About 99% of accountants feel the brunt of the busy tax season and feel burned out. Let that sink in! We live in a fast-paced world and as employers, leaders, and working professionals, we tend to keep pushing our boundaries until we are at the edge. This gets worse during the busy tax season. Piling files, fast-approaching deadlines, and the constant back-and-forth with the clients undoubtedly take a huge toll. Meeting requirements like completing the tax preparation on time while maintaining optimum accuracy, keeping clients informed at all times, and making sure they get maximum returns can be tiresome.
About 3,00,000 professionals have quit the accounting industry since the pandemic and the constant burnout is one of the key reasons. There is no doubt in the fact that there is a severe shortage of accounting talent across the world, and in the US it is worse.
The ones who continue to be in the industry accept that they will be working endless hours for those 4-5 months. They keep pushing unless they can’t any longer. While the busy season is a part of the industry, should it necessarily translate to a compromised work-life balance? Does being a part of this hustle mean missing time with the kids, an important day for your best buddy, or losing out on sleep? Definitely not!
So how do you hold up the personal side of things during the busy tax season? Here are a few things that could work.
Set boundaries and stick to them:
This can be very difficult at first. But it is crucial to maintain your sanity. If you are focused and productive during work hours, it should not be as difficult. While it is easy to let work spill into your time, it does lead to burnout. The first step to achieving this balance is to set boundaries.
- Define Your Work Hours
Establish a work schedule that is realistic and conducive to maintaining personal time. Even though the tax season demands extended hours, clearly define when you start and end your workday.
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Communicate Boundaries
Communicate your availability with your clients, colleagues, and superiors. By setting expectations upfront, you reduce the likelihood of being overwhelmed by after-hours requests.
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Create a Dedicated Workspace
Having a designated workspace can help reinforce the separation between work and personal life, particularly for those working remotely. This space should be used strictly for professional activities, creating a mental distinction between work and relaxation zones.
Schedule personal time like you would a meeting:
One of the most effective ways to ensure personal time during the busy tax season is to schedule it with the same seriousness as a work commitment.
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Block Time for Family and Friends
Plan to spend time with your family and friends. Whether it’s a dinner or a weekend walk – scheduling these moments makes it easier to maintain relationships and unwind.
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Plan Downtime and Leisure Activities
Include leisure activities such as reading, watching movies, working out, etc. Treat these blocks of time as non-negotiable commitments to yourself, just like a work meeting.
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Use Technology to Support Personal Commitments
Use calendar apps and tools like time-tracking to organize both work and personal schedules. Mapping things out digitally, allows you to better visualize your time and avoid overbooking yourself.
Delegate tasks and ask for help
The feeling of “I can do it myself” is common. But it does not necessarily mean you allow yourself to be consumed by the thought. No one can do it all and acknowledging it is the first step to achieving your work-life balance. Asking for and utilizing the support you have only makes things better for you.
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Delegate at Work
There are a lot of tasks that do not need you to attend to them. Delegate these to junior staff or assistants. This frees up your time for high-priority work and allows you to focus on tasks that require your expertise.
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Seek Help at Home
Don’t hesitate to take the help of family members or hire services to assist with household chores. Whether it’s meal preparation, cleaning, or errands, getting support at home allows you to focus on work and relax during your downtime.
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Outsource When Necessary
Consider outsourcing tasks as much as possible. While you get access to a team of experts, this also allows you to lighten the burden.
Stay flexible and adaptable
Even with your best efforts, there will always be unexpected workloads, especially during the peak tax season. Being flexible and adaptable will help you adjust the aspects of your personal life while managing the other challenges seamlessly.
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Adjust Your Schedule as Needed
Be prepared to adjust your work and personal schedules if an urgent task arises. The key is to remain flexible while honoring your personal commitments as much as possible.
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Use Contingency Planning
Create a contingency plan for both work and personal activities in case your schedule changes. For example, if you need to work late one night, shift your personal plans to the weekend to ensure you don’t miss out on important time with loved ones.
Practice stress management techniques:
If you are in the accounting industry, tax and other busy seasons are an integral part of it and so is the stress associated with it. However, learning how to manage it effectively can play an integral role in maintaining a healthy personal life.
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Utilize Stress Relief Techniques
Sress-relief techniques that can help you stay calm and focused include meditation, deep breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, or journaling. Experiment with different methods to find what works best for you.
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Take Regular Breaks
Short breaks can be very powerful. Stepping away from work, even if it’s for a few minutes, allows your brain to recharge and improve productivity. Regular breaks also reduce the risk of burnout.
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Use Stress-Relief Tools
There are many apps and tools available to help manage stress, such as Headspace for meditation, Calm for relaxation, and RescueTime for tracking work-life balance. Consider incorporating these into your daily routine for added support.
It is easy to lose track of the line between personal and professional during busy seasons. But it is important to note that failing to strike a balance not only impacts you, but also those around you. The key to success and remaining productive lies in balance, flexibility, and a conscious effort to protect your personal life amidst the demands of work.
One of the key ways to reduce the peak season load and strike the balance lies in outsourcing your tax services. To know how outsourcing can help, write to us at connect@finsmartaccounting.com.
Maanoj is Co-founder & Director of Growth Strategy & Alliance at Finsmart Accounting. He is an Outsourcing Expert, a People Champion, and a Dynamic Leader with strong Business Strategy and Scaling-up experience. He has incubated businesses, sold & exited ventures; helped build strong enterprises in very diversified verticals like Fintech, HR & Consulting spaces in various CXO capacities over the last 20 years.
