. Consistency isn’t flashy, but it’s magic. ✨ It builds momentum and, over time, massive success.

8. Take Action Without Overthinking (Done > Perfect)

Last but SO not least: take action now, without overthinking. This loops us right back to Step 1, doesn’t it? How many times have you caught yourself "getting ready to get ready to start" something? 🙋‍♀️ You plan, you tweak, you fuss, and then... you hesitate because it’s not perfect yet. I’m calling it: That’s just bullshit. (Yeah, I said it! 😜) At some point, you have to pull the trigger and just do the thing. Send the email, launch the marketing campaign, start the agent outreach – whatever it is, stop fluffing and start doing.

Remember: “You don’t have to make it beautiful. It will get beautiful over time.” In other words, you can refine as you go. But you can’t improve something that doesn’t exist. So the motto here is Done is better than perfect. Action creates momentum; overthinking creates paralysis. When in doubt, DO. Even if it’s not 100% polished, you’ll be miles ahead of where you’d be if you waited. And bonus: every action you take teaches you something and builds confidence for the next step. So get out of your head and into action. 💪

Ready to Win? Let’s Grow Together 🎉

There you have it – 8 steps to build a winning routine that will keep you on track and crushing it in your real estate career. These aren’t fluffy theories; they’re real habits that I practice with my team every day. The truth is, success isn’t about secret formulas or magic bullets. It’s about showing up consistently, focusing on what matters, and taking action even when it’s hard or boring.

If you’re reading this and thinking, “I could use a little more of this in my life,” then come hang out with us! 🙌 Join a team that prioritizes growth, accountability, and real conversations. In our world, we lift each other up, keep it 100% real, and have a blast while doing it. Because when you surround yourself with people who push you to be better (and maybe give you some tough love when you need it), there’s no limit to what you can achieve.

Ready to elevate your routine and your career? Let’s do it together. 🚀 I’m just a message away if you want to chat about joining our real estate family that values growth, accountability, and a whole lot of fun.

Keep it real, keep it consistent, and go win the day! 🎊