Setbacks are part of life. Whether it’s a missed target, a difficult client, or burnout, we all face moments where things feel off track. For women in estate agency, these moments can feel especially heavy. You’re not just managing your role, but often balancing home, expectations, and an industry that hasn’t always been built with you in mind.

At Women in Estate Agency (WiEA), we know resilience isn’t about being unbreakable. It’s about how you respond when the pressure is on. It’s about recognising your limits, listening to your needs, and taking action to get back up.

Resilience is Not About Being Tough

It’s easy to confuse resilience with endurance. But powering through and bottling it up isn’t a sign of strength. Real resilience is about flexibility, honesty, and knowing when to take a breather. It’s the ability to adapt when things go wrong, not pretend they haven’t.

This industry moves fast. You’re expected to be available, proactive, and positive. Sometimes, that pace can become unsustainable. If you’re constantly pushing through, chances are you’ll hit a wall.

That’s not failure. It’s feedback. And learning to take feedback from your own body, mind and circumstances is a skill worth investing in. When you redefine setbacks as a signal to reset and realign, you take back control of your energy and focus.

Spot the Signs Early

Sometimes resilience starts with simply noticing the signs that you’re stretched too thin. This might look like:

• Feeling constantly overwhelmed, even after rest.
• Doubting your skills, despite evidence you’re doing well.
• Avoiding difficult conversations or procrastinating key tasks.
• Losing motivation or joy in the work you used to love.
• Increased irritability, forgetfulness or physical symptoms like headaches.
• Comparing yourself to others and feeling you never measure up.

Burnout creeps in quietly. It’s not always loud or obvious, but noticing these changes early gives you the best shot at making meaningful changes. Don’t dismiss them as “just a bad week.” Over time, consistent stress with no relief can affect your confidence and long-term mental health.

You’re Not Alone

We hear so many stories from women in our community who’ve experienced dips in confidence, career knockbacks or personal upheaval, and come out stronger on the other side.

A branch manager who left a toxic workplace and rebuilt her career in a company that respected her boundaries.

A sales negotiator who faced redundancy but used it as a catalyst to go self-employed and thrive on her own terms.

A senior agent who took a break to care for a parent, then returned more focused and ambitious than ever.

These stories are not the exception. They are the reality for many women. Sharing these journeys helps normalise the ups and downs that come with real careers. Feel connected and supported by likeminded women by joining our Facebook Group.

Recover, Don’t Retreat

When things go wrong, the urge to shut down can be strong. However, recovery doesn’t mean disappearing. It means:

• Taking short, intentional pauses instead of quitting entirely.
• Journalling or voice-noting your thoughts to gain clarity.
• Talking it out with a peer, mentor or trusted friend. Don’t forget, WiEA is closely associated with Agents Together, a brilliant organisation providing free mentorships for property professionals.
• Identifying what went wrong and what you can learn from it.
• Seeking feedback to improve and avoid repeating patterns.
• Creating space in your calendar for breathing room, not just productivity.

Recovery is an active process. It’s a chance to re-centre, not retreat. If you need to change direction, do it with purpose, not panic. Career detours are common, and often necessary for real growth.

Make Space for Yourself

Protective habits build long-term resilience. These aren’t luxuries. They’re your foundation:

• Boundaries: Say no to what drains you. Protect your time. Use “no” as a complete sentence without guilt.
• Rest: Real rest, not just sleep. Switch off properly. No emails at midnight.
• Movement: Take a walk, stretch, or anything that helps you reconnect with your body and reset your nervous system
• Support: Spend time with people who make you feel seen and heard. Don’t isolate yourself when you feel low.

You can also explore stress-relief techniques such as:

• Breathing exercises (box breathing is a simple, effective one).
• Meditation apps like Headspace or Insight Timer.
• Brain dumps at the end of the day to declutter your mind.

These small tools are easy to overlook when you’re busy, but they build a foundation for emotional balance.

Let Others in

Women in Estate Agency is built on connection. Whether it’s the Facebook group, a conference, a webinar or mentoring session, our spaces are designed so you don’t have to carry things alone.

Sometimes resilience is just being honest. Other times, it’s offering a hand to someone else who needs help. By lifting others, you also lift yourself.

Joining community discussions, offering advice, or simply showing up can have ripple effects. The act of sharing helps others know they’re not alone. It also reinforces your own learning and growth. Mentoring can play a huge part in that process too. Organisations like Agents Together are helping to build a culture of shared knowledge, care, and community in our sector.

When you share your challenges, you open the door for others to do the same. That’s how we grow stronger as a community.

Reclaim Your Path

Not every setback is within your control. Sometimes, it’s the culture, the team, or just bad timing. What you can control is how you respond.

• Reflect on what matters most to you now. Has your definition of success changed?
• Consider your long-term goals and what steps move you closer. Small actions count.
• Explore leadership training or skills development. Could a course boost your confidence?
• Reach out for mentoring or peer support to guide your next move. You don’t need to do it alone.

If you’re unsure where to begin, list three things that energise you and three things that drain you. Let that guide your next decision.

Progress doesn’t have to be big or dramatic. A small, intentional choice is still a powerful shift.

Celebrate Your Resilience

So often, we downplay the challenges we’ve overcome. Pause and ask:

• What have I navigated that once felt impossible?
• What skills have I developed during hard times?
• Who have I become because of the setbacks I faced?

Celebrating your resilience is not bragging. It’s recognising the truth of your journey. Keep a list of moments when you pushed through or turned something around. Revisit it when self-doubt creeps in.

Resilience isn’t about being the loudest or the boldest. It’s about continuing to show up for yourself, even when it’s hard.

Keep Moving Forward

You are not the mistakes you’ve made or the things that happened to you. You are the action you take next.

That could be updating your CV, applying for a new role, speaking up in a meeting, or simply recognising that today, you did your best.

When you take even one step, no matter how small, you prove to yourself that you’re capable of momentum again.

Together, We Thrive

At Women in Estate Agency, we believe resilience is a team sport. We don’t expect you to have it all figured out. We just want you to know that whatever you’re facing, you don’t have to face it alone.

Every time you choose to pause, reset, or ask for help, that’s resilience in action. Every time you do, you show others that they can do the same.

Resilience doesn’t happen in isolation. It thrives when the environments we work in actively support us: when leaders step up, policies protect us, and businesses commit to more than good intentions.

When women feel safe, heard, and supported at work, resilience isn’t just possible, it’s inevitable.