Can you maintain high levels of motivation for 54 days? That’s how long the Medicare Annual Election Period lasts. If you can’t sustain your energy for the entire period, you’ll be at risk of burning out. The following tips will help you stay motivated and prevent burnout through AEP.
1. Pace Yourself
This is a marathon, not a sprint. You might be able to manage seven-day weeks and 12-hour days for a while, but not for the entire AEP – at least, not without a negative impact on your physical and mental health. Although your workload will likely increase significantly during AEP, you still need to pace yourself to prevent burnout.
To figure out a reasonable pace that balances your need for downtime with the need to meet deadlines, take a methodical approach. What do you need to accomplish? Consider all the appointments, paperwork, marketing, and follow-ups you need to do, and determine how much time they will take. Then, create a schedule and block out time for each chunk of work in your calendar.
2. Make the Most of Your Downtime
Throughout AEP, you’ll need to recharge. Since you won’t have a lot of time, you’ll need to make good use of what you do have to re-energize.
Let’s say you have 20 minutes to relax during a busy day. Do you grab your phone and spend the break doomscrolling through social media and news sites? If so, you may be doing more harm than good. According to Harvard Health Publishing, doomscrolling may lead to headaches, muscle tension, neck and shoulder pain, low appetite, difficulty sleeping, and elevated blood pressure.
Instead of doomscrolling, find positive ways to use your downtime, by reading a good book, enjoying a healthy snack or calling a friend to connect. You may even want to use meditation or affirmations to shift your perspective, like many elite athletes.
3. Try Exercising Outdoors
AEP happens to land during the darker months of the year. A poll from the American Psychiatric Association found that nearly 40% of Americans experience declining mood in winter. UC Davis Health says you can improve your mood in winter by practicing self-care, including by making a habit of going outside for a daily walk or other exercise.
A little exercise may also help you fight burnout. Research published in PeerJ found that cardiovascular exercise increases wellbeing and decreases psychological distress, stress, and emotional exhaustion. Plus, the American Psychological Association says spending time in nature has been linked to cognitive benefits and has recuperative effects.
It’s clear that getting some fresh air is a great use of your time, and it may help keep your energy levels high throughout AEP.
4. Focus on Your Goals
When you’re overwhelmed with work, it’s important to keep your eyes on the prize – in this case, that’s your enrollment goals for AEP.
To sustain yourself throughout the entire enrolment period, it will be helpful to break down your big goal into smaller goals. Instead of just focusing on what you want to accomplish by December 7, think about your goals for each week or even for each day.
5. Carve Out Time for Training
You may be tempted to skip training during AEP, but doing some training may be refreshing. For one thing, you’ll be engaging with other agents who are also going through AEP and you can encourage each other. Training is also a good way to make sure you’re staying compliant and using best practices. For training events, check out the WAP calendar.
6. Simplify Wherever Possible
If there simply aren’t enough hours in the day, identify the least essential items you can cut or see if there are any time-savers you could employ, such as booking appointments in the same area on the same day to spend less time driving around.
Technology is a lifesaver during AEP. With the right business tools, you may be able to complete some essential tasks in less time, which may also help you avoid burnout.
7. Reward Yourself
Think about some ways to treat yourself for meeting your goals. These don’t have to be big – something as small as your favorite dessert will do. Once AEP is over, you’ll want a bigger reward for surviving it. Decide how you’re going to treat yourself ahead of time and use the reward as motivation.
Do you need help staying motivated this AEP? The team at Western Asset Protection is here to support you. Contact us today.