Five fixes for broker wellbeing when the market’s full-on 

November 2025

Big pieces of work – from complex fact-finds to tricky income assessments – need room to breathe. Block one or two focused windows each day and tie them to named cases. Then make the distractions work around you: switch on Do Not Disturb, close the inbox, and set up an automatic reply email so colleagues know when you’ll be back. If something urgent lands, pause and reschedule the block, then return to it. The goal is to carve out time where your best thinking can happen without every ping pulling you off task. This can be extremely difficult as clients needs are the priority, but give it a try and compare results.

When diaries fill up, try a quick daily sweep – five minutes at the start and end of the day – can help you stay in control and set the agenda. Capture anything that needs the most attention and give it a specific slot with a single next action; move low-value tasks to a simple ‘later’ list you’ll review weekly. And note anything you’re waiting on in your calendar, diary or CRM with a follow-up date.

During the day, work from that plan rather than from the inbox. You’ll still respond promptly, but this approach could mean no more last-minute scrambles, fewer loose ends, and a steadier pace. 

Spikes happen: a down-valuation, an unexpected document request, a client wobble before signing contracts on the purchase. If it all feels like it’s getting a bit too much, make sure you carve out some time in your day for a reset. Try box breathing – inhale for four seconds, hold for four, exhale for four and hold for four seconds again. Aim for smooth, quiet breaths rather than big gulps of air. This will signal the ‘all clear’ to your nervous system, rather than preparing for a sprint. 

Turn one internal update call into a short walk-and-talk, preferably outside if you can, and keep a bottle of water within reach. Daylight, movement and hydration can lift your mood in the afternoon.

If you’re desk-bound, between meetings: stand, roll your shoulders, relax your jaw, and use the 20- 20-20 eye reset (every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds). These tiny resets won’t slow you down. They’ll stop your energy from flatlining – and that could be the difference between a steady 4pm conversation and a frazzled one.

Broker work is social – whether you’re talking to colleagues, clients or BDMs—yet many people still General avoid talking about how they’re feeling. Open up with a five-minute Friday check-in with a colleague or trusted friend, checking in on:

• What went well this week
• What was hard
• One simple fix for next week. 

Keep it short and capture a line or two so progress is visible. Over time, that regular meeting becomes a habit, which could make a few tough weeks feel less isolating. 

Peak periods are part of the job, but they shouldn’t come at the cost of your wellbeing. The tips we’ve outlined can help you to make a start with managing the stress of a busy market. But you don’t need to make all five a habit at once. Pick two you can stick with for the next fortnight and protect them like appointments. If you lead a team, model the basics: preserve focus time, keep meetings tight and be explicit about priorities.

By taking steps to protect your wellbeing now, you’ll have the time to make all the difference for your clients when you’re at your busiest. If you’d like tools or ideas to help you stay on track, your Coventry BDM can share useful tools and ideas to help you do just that.