We’ve all been there. We’ve all had a deadline or project hanging over our heads that we just couldn’t get ourselves to get to. Whether we’re creatively stumped, tired or just can’t seem to find the time; it happens to all of us at some point.
Tax preparers have been put through it these past 18 months. We know it’s been exhausting. A lack of motivation or feelings of angst, exhaustion or defeat are to be expected from time to time. Here are some mental health tips to keep in mind if you find yourself feeling this way!
Vent to your community. The tax community is exceptional. There are so many online (like #TaxTwitter) and in-person (events, training opportunities) ways to connect with others within your profession. A lot of you have been having similar experiences, similar problems and often finding different solutions. Get with people within the tax community so you can talk about it all – the highs, the lows and the accomplishments. It may leave you feeling much better about your situation or even inspired to try new things!
Listen to your body. Make sure you’re getting plenty of sleep and eating right. But don’t be afraid to step back if you need to. You may feel you just truly need to take some time off, which is okay! You’ll come back refreshed and ready to get back into the swing of things with a much better mental capacity to take on new challenges.
Mix things up. Work at the dining room table instead of your office. Start going out for lunch with a friend instead of packing a lunch. Set a new goal or work on a new skill, professional or recreational! Making positive changes, even little ones, in your life can often help ease anxiety and depression and can even get you motivated to continue that momentum elsewhere.
Most importantly, be easy on yourself. It’s been a rough year for us all, and your profession got a harder hit than others. Let yourself struggle and let yourself move on when you’re ready to do so.
