When you think of tax season, does burnout come to mind? I haven’t done a formal survey, but I think the answer would be “yes” for many CPAs and accountants. In preparing to write this blog, I did what I usually do: start with the definition. According to Merriam Webster There are two definitions, one as a verb and the other as a noun:
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- Noun: depletion of physical or emotional strength or motivation usually as a result of prolonged stress or frustration
- Verb: cause it to fail, wear out, or wear out, especially from overwork or overuse
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These two definitions are so appropriate! We work to exhaustion (noun), and work leads to exhaustion (verb). It makes burnout sound inevitable during peak season, but that doesn’t have to be the case.
When I was in practice, it was not unusual for me to work 60-70 hour weeks, even 80+ hours here and there, and that was 12 years ago! It was exhausting, exhausting and exhausting (pun intended). Today, everyone is busier and work is more complex, so the peak season is more intense than ever. Back then, even though we whined and complained about burnout, there wasn’t much discussion about how to avoid it or manage it, it was just part of the narrative.
Today, we know better. By that, I mean we know it’s important to acknowledge burnout, acknowledge the toll it takes on our bodies and minds, and respect the challenges it brings. Of the many lessons learned as we navigate through Covid, one especially important one comes to mind as we approach tax season: it is good not to be good.
While tax season doesn’t always lead to burnout, most of us will experience times of excessive exhaustion, low energy, and fatigue. It is not a question of if, but of when. The key to managing this is to be proactive. When those moments of fatigue and tiredness come to us, what are we going to do? Like most things, the key is intention. By thinking ahead and being intentional, we can set a plan for how we will handle those moments. To be fair, making a plan is the easy part. In reality, sticking to the plan is much more difficult. So have a plan for that too. It might look something like this:
Step 1: Notice
Burnout doesn’t happen overnight. It escapes you Adrenaline is very good at masking symptoms in the days leading up to big due dates, which can make the crash the next day feel particularly challenging. There are no universal symptoms of burnout and each of us is different, so it’s important to know what symptoms to look for:
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- Physical: feeling tired (low energy), excessive sleepiness, headache, aches and pains in the body (ie back, neck, etc.), difficulty sleeping, upset stomach or gastrointestinal
- Emotional: irritability, feeling trapped or defeated, feeling detached, feeling like you are drowning
- Behavior: procrastinating, skipping meals or overeating, short temper (i.e. biting people or impatience), reduced productivity (i.e. taking more time to do routine things or repeating the same mistake)
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Step 2: Acknowledge
This is the part where you interrupt the denial or negative self-talk. For some of us, it may seem like a sign of weakness. For others, it can trigger negative self-talk about our abilities, sense of accomplishment, or anxiety about staying one step ahead of work. Allow yourself not to be okay. I own the feelings. Don’t try to dismiss them. Otherwise, we are more likely to try to sweep everything under the rug and move on, which could make things worse.
Step 3: Pause
This is the part where you put down your pen or mouse and walk away from your desk. Remember that intention you set? This is where it appears. Being intentional means having a real action plan when that moment of ‘burnout’ hits. You don’t have to wait for it to arrive and you can act when you see it coming. There are several things you can try. I suggest thinking of a few different things that have worked for you in the past. This is not the time to experiment or try something new. Here are some examples:
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- Strolling
- Deep breathing
- meditating
- go for a walk
- Listening to your favorite song, you can even dance or sing (out loud of course)
- Working
- Watch an episode of your favorite series at lunch (for those of us who eat at your desk, note that I included myself in this group, this one is for you)
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These breaks don’t have to be long: 5-10 circular breaths or a 10-minute walk might be just what you need. Next time, you might need a 30-minute meditation or an hour-long cycling class. There is no right or wrong here. The key is to step away from your work and show yourself some loving-kindness.
Step 4 – Reboot
This is the part where you go back to work. I’m not saying this to be stupid. Maybe it’s just me, but sometimes I find it hard to get back to a big project or heavy workload after a break. There may be anxiety about wasted time or regret for wasting time. These negative feelings can unravel the benefits of our work on pause. The goal is to resume with a renewed sense of readiness, a clear mind, and calm determination.
Burnout is very real and particularly quite common during busy work cycles. Understanding how it presents itself to you and having a few techniques ready can help shift the narrative from surviving to navigating the stress of peak season. Regular practice of some of these techniques might even help prevent burnout. Setting an intention and taking the time you need to restore balance could make this your least demanding peak season yet.
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