Why brokers shouldn't neglect their mental health

Long hours, client demands and market pressures create a perfect storm of stress that can chip away at your wellbeing in the mortgage sector. Although the truth is, neglecting your mental health doesn’t just affect you—it impacts your business, your relationships and your ability to support others effectively.

The professional impact of poor mental health

Personal and professional performance are intrinsically connected, particularly in the busy worlds of mortgage brokers. Ignoring your mental wellbeing can lead to burnout, a decline in productivity and difficulties maintaining strong client relationships. Over time, this can erode not only your personal resilience but also the trust and reliability you’ve built with your clients and team.

If you’re not at your best, it becomes harder to manage stress and maintain the empathy that’s so vital in this industry. Supporting your team’s mental health whilst protecting your own is another key challenge for firms, knowing how to truly listen to both yourself and your team, whilst recognising behaviours and signs that indicate the need for stepping back and recharging. 

recognising the early warning signs

Stress often creeps in unnoticed, but the early signs are there if you know what to look for. These might include: 

• Feeling constantly fatigued
• Having trouble sleeping
• Struggling to stay focused

Small irritations may feel overwhelming and physical tension, such as headaches or a stiff neck can become a regular occurrence. Recognising these signals early is key to preventing burnout and taking steps towards better mental health.

simple steps to safeguard your mental wellbeing

Taking control of your mental health doesn’t require an overhaul of your life. Small, intentional changes can make a big difference. For instance, setting boundaries around your working hours helps you create space to recharge. 

Practising mindfulness, whether through meditation or a few quiet moments away from your screen throughout the day can reduce stress and increase clarity. The 20-20-20 rule is a common tactic for managing eye strain, essentially taking a 20 second break, every 20-minutes, looking at something at least 20 feet away.

If you find yourself struggling, don’t hesitate to reach out for support. A trusted colleague, friend or mental health professional can always provide an external perspective to help you unpack challenges and guide you toward solutions. It’s always worth checking with your firm about internal resourcing, many firms work with a mental health partner to support their teams.

the ripple effect of prioritising yourself

When you look after your mental health, you’re better positioned to serve your clients, lead your team and navigate the demands of the industry. You’ll have the clarity to make decisions confidently, the energy to manage relationships effectively and the resilience to face challenges head-on.

By prioritising yourself, you create a ripple effect—improving not only your own life but also the lives of those around you, both at work and home.

are you listening to what you need?

Ask yourself: are you giving your mental health the attention it deserves? If not, it’s time to act. It’s easy to neglect taking time for yourself and feel ashamed about taking the space needed to rebalance. Thriving as a broker means recognising that looking after yourself is an investment in both your business and your future. 

You can explore a range of resources for mental wellbeing in our Growth Series and find a few of our picks below.

Read more: Mental health strategies for brokers

Read more: Wellbeing for profitability

Read more: Podcast #91 - Mental health, the chaos and the magic