For those in the public accounting industry, it can entail long hours and late nights. The outcome of their work is important and this can cause a lot of stress as well. CPAs do the kind of work that others don’t want to do, gathering information from clients and putting in the previous year’s numbers on the forms of last year. With all the changes surrounding taxes and financials due to Covid-19, CPAs have experienced even more stress than before.
AvidXchange states that nearly half of the people in their study reported working longer hours than before the pandemic. There were 58% of participants that cancelled their vacations permanently and about 25% got calls or emails from clients that cause sleep interruption. Beyond an interruption of sleep from clients, 38% said that they were losing sleep from work-related stress. CPAs need to find ways to reduce stress so they’re able to do their jobs in full concentration. Here are a few effective methods to reduce stress and improve quality of life.
- Work-Life Balance
Image by Charles McArthur from Pixabay
Working too much may seem like a necessity but ultimately, it affects your health. It’s important to prioritize health and help others around you do the same. You can improve your healthy by dedicating time to working out in some way or another. Mountain biking, working out at the gym, or going for a walk can be helpful in clearing your head so work hours are more efficient. It also gets you out of your chair and away from the office.
If possible, don’t give your number out to employees or clients. This will give you rest from work and you won’t constantly feel like you’re in work mode. It’s important to create a line in the sand so you can take space away from work. Spending time with family and friends will help reduce your stress.
- Communicate with Supervisors
Major stress can come from not knowing what you should do. That feeling of uncertainty can cause major anxiety so it’s important to have clear communication. Daily or weekly meetings can help offset the stress and keep you “in the know.” Approachable supervisors allow you to discuss tasks you’re taking on and how to execute the best. Look to the leaders in your office when you don’t know something or aren’t sure what steps to take. If you’re a supervisor, initiate open communication and give colleagues as much support as you can.
- Know Where to Draw the Line
If you’ve said yes to everything in the past, you may find that this is causing major burnout. If you have too much on your plate, it’s okay to say no to additional work. This can cause a lot of stress and when burnout kicks in, you won’t have anything left to give. Deadlines you can’t meet and no time for lunch aren’t going to help you with your effectiveness at work. The accounting industry requires preciseness. It’s okay to have limits and when you find out what yours are, don’t cross them.
- Get Up and Move
Sitting for long periods of time in the same position is unhealthy. Make sure you get up and move around from time to time. You could even set a timer for every 30 minutes and take a short walk or stretch. When you zone into work and don’t take a moment to step away from your desk, you can increase your stress level.
- Reward Yourself
Small rewards can keep you motivated and with that kind of energy, you’re more efficient. Things are less likely to overwhelm you when there’s a goal at the end. When you meet your work tasks, you get a reward. This is a great method to keep you going and it doesn’t have to be big. You can buy yourself a nice coffee when you’ve finished a certain task. Take a rest between tasks that have a level of enjoyment to them so you can get those little dopamine hits all day.
- Get Sleep
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Sleeping is going to be one of the most effective ways to keep up with work and reduce stress. If you’re working hard all day and don’t get any rest, you become less efficient at work. Make sure to get home at a reasonable hour and find ways to relax. When you work until you’re exhausted, your mind may not shut off. Take action to figure out how to get the sleep you need every night.
- Create a Nice Environment
If you’re spending a lot of time at work, you want to have an environment that suits you. Some like a chaotic work setting while others need the order to work properly. Personalize your environment so that it’s right for you. Make it a habit to clean up your space and leave the area in a way that will make you happy to come back to it. Add personalization to it that reminds you of why you work so hard like pictures of family, posters, desk décor, or anything that brightens your spirits.
CPAs tend to put their health in jeopardy by overworking. This can create so much stress that they don’t work efficiently. It’s important to maintain mental well-being and lower stress. This makes the job and the rest of their lives much more enjoyable.
