during the rush - at the office

Budget your time. Staying organized can help you avoid lots of headaches. Use a digital agenda to plan each minute of your day – you should even schedule in time to read emails, return calls, and eat lunch or take a break. This will help you minimize distractions and waste less time. Set up alerts to notify you of task changes and make your calendar accessible to your colleagues. You can even use a colour code to indicate time slots during which you absolutely cannot be disrupted. Never hesitate to reserve time to go to the gym or watch your favourite show: preserving certain aspects of your routine will help you decompress, and be more productive as a result.

Be open about your workload. It can be difficult for people who aren’t CPAs to fully understand the amount of work that needs to get done. Send an email to clients and colleagues to let them know about your upcoming unavailability. Set up an automatic email reply and voicemail message to let people know you will not be responding as quickly as usual. That way, you won’t offend anyone!

Ask for help. Don’t wait until you're at the end of your rope to call for backup! From newbies to experts, everyone needs a helping hand – like when it comes to re-reading your reports, for example. It’s better to be honest and admit that you can’t do it on your own than to stay quiet and fail to deliver.

during the rush - at home

Take the time to prepare a lunch. Lots of companies offer to buy their employees food when the workweek is longer than usual. However, burgers and fries aren’t exactly the best fuel if you want to maintain your productivity (or your fitness). Dedicating a few minutes to preparing a healthy lunch will ultimately help you keep up your efficiency.

Allow yourself to let go. Is the house a total mess? Do you not have the energy to run 3km every day? If so, it’s not the end of the world. Accept that you’re going to fall behind on certain less-enjoyable aspects of your routine. Just concentrate on whatever helps you relax, and indulge in it guilt-free.

Optimize your mornings. If you need to accomplish certain tasks, do them as soon as you get up. Plan out dinner, read your emails, make a dentist appointment, spend time with your kids. The chances of you getting these things done are way higher after a good night’s sleep than after 10 hours in front of your computer.

after the rush - at the office

Debrief. When the dust settles, reflect on your highs and lows. Take notes for next year and find a way to solve problems in advance. You should also tap into your network! Fellow CPAs are likely to have lived a similar experience, so they can also share their tips and solutions.

after the rush - at home

Plan something fun. Take a few days off to recharge your batteries. This is the ideal time to take a vacation or day trip. After an intense period of hard work, many people feel demotivated when they return to their normal responsibilities. Realizing that the pace has slowed down and you’re not as in-demand can be difficult, so focus your mind on other things and treat yourself!

If you find you’re unable to reduce your stress levels year after year, it might be because you haven’t found the right team to support you. Get in touch with your nearest Randstad branch! Our recruiters will know exactly how to find the perfect work environment for you.

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