Thinking about how you can make the most of 2025?
It’s that time of the year when you start setting goals and making resolutions for the upcoming year. And if one of your resolutions for 2025 is to be more productive, you’re already on the right path….because you’re here reading this article! But how exactly do you make your working time as productive as possible?
Well, you can either put in more hours, or work smarter!
Being productive at the workplace requires you to be smart about how you utilise your time. In this guide, we share six simple tips to help you increase your efficiency and work smarter. Let’s get you on the road to the productivity!
Use TruEstimate™
Save time on property valuations by using TruEstimate™, Bayut’s very own property valuation tool. All you need to do is input the unit’s title deed, Oqood, unit number or DEWA number onto Truestimate™, after which you will immediately get your detailed valuation report. Truestimate™ leverages comprehensive data from the Dubai Land Department (DLD) to provide this report, which offers property valuation, rental yield and property history.
It is easy to use, convenient and credible, and a great tool for elevating your productivity in 2025.
Set SMART Goals
Every successful real estate agent has had to set goals to get where they are. When you have clear objectives and a roadmap of how you can reach your targets, it is easier to allocate time and resources towards your progress.
The best type of goal is a SMART goal – i.e., a goal that’s specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-based. You should set goals that:
- Are clear and as specific as possible
- Can be measured
- Can be reasonably accomplished in the timeframe that is set
- Are relevant to a bigger objective
- Have a timeframe or end date
Check out our guide to setting SMART goals for realtors to start planning ahead.
Remember The 80:20 Rule
According to the 80:20 rule (or the Pareto Principle), 20% of your tasks and activities are so critical, that they contribute to 80% of your total success in the workplace.
For example, taking steps to become a TruBroker™ can pave the way for your real estate career success. Elevating your listings by validating them with TruCheck™ and being more responsive to client inquiries can get you closer to being a TruBroker™. With this badge, you’re guaranteed higher rankings on your listing and more leads.
Get the latest tips for Real Estate Success
In our Time Management session at Bayut Academy, we share a simple exercise to help you figure out which tasks contribute to your success. Create a time journal, where you note down how you spend your time, and identify the entries that are relevant to your success. Then, prioritise these tasks. Cutting out the dead time from your schedule will increase your productivity tenfold.
Take Breaks
Burnout can be an absolute productivity killer. A lot of us have the urge to work on task after task, with no breaks in the middle. Instead of this, take scheduled breaks before you take on new tasks. Studies show that taking regular breaks helps to improve concentration and maintain level of performance.
Try Calendar Blocking
Calendar blocking is a simple time management technique that can help you stay productive in the workplace. All you need to do is define time frames for each of your tasks, meetings and events, and book a slot for it in your Google Calendar.
For example, if your tasks are:
- Creating a CMA for a client looking for a home in Dubai Hills
- Creating content for your social media
- Writing two property descriptions for listings
Estimate how much time you’d spend on each task, and block time for them on your calendar. Here’s what calendar blocking looks like on Google Calendar:
Avoid Distractions
A distraction at the workplace, be it a chatty colleague or a friend texting you about brunch, is called a time bandit. They’re called ‘bandits’ because, like the name, they ‘steal’ your time. To maintain your productivity at the workplace, make sure you eliminate these time bandits.
If it’s your phone, you can use the Do Not Disturb feature to pause all notifications. Or have a separate work phone to communicate with your clients. If it’s your colleagues at work, learn to be firm and let them know that you have tasks to complete.
Stop Seeking Perfection
The problem with the illusion of perfection is that a lot of people get hung up on attempting to perfect a task. The reality is, nothing is ever perfect. If you spend a lot of time seeking perfection in your work, completing a task to the best of your ability and moving on to the next one is recommended. It is better to complete a task and get it ticked off your list. Then, if needed, you can always come back and adjust or improve on it later.
Planning how to spend your time and being laser-focused on your tasks can work wonders for your real estate career. We offer a range of resources to help you plan your time better, including our Time Management toolkit for agents. So start the year with a fresh new plan and let your work do the talking.
If you’re looking to learn more about effective time management, join us for our exclusive Time Management workshop at Bayut Academy, where we take you through a host of exercises and share tips to help you plan your time better. You can also check out Content Corner, our library of resources for realtors in the UAE.