Description:
Effective work-life balance is crucial for sustaining long-term insurance growth. Find out how to make the most of both.
The Insurance Agent’s Guide to Work-Life Balance
Let’s be honest: the insurance life isn’t for the faint of heart. Every agent wears a million hats, and it’s easy to find yourself working around the clock just to keep up.
But if you can’t find time for yourself, both your work and relationships will suffer. So how can you find the balance and make sure your work/life balance isn’t tipping too heavily in one direction?
You’ll find out in this guide.
What Is Work-Life Balance?
First, let’s start by defining what work-life balance is. It’s a term used to describe the ability to equally prioritize both the realities of having a job (work) and the realities of having a life (family, friends, leisure activities, etc.)
In other words, achieving a work/life balance means finding a way to balance the demands of your career with the needs of your home life. Of course, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution, but with a little effort and a lot of self-awareness, it’s possible to achieve.
Why Is It Challenging to Achieve Work-Life Balance?
Research found 39% of both full-time and self-employed professionals define work-life balance as their top priority. But the amount of agents who feel like they’re achieving it is drastically lower.
This often happens because of:
- Industry demands. Insurance is a 24/7 industry, meaning you may feel like you’re always on call.
- Self-employment. As an agency owner, you often don’t have someone to answer to. It can be challenging to draw a line between work and home life.
- Stressful environments. Dealing with mounts of claims and paperwork can be exhausting. Demanding clients and coworkers can make it worse.
- Frequent traveling. Insurance agents often travel frequently to meet clients, attend conferences, and more. This takes a toll on your personal life and can be hard to schedule around.
Insurance agents often work hard, but it doesn’t have to be at the expense of their personal lives. Read on to learn how to find your balance
10 Tips for Work-Life Balance as an Agent
1. Set Realistic Goals for Yourself
Setting goals you can’t possibly reach is tempting, especially if you’re a driven person. But if you set too far-reaching goals, you’re more likely to burn out—not to mention fail to meet them, leaving you feeling discouraged.
Instead, make goals that are achievable and measurable. Then, give yourself time to celebrate all successes, however small, so you can focus on your accomplishments.
2. Don’t Be Afraid to Say ”No.”
As an agent, you want to be available to your clients and colleagues. But if you don’t give yourself room to say no, you’ll never be able to prioritize your needs.
Learn to turn down requests outside your scope of work—whether it’s a request to attend an event you don’t have time for or to take on more responsibility.
For example, if a client needs a form filled out that’s outside of what you’re offering, politely explain why you’re not qualified. Bending the rules because you’re too scared to decline more work won’t benefit anyone in the long run (especially yourself).
3. Automate the Boring Stuff
You don’t have to be a tech genius to automate certain parts of your job.
There’s a wide selection of software designed for insurance agents that can handle tedious tasks. For example, you can automate policy processing, fill out forms, or even keep in touch with clients.
To give a real-life example, HubSpot’s CRM automates lead and customer management. Their automated toolkit handles follow-up emails, sending thank-you notes, and more.
This doesn’t mean replacing yourself with technology, either. Instead, it just streamlines your job, so you can focus on the things only you can do.
4. Take Time to Have Fun (Seriously)
When you’re enjoying yourself, your creativity and productivity will soar—and that doesn’t require taking a trip to Honolulu.
Maybe you need to get away from your desk and take a half-hour lunch break to get some fresh air. Or maybe you need to take a Saturday afternoon to catch that matinee showing of the latest movie.
Set aside time throughout the week to do whatever activity brings you joy. Even if you’re swamped, make it a priority.
5. Invest in a Healthy Lifestyle
Spending all day behind a desk and working late nights can affect your physical and mental well-being.
Make time to exercise, eat healthy meals, and get sufficient sleep. And don’t forget to account for the occasional indulgences (after all, there are few things more relaxing than a glass of wine with your favorite meal).
You don’t have to become a health nut, either. Small steps, such as getting off the bus a few stops earlier and taking the stairs over the elevator or swapping sugary snacks for fruit and yogurt, go a long way.
6. Take Frequent Breaks
When you’re caught up in a never-ending stream of emails and paperwork, it’s easy to forget to take some time off.
But it’s important to remember that a break doesn’t always have to be a full-fledged vacation. Even taking five minutes to step outside and get some fresh air can be rejuvenating.
Try to set aside chunks of time throughout the day devoted to doing something that truly relaxes you. Whether reading a book, listening to a podcast, or taking a walk, don’t neglect your need for downtime.
If your schedule is packed, try to fit in mini-breaks throughout the day, like stretching and deep breathing. Anything that takes your mind off work will do the trick.
7. Delegate Tasks Effectively
You don’t have to bear the entire weight of your workload on your own. Delegating tasks frees up your time to focus on the bigger picture.
For example, consider hiring a virtual assistant if you’re swamped with paperwork. This way, you can focus on the less redundant parts of your job, like networking, marketing, or making sales.
If you’re short on cash, consider outsourcing specific tasks to freelancers. This doesn’t have to be a long-term commitment—it can be as simple as having someone design your website or write your Twitter posts.
8. Make Time for Family & Friends
As an agent, you’re likely spending a lot of time with clients. But don’t forget to make time for the essential people in your life.
Spending time with your family and friends gives you an emotional recharge. And through these relationships, we can get perspective and meaning in our lives— something that’s often lost in the shuffle of work.
Draw up a schedule of family or friend time and stick to it. That could mean having regular movie nights with your spouse, Saturday morning breakfast outings with your kids, or weekly video calls with friends.
9. Develop Your Skillset
The insurance industry is constantly evolving.
New product releases, coverage options expand, and regulations change. Keeping up with these changes is essential for staying competitive.
Focus on developing your skillset. Read industry-related articles and books, attend online webinars or conferences, and consider taking educational courses.
This will keep you on top of industry trends, refresh your passion for your job, and remind you why you chose to become an insurance agent in the first place.
10. Don’t Forget to Reward Yourself
When constantly working hard, it can be easy to forget to pat yourself on the back.
Recognize the successes in your job and reward yourself accordingly. Whether it’s a new outfit, dinner at a restaurant you’ve wanted to try, or a weekend getaway, celebrate your achievements often.
This creates a positive feedback loop, motivating you to stick to your goals and make an even more significant impact in your job.
The Bottom Line
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to managing your time as an insurance agent—everybody is different. But the tips above can help you find the best balance to excel in your field and lead a healthier, more fulfilling life.
If you’re serious about making the most of your insurance career, sign up for Insurance Bob—our free 20-day course. You’ll learn industry-specific tips on how to make more sales, improve your client relationships, and stay competitive in the field.
