8 Survival Techniques for Tax Time

8 Survival Techniques for Tax Time8 Survival Techniques for Tax TimeThe busy season for accountants is officially in full swing, and you could use some survival tips. Perhaps, you were tipped off to this fact by the piles of paperwork overtaking your desk. Or maybe its the recurrent nightmares about falling into a swirling sea of W-2s and 1099s.For accounting professionals, tax season is synonymous with managing epically large workloads, putting in extra-long hours and consuming copious amounts of coffee. But despite the inherently frenetic nature of tax time, there are steps you can take to avoid work burnout - and possibly even thrive.Consider these eight survival tips during the remainder of this hectic stretch, this crazy-busy season for accountants1. Give yourself a breakKeep burnout at bayrumbaum by taking short breaks to relieve the tension of tax season. Collect your thoughts by going for a walk, stretching or briefly engaging in water cooler chitchat. If you cant leave your work area, force yourself to rest your strained eyes, take some deep breaths and try to clear your head - even if only for a few moments.2. Go with the flowAdaptability is one of the invaluable soft skills accounting professionals should have, particularly in high-pressure situations. If priorities change, and your manager quickly asks you to move from one project to another, embrace the new challenge. Remember If youre always flexible, youll never get bent out of shape.3. Ask for helpEven with talent and tremendous effort, some things simply cannot be completed by one person during tax time. If youre doing everything possible to accomplish a task and still encounter problems, ask for assistance. Identify duties that can be delegated or request backup. Its likely your manager would rather divert resources or bring in reinforcements to help now than hear of a missed deadline later.Find out how staffing agencies like ours can help employers find top talent for temporary hiring needs .4. Stay coolEven the most affable and well-mannered people can become flustered and temperamental when under stress. Dont contribute to the tense atmosphere. Although its not always easy to display grace under fire during this busy season for accountants, try to take crunch-time criticism and perceived slights with a grain of salt. Think before speaking, and dont let anyone elses negative attitude drag you down.5. When in doubt, seek clarityDont be afraid of asking too many questions. If a hot assignment is dropped on you with no warning, its better to clarify all concerns, timelines and expectations with your boss on the front end, instead of making incorrect assumptions that prove costly later.6. Take care of yourselfWhen work becomes all-consuming, it can take a toll, mentally and physically. While youve no doubt heard this advice before, combat stress and fatigue by getting adequate sleep and exercise. Moreover, give your body the fuel it needs by eating healthy. Working throug h lunch and scarfing down vending machine fare at your desk isnt a recipe for success, wohlbefinden or energy.7. Foster good office karmaIts always a smart move to generate goodwill with coworkers. If a colleague is facing a fast-approaching deadline and has files piled to the ceiling, offer to help if you can. By lending a hand, youll make an ally wholl likely return the favor when youre in a pinch.8. Put fun on the agendaLast but not least, meetings and deadlines shouldnt be the only items listed in your datebook. Schedule some fun, relaxing social events or a post-tax vacation from work so you have something to look forward to once the pace slows down. Focusing on the light at the end of the tunnel during this busy season for accountants can make even the craziest of workdays seem less, well, taxing. Tags