April 15^th is right around the corner and that means tax professionals are working hard to meet the most important deadline of the year. Tax season is stressful so there is no wonder that late April and May sees a lot of accounting burnout. So how can accountants reduce their stress during tax season and beyond? Here are a few things you can keep in mind.

• Focus on work/life balance. Most tax professional work a lot more than 40 hours a week during tax season. However, don’t let these long hours interfere with your home life. Do what you can to separate yourself from your work when you are off the clock. Turn your phone off when you’re out with your family or friends. You will have plenty of time to follow up with the emails and phone calls.
• Pay attention to health and wellness. Sure, grabbing a quick hamburger through the Drive-Thru may be easier, but it isn’t better. Try not to sacrifice your health for your job. Stock up on healthy snacks to take with you to the office. If you feel yourself becoming stressed, step away from your current project and take a five minute break, preferably outside in the fresh air. Healthier ways of dealing with stress will have longer term benefits than the short burst of energy you get from unhealthy choices.
• Recognize the signs of burnout. Burn out is a serious problem for many accounting professionals this time of year. If you feel that you might be reaching the end of your rope, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Temporary employees can be one solution to tax time stress to take the burden off yourself or your staff. And once tax season is over, take an extended break to recharge your batteries and be ready to come back in a much better mood than when you left.

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