6. Get to know your Colleagues
How well do you know your colleagues? This is the opportune time to learn more about the real estate agents and brokers in your district and in the process have them learn more about you. Share both personal information and professional ideas such as:

• Where have you lived?
• Why did you get into Real Estate.
• How long have you had your real estate license.
• What is your most memorable listing.
• Your real estate sales methods and preferences

As you will be doing business with these people, it is beneficial to have a good rapport. You never know what you have shared with someone will come back to help you. For example, They may have a listing that has a red door and remember a story about how you had a client that had always wanted a house with a red door and contact you first.

5. Enhance your Website
Websites have become one of the most important tools in a real estate agent's arsenal. A website represents who the real estate agent or broker is and tells the world what they have to offer. While the real estate market is cool, you should work on your website to not only make it more aesthetically pleasing, but to add more useful tools as well as optimize it for search engines. You should consider adding the following:

• A blog to your site with information about yourself and what is going on with your professional and personal life. You can use a number of tools such as Blogger or TypePad. Make sure to add key words to your stories that you search engines will pick up on and people doing searches will use.
• RSS functionality to your listings.
• More content to your site that is heavy with real estate industry specific keywords such as the License Professor's Real Estate Dictionary. The Real Estate Dictionary can be added to your site easily and is free to make use of.

4. Network at Social Events
You never know where your next listing will come from. The key to success in the real estate industry is to network, network, network. Luckily, there is no better time for a realtor to do this than during the holidays. From Christmas party, to neighborhood festivities, to lighting the Chanukah candles, there are endless gatherings going on where you can meet your next client. Never leave home without a business card.

3. Plan Your Next Years Goals
When things are slow during the holidays, it is a perfect time to reflect on your career as a real estate agent and to think about setting goals for the coming new year.

Examples of questions to ask yourself include:

• Did I meet my expectations from last year be it sales, listings, or whatever the goal.
• Did I meet my corporate expectations?
• How can I specifically improve?

It is a good idea to write your long term goals and expectations down on paper and then revisit them each year.

2. Take Real Estate License Continuing Education Classes for Credits
As a real estate sales agent or a broker, it is necessary for you to satisfy your states continuing education credits. Why not take these courses while the market is quiet?

You can take accredited real estate continuing education courses online or in a more traditional classroom environment. There are advantages to each. For taking the courses online, you do not need to put on pants. After eating a lot of Christmas treats, pants are often an optional affair. However, by opting to take your real estate license continuing education courses in a classroom, you can network with other realtors (see points six and four).

1. Spend Time With your Family
Always remember, you are more than a real estate agent. You are also a mother or a father or a daughter, or a son, or an aunt, or an uncle, or a drinking buddy...I could go on. The holidays are all about being with family and friends. There is a reason the market is slow at this time of the year. Embrace this. When you are making goals for the year (see point three), set your yearly budget with the knowledge that you will likely be taking time off during the holidays and make the most of it.