november2021 - 15

THE LEADERSHIP ADVISOR
Self-Care for Busy Accountants
AS AN ACCOUNTANT, you know how valuable your time is. Sometimes it seems like there
AMY VETTER, CPA.CITP, CGMA
Mindful Technologist &
Keynote Speaker
@AmyVetterCPA
The key to burnout prevention is
through self-care and better work-life
balance. Find ways to make self-care a
part of your routine to protect yourself
in times of stress.
SET BOUNDARIES
Setting boundaries in every area of
your life is vital. If you want to be
happier and more productive-set
boundaries. Learn to say 'no.' You
may find that saying 'no' does not
upset others as often as you think.
When you let work creep into your
personal time, it takes away from
the time you should be spending on
yourself and tends to reduce your
quality of work. The easiest way to
start setting boundaries is to let your
calendar be your first line of defense.
Schedule your work hours and let
people know that you will not be available
outside of those hours. You can
set your calendar to public so clients
can know what times to reach you.
Setting boundaries also includes
being realistic about the amount of
work you can do. If a client asks for
extra work, say no if you don't have
time. Overloading yourself increases
the chance of burning out and a poor
client experience. Knowing your limit
on how much work you can do helps
lower stress and makes your work
time more enjoyable.
CHOOSE WHO YOU
WORK WITH WISELY
Not every client is a good client.
As a professional who works with
the public, you see a lot of different
types of people. Some clients
are not enough hours in a day or weeks in a year. Unfortunately, one significant hazard
that affects accountants, CPAs, bookkeepers, and other tax preparers-even outside of
tax season-is burnout.
come prepared, some clients make
you laugh, and some... can be a
challenge.
If you and a client don't see eye to
eye, it's okay. You can both move on.
Evaluate what the client brings to the
table. How will it affect your work if
you lose this client? If it's feasible and
you find it challenging to work with
them, it's okay to let them go.
Saying goodbye to your worst
clients can truly be an excellent form
of self-care. It gets you closer to that
place of perfect work-life harmony
and is a powerful way to take charge
of your energy and time. For every
difficult client lost, a fantastic new
one is waiting next in line.
GIVE YOURSELF SOME
ME-TIME
Sometimes the ultimate act of
self-care is alone time. Being
around other people comes with
many rewards, but it also creates
stress and insecurities. You tend to
over-worry about what people think.
That's okay, but sometimes you just
need a break.
Spending time with yourself can
help you get to know yourself. It allows
you to tune into and concentrate on
your thoughts and feelings. Becoming
comfortable in your own company can
give you the time and freedom to truly
explore your own passions without
interference. You can try new things
and research topics that fascinate you.
Get to know yourself differently.
To make me-time work, you need
to set this time aside and make alone
time a priority. Don't wait until you
suddenly have space in your calendar;
it never happens. Mentally commit
to a time or, better yet, book it into
your calendar. This way, it becomes
something for you to look forward to.
STAY ACTIVE
We all know working out is good for
you-not just physically, but mentally
too. Regular exercise decreases
your risk for serious health conditions,
such as high blood pressure,
hypertension, and depression, while
also having the benefit of increasing
your memory and concentration.
Our lives are so full for many of
us, but understanding the impact that
exercise has on your life allows you to
make intentional choices to improve
your health. Neglecting your health
because of lack of time can stop you
from being the healthiest version of
yourself, body, mind, and soul.
PRACTICE MINDFULNESS
Practicing mindfulness is about
being fully present in the moment
and becoming aware of your reactions
to your thoughts and feelings.
It helps amplify all of your self-care
practices, including the ones mentioned
in this article.
A shift in mindset improves your
relationship with your thoughts and
improves your mood. You gain a more
balanced perspective on your life.
Many people who practice mindfulness
report an increased ability to
relax, greater enthusiasm for life, and
improved self-esteem.
There is preliminary evidence that
shows introducing a three-minute
breathing exercise before a stand-up
meeting results in better decision
making, more productive meetings,
good interactions.
People who practice regular mindful
activities and engage in self-care
are happier with their jobs and have
lower stress than those who do not.
Make the next tax season your least
stressful yet by finding ways to make
self-care a part of your routine. ■
NOVEMBER 2021 ■ www.CPAPracticeAdvisor.com
15
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november2021

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