Author: Dawn Goldberg

Before we dive in, I wanted to let you know that applications to work with me for July, August, or September are now open!

If you’ve been thinking about getting support—whether it’s with time management, stress, or feeling more in control of your day—this is your chance.

I only take a few accountants each quarter, and if you’re ready to stop spinning your wheels, I’d love to hear from you.  And don’t worry if you have vacation plans; we’ll work around them because I believe that coaching should support your life, not interrupt it.

If you’re interested, just head over to www.thesmarteraccountant.com/application to apply. It’s short, simple, and could be the start of a whole new chapter for you.

Alright, let’s get into the episode…

Okay, let’s talk about time management as accountants because time management is hard enough, but if you’re a perfectionist, it can feel downright impossible. You want everything to be just right, but that takes time—way more time than you actually have.

You check, double-check, and then maybe check one more time, just to be safe. You tweak little details, rewrite emails, and overthink simple decisions. And before you know it, the day is over, and your to-do list is still staring at you.

It’s frustrating, right? You work so hard, but somehow, it still feels like you’re always behind.

Perfectionism makes you believe that if you just try a little harder, everything will turn out exactly the way you want. But the truth is, the harder you try to control everything, the more out of control you actually feel.

For example, have you ever noticed how some people seem to get things done so much faster than you? Meanwhile, you’re stuck, spending way too much time making sure everything is “just right.”

That’s because perfectionism steals your time. It tricks you into thinking that spending extra time on something makes it better when, most of the time, it just keeps you stuck in a loop of never feeling done.

And here’s the thing—it’s not your fault. Your brain is wired to avoid mistakes, so it pushes you to keep fixing, redoing, and making things “perfect.”

But let’s be honest—perfect doesn’t actually exist because it’s subjective. And chasing it just leads to unwanted stress, exhaustion, and feeling like there’s never enough time.

Imagine what it would feel like to finish something without second-guessing yourself. To wrap up your work, close your laptop, and feel done—without overworking yourself or staying late.

That’s not just a nice idea—it’s completely possible. And it doesn’t mean lowering your standards. It just means managing your time in a way that actually works for you, instead of against you.

So how do you stop perfectionism from running the show? And how can you still do great work without wasting hours on tiny details?

That’s exactly what we’re going to talk about today. Let’s get into it.

How Perfectionism Wastes Time

Perfectionism feels like it should help you work better, but in reality, it just slows you down. You spend extra time tweaking things, making sure every little detail is just right—but at some point, all that extra effort stops making a difference.

It’s called diminishing returns—where more time doesn’t actually mean better results. The 80/20 Rule explains this perfectly: 80% of your results come from just 20% of your effort. But perfectionism makes you focus on the other 80%, the tiny details that don’t actually move the needle.

And let’s also talk about mistakes. Perfectionism convinces you that making a mistake is the worst thing that could happen. So instead of finishing a task and moving on, you overthink, double-check, and even redo things that didn’t really need fixing.

There’s actual research on this. A study from the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that perfectionists experience much more anxiety and procrastination. Basically, the more pressure you put on yourself to be perfect, the harder it is to get things done.

That’s why perfectionism and procrastination go hand in hand. When you feel like something has to be perfect, it’s easy to put it off until you “have enough time” to do it right. But that time never really comes, does it? Instead, tasks pile up, and stress levels go through the roof.

And that stress is not just annoying—it’s exhausting. The more time you waste perfecting the little things, the less time you have for high-impact work. The important things keep getting pushed to the side while you’re stuck fine-tuning things that don’t really matter.

As we all know as accountants, over time, this leads to burnout. You work longer hours, feel more frustrated, and struggle to find a balance between work and life. And even after all that effort, you still don’t feel like you’ve done enough.

So why does this happen? Why does your brain push you to spend so much time on things that don’t actually help? Let’s take a look at what’s going on next.

The Brain Science Behind Perfectionism and Time Management

If you’ve ever felt like you have to make something perfect, even when you know it’s taking too long, there’s a reason for that. Your brain is actually wired to push you toward perfectionism—even when it’s not helping you.

It all starts with your threat response. The part of your brain that I call the Toddler is designed to keep you safe. But it doesn’t just react to physical danger—it reacts to anything that feels like a threat, including the fear of making a mistake. That’s why perfectionism can feel so intense—it’s not just about doing good work, it’s about avoiding what feels like a failure.

And then there’s dopamine, the feel-good chemical. Every time you fix something, tweak a detail, or make something “better,” your brain gives you a little dopamine hit. 

It feels rewarding in the moment, which makes you want to keep doing it. But that’s how you get stuck in the perfectionist loop—where you keep working on something long past the point where it actually matters.

This also ties into something I’ve discussed on the podcast before called the Mere Urgency Effect. Your brain loves to feel productive, so it pushes you to focus on tasks that seem urgent—even if they’re not important. That’s why you might spend an hour formatting a spreadsheet instead of tackling the high-impact work that actually moves things forward.

And then there’s the Zeigarnik Effect, which makes your brain fixate on unfinished tasks. When something isn’t quite “done,” your brain keeps pulling you back to it, making it hard to move on. This is why perfectionists struggle to let things go—even when they know it’s time to stop.

For example, let’s say you’re writing a client email. You draft it, read it over, and it’s perfectly fine—but instead of hitting send, you reread it again… and again. Maybe you change a word, adjust the tone, reformat a sentence. Even though it was ready 20 minutes ago, your brain won’t let it go because it still feels unfinished. 

That’s the Zeigarnik Effect in action—your brain keeps the task “open” until it’s resolved, and perfectionism makes that resolution nearly impossible to reach. The result is that you stay stuck in the loop, wasting time and mental energy, even when the work is already good enough.

The good news is that just because your brain is wired this way doesn’t mean you have to stay stuck in perfectionism. There’s a smarter way to manage your time without feeling like you’re cutting corners. Let’s talk about what that looks like.

A Smarter Way to Manage Time as a Perfectionist (What You Need to Know)

If you’re a perfectionist, the idea of letting something be just good enough probably makes you a little uncomfortable. But the truth is, perfection isn’t what makes you great at what you do—progress is. The smartest accountants learn to manage their time in a way that works with their brain, not against it.

Here are six smarter shifts that can help:

Shift #1: Adopt the “Done is Better Than Perfect” Mindset

Perfectionists tend to think in extremes—something is either flawless, or it’s a failure. But most things don’t need to be perfect to be effective. Real progress happens when you focus on getting things done instead of getting them perfect.

For example, let’s say you’re preparing slides for a client meeting. You spend an hour tweaking fonts and adjusting spacing, even though the content is already solid. Instead, if you decided early on that your goal was clear communication—not visual perfection—you’d be done in half the time and still make a great impression.

Shift #2: Use the 80% Rule

Before you spend extra time on something, ask yourself, “Is this good enough to be effective?” If the answer is yes, it’s time to move on.

Let me give you my own example. Before writing my book and launching this podcast, I started The CPA MOMS Podcast about 6 years ago. Each week I would do the research, write out the show notes, and hand them to my husband for feedback. I jokingly referred to him as the editor.

I told him, “Just give me a rating on a scale of 1 to 10 and be honest.” The first time he gave me an 8 out of 10, I said, “Great! Nothing more needs to be done.” He was confused—“You don’t want it to be a 10?” I explained that I wanted the podcast to be sustainable, and trying to make every episode a 10 would be a waste of my time and energy.

Now, I use AI tools to analyze the show notes, and as soon as I see an 8 or above, I know it’s time to move on.

Shift #3: Time Block With Constraints

Perfectionism loves open-ended time. But when you set limits upfront, your brain is more likely to stay focused. For example, if you give yourself 30 minutes to review a report, you’ll avoid the rabbit hole of over-fixing details that don’t actually matter.

For example, one of my coaching clients would spend hours preparing month-end financials because she wanted every number perfectly formatted. Once she started blocking 45 minutes for prep, she found she was still delivering excellent reports—but without the mental and emotional drain of trying to make them look “perfect.”

Shift #4: Pre-Decide What’s “Good Enough”

Another powerful technique is deciding what “done” looks like before you even start.

If you’re writing an email, tell yourself: “One draft and a quick read-through, then I hit send.” This simple pre-decision keeps you from falling into the trap of rewriting the same thing five times and still feeling unsure.

For example, imagine you need to respond to a client’s question. Instead of crafting the “perfect” reply and second-guessing every sentence, decide upfront: “Two paragraphs that clearly answer the question, then send.” That decision alone can save you 20–30 minutes and help you feel more confident moving on.

Shift #5: Focus on High-Impact Work

Perfectionists often spend too much time on things that feel urgent but don’t actually move the needle.

That’s where The Decision Matrix comes in. It helps you prioritize based on impact—so your time and energy go toward what matters most, not what’s nagging for your attention. I go deeper into this in The Smarter Accountant Time Management Program, but even a basic shift in focus can make a big difference—especially for perfectionists.

For example, say you’re debating whether to spend another hour proofreading an internal memo or use that hour to prep for a client meeting that could result in new business. Perfectionism might tempt you to polish the memo, but smarter time management will direct you to the task that creates the biggest result.

Shift #6: Reframe Mistakes

The goal isn’t to avoid mistakes—it’s to stop fearing them. Successful people don’t obsess over perfection. They make decisions, take action, and learn along the way.

If you see every mistake as proof you weren’t good enough, you’ll stay stuck. But if you see it as part of the process, you’ll keep growing. Perfectionism might try to protect you from mistakes, but it often just keeps you from moving forward.

For example, one accountant I worked with used to dread sending out draft reports to clients. She didn’t want to be “wrong,” so she’d delay until every possible issue was resolved. Once she began reframing those drafts as a collaboration tool, not a final verdict, she felt less pressure—and clients appreciated the faster turnaround and opportunity to provide feedback.

These shifts make a huge difference, but change doesn’t happen overnight. So what does it actually look like when an accountant moves from perfectionism to a smarter way of working? Let’s take a look at a real-life example.

Becoming a Smarter Accountant: Better Time Management For a Perfectionist

I’ve worked with many coaching clients on better time management for perfectionists, but let me share one story of an accountant who was stuck in the perfectionist trap. Every email, every financial report—triple-checked. Then checked again. 

They stayed late almost every night, trying to make sure everything was flawless, but no matter how much time they put in, it never felt like enough.

They were constantly behind, even though they worked harder than most people around them. There was always one more thing to fix, one more tweak to make. And because of that, their to-do list never seemed to shrink. 

Even when they weren’t at work, they couldn’t shut their brain off. They felt guilty spending time with family because they should be getting more done. But at the same time, they were exhausted from working so much.

During coaching, we focused on small but powerful shifts—applying the 80% Rule, setting time limits, and learning to trust their own judgment. At first, it felt super uncomfortable. They worried that if they didn’t double-check everything, they’d make mistakes or disappoint someone. 

But as they practiced, they started to see that letting things be good enough didn’t mean settling—it meant freeing up their time for the work that actually mattered.

And that’s exactly what happened. Instead of spending hours tweaking reports, they learned to stop when something was effective, not perfect. They started finishing important tasks earlier in the day, instead of scrambling at the last minute because they had wasted time on minor details. 

They stopped rewriting emails five times before sending them. And guess what? Nothing bad happened. The quality of their work didn’t drop. If anything, they were getting better results because they had more time to focus on what actually needed their attention.

But the biggest win was that they got their life back. No more late nights obsessing over tiny details. No more bringing work stress home. 

They actually enjoyed dinner with their family without their mind running through all the things they should be doing. And for the first time in a long time, they felt done at the end of the workday.

This kind of change doesn’t happen overnight, but it is possible. It starts with a simple shift in how you think about time, work, and perfectionism. 

And that brings me to the key takeaway from this episode and one key question I want you to ask yourself.

Key Takeaway and Action Item

The key takeaway from today’s episode is that perfectionism isn’t helping you work better—it’s just stealing your time. The more you try to make everything flawless, the less time you have for the things that actually matter. The smartest accountants don’t waste hours on unnecessary details. They know when to stop, trust their work, and move on.

For this week, ask yourself: “What would happen if I let ‘good enough’ be enough?”

Perfectionism makes you believe that stopping before something is perfect means you’re cutting corners. But what if that wasn’t true? What if you could still produce high-quality work without all the overthinking, redoing, and second-guessing?

And here’s something most perfectionists don’t realize—it’s not just the time you waste while working, it’s the time you waste after working. If you end your day thinking, “I didn’t get enough done,” you’re going to feel frustrated or discouraged. And those emotions won’t fuel the kind of productive, efficient work you need the next day.

This is why I teach my time management coaching clients something called The After Model—because what you think and feel about your work at the end of the day directly impacts how productive you are tomorrow. If you keep telling yourself you should’ve done more, your brain will always believe you’re behind. 

But if instead, you choose a thought like, “I made progress, and I’ll finish this tomorrow,” you’ll feel more focused and in control.

Perfectionists aren’t just hard on themselves while they’re working—they’re hard on themselves after the work is done. But shifting how you think about what did or didn’t get done will make a huge difference in how you show up the next day.

The reality is, most of the extra time you spend fixing things doesn’t change the outcome—it just drains your energy. What if you used that time to tackle more important tasks? Or better yet, what if you used that time to actually enjoy life outside of work?

Perfectionism might feel like it’s helping you do better work, but in reality, it’s just slowing you down. It leads to inefficiency, procrastination, and burnout, making it harder to stay on top of everything. And as we’ve seen, there’s actual brain science behind why it’s so tough to let go of perfectionism and move on.

But here’s the good news—you don’t have to stay stuck in this cycle. Smarter time management isn’t about cutting corners. It’s about knowing when good enough is truly enough and putting your time into the things that actually matter.

At the end of the day, your value as an accountant isn’t in perfect work—it’s in smart, strategic thinking. The more time you waste chasing perfection, the less time you have for high-impact work, for growing your career, and for actually enjoying your life outside of work.

Now, imagine what would happen if you finally gave yourself permission to move on. That’s where real productivity begins.

Pulling Back the Curtain

Pulling back the curtain for a moment…

Perfectionism has been a companion of mine for as long as I can remember. Even early in my career, I wore it like a badge of honor, especially working for the Big 4. I thought it made me better—more responsible, more dependable, more professional.

But over time, it stopped feeling like a strength and started feeling like a trap.

I remember staying late at the office, rereading the same email over and over, rewriting a single paragraph three times, just because it didn’t sound quite right.

And when I’d finally hit send, instead of feeling satisfied, I’d feel tense—like I had missed something, like I should’ve done more. That part was the hardest. Not the doing—it was the never feeling done.

And perfectionism didn’t clock out when I did. I’d come home to my family and my brain would still be spinning. “Should I have added that line to the report? Did I sound too direct in that meeting? Was that spreadsheet formatted exactly right?”

It took me years to realize that perfectionism wasn’t about high standards. It was about fear. Fear of judgment. Fear of being wrong. Fear of not being enough.

And it was stealing my time. Not just during the workday, but in the moments that were supposed to be mine.

That’s when everything started to shift—when I decided that I didn’t need to be perfect to be effective. When I stopped obsessing over the last 10% and started focusing on what actually mattered.

And the interesting thing is that nothing fell apart. I didn’t suddenly become sloppy or careless. If anything, my work got better. It became clearer, more strategic, more sustainable.

If this episode struck a chord and you’ve been thinking, “I need this kind of support,” fill out an application to work with me for July, August, or September are now open.

I work with a small number of accountants each quarter who are ready to stop feeling behind and start working smarter—not harder.

If that sounds like you, head over to www.thesmarteraccountant.com/application and fill out a quick application. We’ll take it from there.

And don’t worry if you’ve got summer plans—we can absolutely work around them.

And if this episode felt helpful, would you do me a favor and share it with another accountant? Perfectionism is everywhere in our profession, but it doesn’t have to be the standard anymore.

The truth is that you’re already smart, but this podcast will show you how to be smarter.

Before I get started I wanted to mention a bonus I created for all the podcast listeners who have challenges with time management.  If you’ve ever felt like you’re behind no matter how hard you work, or like everything on your list feels urgent, The Smarter Accountant’s Cheat Sheet for Better Time Management will help you finally understand what’s really going on.

Inside, I break down 7 common time drains accountants deal with, what your brain has to do with it, and what you can start thinking differently so you’re not ending the day feeling frustrated and unfinished.

If that sounds like something you need, you can grab your copy at thesmarteraccountant.com/cheat-sheet. It’s free, and it’s really helpful.

Alright—let’s talk about something I know so many accountants deal with: that weird feeling like you’re not in charge of your day.

You’ve got a plan. You’ve got a list. But then something small—an email, a craving, a client request—suddenly takes over. And before you know it, the day feels like it’s running you.

That’s what we’re getting into today: feeling more in control. Because when you don’t feel in control, everything feels harder.

For example, you want to stop working at a certain time… but keep going. You want to focus on one thing… but keep bouncing. You tell yourself “no more scrolling”… and then catch yourself doing it again.

It’s like your brain has its own plans, and you’re just along for the ride.

That used to be me. I’d finish a full day of work, check a bunch of things off my list, and still feel like I was behind. I couldn’t figure out why I felt so off when I was getting so much done.

Turns out, control isn’t about doing more—it’s about how you feel while you’re doing it. And whether you’re making decisions on purpose or reacting without thinking.

When your day feels like one long reaction, it’s draining. You lose focus. Everything starts to feel heavier than it should.

And let’s not forget the guilt. You say you’re not going to check your email every five minutes, or you promise you’ll stop working at six, and then you don’t. That voice in your head gets louder: “See? You can’t even stick to this.”

But what if none of that had to mean anything bad about you? What if you weren’t weak… and just needed a different way to think about what’s happening?

That’s what we’re talking about today. No tricks. No pressure. Just something simple that can honestly shift how your whole day feels—one urge at a time.

What Urges Are and Why They Matter

Let’s start by talking about urges—those little nudges your brain sends that can totally throw off your day.

They can show up fast and strong, like a tiny voice saying, “Check your email,” “Grab a snack,” or “Say yes, even though you’re already swamped.”

And even though they seem like they come out of nowhere, they don’t. They’re actually sentences in your brain that create emotions that show up in your body.

Maybe you feel your chest tighten. Maybe your leg starts bouncing. Maybe you get that restless feeling that makes it hard to sit still or focus.

That’s your brain doing what it’s been trained to do. Most urges are tied to something it has learned over time—like when you feel stressed and your brain says, “Let’s fix this fast.”

So you check your email. Or grab your phone. Or reach for something to eat. And your brain goes, “Whew, that’s better.”

That tiny moment of relief creates what’s called a habit loop. It tells your brain, “That worked, let’s do it again next time.”

And the more that loop gets repeated, the stronger it becomes—even if it’s not actually helping you.

This is something most accountants were never taught to notice. We were told to work harder. Push through. Be more disciplined.

And maybe that works for a while… until you hit a wall. Until you’re too tired, too busy, or just too frustrated—and your primitive brain takes the wheel.

The truth is, fighting urges all day is exhausting. And the more you try to ignore them or push them away, the louder they tend to get.

Even though you can’t outwork an urge, you can learn to let it show up without acting on it.

That’s the shift. And it’s one that makes a big difference.

It might sound a little strange at first, but learning how to allow an urge without doing anything is a real skill. One that can totally change how you move through your day.

Let’s talk about what’s going on in your brain when an urge shows up, so you can start to see it a little differently.

The Brain Science Behind Urges

Your brain is built to help you feel better fast. That’s its thing.

It doesn’t care about your calendar or long-term plans. It cares about comfort—and it wants it now.

That’s where dopamine comes in. It’s the feel-good chemical your brain releases when something seems rewarding.

So let’s say you’re feeling stressed and you check your email. Your brain goes, “Ahh, that worked,” and gives you a little dopamine boost.

It’s tiny, but it’s enough to make your brain say, “Let’s do that again next time.”

And that’s how a habit starts. Your brain remembers what gave it relief, and it wants to repeat it.

Each time you give in to an urge, you make that habit loop stronger. It’s like walking the same trail over and over—it gets clearer and easier to follow.

The tricky part is, your brain thinks it’s helping. Even if the habit isn’t helpful, it still feels good in the moment.

But here’s the good news: your brain can change. You’re not stuck with the old trail.

It doesn’t take willpower. It takes awareness.

When you feel an urge and don’t act on it, you interrupt the loop. You teach your brain, “We’re doing something new now.”

At first, it might not like that. The urge might feel stronger. That’s normal.

But if you keep allowing it without reacting, your brain starts to quiet down. It stops pushing so hard.

And the more you allow, the less urgent the urges feel. Your brain starts to learn that it doesn’t need the reward to be okay.

You start to feel more in charge. Not because the urges go away completely—but because they stop running the show.

Now that you know what’s going on in your brain, I want to explain how the 100 urges process works, and why it’s such a helpful way to build real control.

How the 100 Urge Process Works

Let’s talk about what it actually means to allow an urge—because it’s not about stopping it or pushing it away.

It’s about letting the feeling show up, noticing it in your body, and deciding not to react.

That might look like this: you feel the urge to check your email, grab your phone, or say yes to something you don’t want to do. You pause, take a breath, and tell yourself, “This is just a feeling. I don’t have to act on it.”

You might feel it in your chest. Or your arms. Or that strong pull to do something right away. That’s all normal.

You don’t need to fix it or make it go away. You just stay with it for a few seconds.

That’s what allowing looks like. No big drama. Just staying with the feeling and letting it pass on its own.

The 100 urges idea is about turning this into a small daily practice—one urge at a time. And if 100 feels like too much right now, start with 10. You can always build from there.

Here’s are some quick steps to start allowing urges:

1 – Notice the urge

Pause when you feel pulled to do something out of habit—like checking email, grabbing a snack, or reacting quickly.

2 – Name it

Say to yourself, “This is just an urge.” That simple sentence helps create space.

3 – Feel it in your body

Where is it showing up—tight chest, racing thoughts, fidgeting? No need to change it. Just notice.

4 – Take one slow breath

Remind yourself, “I don’t have to do anything right now.”

5 – Let it pass

Most urges fade in less than 90 seconds when you don’t react to them.

6 – Track it

If you allowed the urge without acting, give yourself credit. Check off a box or mark it somewhere. Tracking it will help you reach whatever goal you set and it will help you rewire your brain.

7 – Keep going

If you gave in, it’s okay. You don’t count that one. No guilt—just try again next time.

That’s all this is. One urge at a time. You don’t need to do anything perfectly—you just need to practice.

And once you’ve allowed even 10 urges, you’ll start to notice a shift. You’ll feel a little steadier. A little more in charge.

By the time you reach 100, your brain will be in a whole new place.

Now I want to show you what this looked like for a coaching client of mine. Her story might sound familiar.

Becoming a Smarter Accountant: Allowing 100 Urges

One of my coaching clients came to me feeling like her workdays were running her—not the other way around. She was smart, hardworking, great with clients… but she felt completely out of control.

She told me she was checking her email constantly. Not just a few times a day—every few minutes. Half the time, she didn’t even notice she was doing it.

She always felt behind, like something was slipping through the cracks. And even when she wasn’t behind, she still felt that pressure.

She blamed herself. She kept saying, “If I could just stop checking, I’d be fine.” She thought it was a discipline problem.

But when we started working together, it became clear it wasn’t really about the email.

It was the urge to check it whenever she felt anxious. Her brain had made that connection—stress pops up, email gives relief. That became her loop.

At first, she didn’t think allowing the urge without checking would make a difference. But she agreed to try it once a day. Just once.

She’d notice the urge, take a breath, and do nothing.

She started to see it for what it was—a little ripple in her body that passed quicker than she expected. It wasn’t a problem. It wasn’t an emergency.

Little by little, she stopped reacting. She trusted her planned email time was enough. Her calendar felt doable again.

She said to me, “I feel like I finally have my brain back.”

She didn’t turn into a robot. She still felt stress. She still had urges. But now she understood what was happening—and didn’t panic when they showed up.

She wasn’t stuck in the same loop anymore. She was aware of what was going on.

And that changed everything.

Key Takeaway and Action Item

The key takeaway from this episode is that you don’t have to fight urges. That’s not the answer.

You just need to understand what they are and what your brain is trying to do when they show up.

Once you start noticing them instead of reacting to them, everything starts to shift. Even allowing one or two can remind you that you’re not stuck.

You’re capable of showing up in a new way. And you don’t need to do it perfectly for it to make a difference.

If you want to try this today, here’s a question to ask yourself:

“What urge do I usually give in to that I’m willing to allow today instead?”

That one small moment of awareness might be all you need to take your day in a better direction.

So much of the pressure accountants feel doesn’t come from the work itself. It comes from feeling like we’re not in control of how we’re showing up to it.

When you learn to allow urges instead of reacting to them, you start to build something that no calendar or planner can give you—real self-trust.

You start to see that you don’t have to be pulled around by your day. You get to decide how you show up to it.

And the more you practice allowing urges, the easier it gets. It becomes less about willpower and more about awareness.

Pulling Back the Curtain

Pulling back the curtain for a moment…

There was a time in my life when I didn’t realize how often I was reacting to urges. Little things—like checking email when I felt anxious, grabbing a snack when I was overwhelmed, or staying up late working because I felt behind.

And what’s interesting is that I was still getting things done. I was still checking boxes, showing up, being productive. But inside I felt completely out of control.

It was like I was following this invisible script all day long—without even realizing I was doing it. And the part that hit me the hardest was when I realized how normal it had all started to feel.

I remember one afternoon—I had blocked time for something important, but I kept checking email. Every few minutes. I’d tell myself, “Just one quick look,” and then 30 minutes would go by. I wasn’t even aware of the urge anymore. I had become the urge.

That’s when I realized: productivity isn’t the same thing as control. I could be efficient and still feel totally hijacked by my brain.

Learning to allow urges—actually feel them without giving in—was uncomfortable at first. But once I got the hang of it, everything started to shift. I wasn’t constantly pulled in a hundred directions. I could feel an urge and just… breathe. Wait. Let it pass.

It felt like I was finally in the driver’s seat. Not fighting myself, not trying to be perfect—just noticing, choosing, and moving forward with more intention.

And that’s why I teach this to the accountants I coach. Because this one mental skill—allowing urges—has the power to make you feel calm, focused, and genuinely in control, even when the work is intense.

If this episode hit home and you’re ready to feel more in control of your time, your focus, or even just your brain during the day, I invite you to take The Smarter Accountant Quiz at www.thesmarteraccountant.com.

It’s a quick and insightful way to uncover the real reasons your day might feel harder than it needs to be.

And if you’re ready to take back control but aren’t sure where to start, book a free 30-minute call with me at www.thesmarteraccountant.com/calendar. We’ll talk through what’s happening, what your brain’s doing, and how to make things easier.

And if you’ve been enjoying this podcast, I’d be so grateful if you shared it with another accountant. Most of us were never taught this stuff—and the more we spread the word, the more we can change what it means to be successful in this profession.

The truth is that you’re already smart, but this podcast will show you how to be smarter.

Before I get started I wanted to let you know that I’m going to be offering the same CPE course a few times each month and so the next time the Smarter Accountant CPE Course “Everything You Need To Know About Procrastination” will be offered is on Friday, June 13th at 12 pm EST.  You can sign up at https://thesmarteraccountant.com/cpe/.  You’ll not only get CPE credit but I will also be sending the replay and a workbook so that you can apply what you learned.

Have you ever looked at your workday and thought, “Does it really have to be this exhausting?” Maybe there are parts of your job you genuinely enjoy, but they get buried under everything else. Or maybe you spend too much time on things that don’t play to your strengths, making the workday feel even longer.

If you’re like most accountants, you’ve probably caught yourself thinking, “If I could just tweak a few things, this job wouldn’t feel so draining.” That’s exactly what job crafting is about.

Job crafting isn’t about switching careers or waiting for someone else to make your work better. It’s about small, intentional adjustments that can shift how your job feels—without adding more to your plate.

Think of it like adjusting a chair to the right height or tweaking a spreadsheet formula to save you hours of work. You’re not overhauling everything—you’re just making smart changes so your job fits you better.

The truth is, we spend a huge portion of our lives at work. But how often do we stop and ask, “How can I make this easier on myself?”

For many of my coaching clients, work feels like something to just get through—deadlines, clients, meetings, and an inbox that never stops growing. But what if you could make your job a little less frustrating without quitting or taking on more work?

That’s the beauty of job crafting. It’s about shaping the job you already have so it works for you instead of constantly feeling like it’s working against you.

Most people assume job satisfaction is black and white—you either like your job, or you’re stuck until you find a new one. But what if that wasn’t true?

Job crafting gives you back some control over how you experience your work. Instead of just going through the motions, you can make small changes that make your day less stressful and more rewarding.

Now, I know what you might be thinking: “That sounds great, but is this even possible in a busy accounting career?” With tax season, demanding clients, and never-ending deadlines, it probably feels like there’s no room to craft anything.

But job crafting isn’t about adding more work to your plate—it’s about shifting how you approach the work you’re already doing. It’s about recognizing where you have flexibility, using your strengths more, and making your job work better for you.

If you’ve ever wished your job felt just a little better, you’re not alone. And job crafting might be the simple, practical shift you’ve been looking for.

So, let’s talk about what it really means to craft your job—and how you can start making your work life easier without making it harder on yourself.

The Different Types of Job Crafting

Now that we’ve talked about what job crafting is, let’s get into how you can actually do it. There are three main types of job crafting, and the good news is, none of them require you to take on more work or make drastic changes.

It’s not about piling more onto your plate. It’s about making small adjustments that can make your job feel easier, more enjoyable, and less like something you’re just pushing through.

Task Crafting

Task crafting is all about tweaking the actual work you do day to day. It’s finding ways to do more of what you enjoy and less of what drains you.

For example, if you love working directly with clients but spend most of your time buried in spreadsheets, you could look for ways to shift your role slightly—maybe by handling more client meetings or explaining financials in a way that helps them make smarter decisions.

Or maybe you enjoy problem-solving but rarely get to do it. Instead of staying in your lane, you could volunteer for more complex projects that challenge you.

The key to task crafting is using your strengths more often. It’s not about doing less—it’s about doing more of what fuels you.

Relationship Crafting

This type of job crafting focuses on how you interact with the people around you.

Maybe there’s a colleague you work really well with, but your roles don’t overlap much. Could you find ways to collaborate more? Or maybe there’s someone whose feedback you really value—could you connect with them more regularly?

Relationship crafting also applies to client interactions. Instead of just exchanging emails, could you schedule a quick call or a virtual meeting to strengthen the relationship? Small shifts in how you interact with people can make work feel more connected, supportive, and even enjoyable.

Cognitive Crafting

This one is all about shifting how you think about your job. Because let’s be honest—some accounting work will never be fun, no matter how much you tweak them.

But the way you think about those tasks? That’s where the change happens.

Instead of thinking, “I hate doing this,” you might reframe it as, “This is a chance to develop a new skill” or “This task helps me support my team.”

For accountants, that could mean looking at financial reports, audits, or tax returns in a new way. Instead of seeing them as repetitive, you might focus on the fact that your work provides real value to your clients and their businesses.

Cognitive crafting isn’t about forcing yourself to love every part of your job. It’s about seeing the bigger picture so that even the mundane tasks feel a little more meaningful.

By understanding these different types of job crafting, you can start making small but powerful changes to your work. But what’s even more interesting is how these adjustments impact your brain—and the way you experience your job.

The Brain Science Behind Job Crafting

Let’s talk about why job crafting works—not just in theory, but in your brain. When you make even small changes to how you approach your work, you’re not just making your job more enjoyable. You’re actually rewiring your brain to feel better about it.

Your Brain Loves Control

One of the biggest reasons job crafting makes a difference is that your brain thrives on a sense of control.

When you feel like you have some say in how you do your work, your brain releases chemicals that boost motivation and engagement. It’s why even small adjustments—like changing the way you tackle a task or reframing how you think about it—can make a huge difference in how your job feels.

The more control you feel, the less drained and frustrated you’ll be.

Your Brain Runs on Dopamine

Your brain also loves doing things you’re good at. When you use your strengths—whether that’s problem-solving, working with numbers, or explaining things to clients—your brain releases dopamine, the chemical that makes you feel good when you complete a task or reach a goal.

That’s why when you craft your job in a way that lets you lean into your strengths more often, work feels easier. You’re not just checking off tasks—you’re giving your brain the reward it craves.

Your Thoughts Shape Your Experience

Cognitive crafting—shifting how you think about your job—affects your brain just as much as changing what you do.

If you look at a task and think, “This is going to be stressful,” your brain takes that as a fact and triggers stress. But if you shift that thought to something like, “This is a chance to develop a skill,” your brain responds differently.

Again, this isn’t about forcing yourself to love every part of your job. It’s about training your brain to find meaning in even the less exciting tasks so they feel less draining.

By making small shifts in how you work and how you think about your work, you’re actually helping your brain work for you instead of against you.

Next let’s talk about the real benefits of job crafting and why these changes can completely shift your work experience.

The Benefits of Job Crafting

Now that we’ve talked about what job crafting is and how it affects your brain, let’s talk about why it’s worth your time. Because at the end of the day, you don’t need more things to do—you need ways to make work feel easier.

Small shifts in how you approach your work can have a huge impact on how you feel about your job. Here’s how.

Work Feels Less Like a Grind

One of the biggest benefits of job crafting is that your work stops feeling like something you just have to get through. When you spend more time on tasks you enjoy—or at least find ways to make them feel less frustrating—you naturally feel better about your job.

It’s not about forcing yourself to love every task. It’s about making small adjustments so your day doesn’t feel so draining.

More Energy and Motivation

Ever notice how some tasks fly by while others feel like they drag on forever? That’s because when your work matches your strengths and interests, your brain stays more engaged.

Job crafting helps you create more of those “this wasn’t so bad” moments and fewer “how is it only 10 a.m.?” moments. The more your work feels like it fits you, the more energy and focus you’ll have to actually get things done.

More Control Over Your Career

Job crafting gives you back some control. Instead of waiting for a promotion or a role change to feel more fulfilled, you can start adjusting things now.

That might mean taking on work that challenges you in a good way, finding ways to grow in your current role, or shifting tasks so they feel less overwhelming. These small moves add up over time and can make a big difference in how confident and capable you feel at work.

Less Stress and Overwhelm

Let’s be honest—accounting can be stressful. But when your job feels even slightly more manageable, that stress starts to feel less overwhelming.

When your work fits you better, you’re not constantly forcing yourself through tasks that drain you. That means less burnout, fewer moments of frustration, and a job that feels more sustainable long-term.

How to Start Job Crafting

Now that you know how job crafting works and why it’s worth your time, you might be wondering, “How do I actually start doing this?” The good news is, you don’t need to make big changes to see a difference.

Here’s how to get started.

Step #1 – Take a Step Back

Before making any changes, take a moment to look at your current job. What parts of your day feel energizing? What drains you? Are there tasks you enjoy but don’t get to do often enough?

Write down the tasks you handle every day. Then, highlight the ones that feel good and circle the ones that feel like a chore. This helps you see exactly where you can make small adjustments to make your workday easier.

Step #2 – Find One Thing to Tweak

Look at your list and pick one small thing to adjust. It could be doing more of a task you enjoy or making a repetitive task faster or less frustrating.

For example, if you love client interactions but spend too much time on tedious reports, could you adjust your schedule to allow more time with clients? If a task feels like it takes forever, could you use automation or templates to streamline it?

The goal is to make small, manageable changes that shift how your work feels without adding more to your plate.

Step #3 – Start Small

Pick one change and try it for a week. Maybe it’s setting aside more time for the work you enjoy or tweaking your workflow so tasks feel less overwhelming. Keep track of how these changes affect your stress and energy levels.

There’s no need to overhaul everything overnight. The best way to make job crafting work is to start small, see what helps, and build from there.

Step #4 – Talk to the Right People (If Needed)

If your changes involve shifting responsibilities or working with others differently, it might help to have a conversation with your manager or team.

Be clear about what you’re adjusting and why—it’s not about doing less, but about doing your job better. Most people appreciate it when you take initiative to improve your work, especially if it leads to better results.

Step #5 – Check In and Adjust

After a week or two, ask yourself, “Do I feel less stressed? Am I more engaged in my work?” Write down what’s working and what’s not.

If a change isn’t helping, tweak it. Maybe you tried focusing more on client calls, but it made you feel rushed with other tasks. Adjust your schedule to create a better balance.

Job crafting isn’t about getting it perfect on the first try—it’s a flexible process that lets you shape your job in a way that works for you.

Becoming a Smarter Accountant: Examples of Successfully Job Crafting

Let’s talk about how job crafting works in real life. I’ve seen it firsthand with my coaching clients and I know it can make a big difference.

From Bored to Engaged

One of my coaching clients came to me feeling completely drained. She was great at preparing reports and financial statements, but every day felt like she was just going through the motions. 

She told me, “I feel like a machine—just cranking out numbers with no real purpose.” She was exhausted, unmotivated, and seriously questioning whether this was the right career for her.

Through coaching, we uncovered what actually lit her up—talking to clients and explaining numbers in a way that helped business owners make smarter decisions.

So instead of staying buried in spreadsheets, she started job crafting by volunteering to present financials during client meetings. It was a small change, but it completely shifted how she felt about her work.

The result was that she felt energized instead of drained, valued instead of invisible, and most importantly, excited to come to work again.

Creating Growth Without Changing Jobs

Another client came to me saying, “I feel stuck. I know I’m capable of more, but every day feels the same. I’m just clocking in and out, and I don’t see a path forward.” He wasn’t unhappy exactly—just stagnant. And that was starting to wear on him.

Through coaching, we found a way for him to tap into his strengths—taking on more complex projects that required deep problem-solving and analytical thinking, something he loved but wasn’t getting to do enough of.

Over time, he crafted his role into something that felt challenging in a good way. He realized he didn’t need a promotion to feel fulfilled—he needed to make small shifts that made his job feel exciting again. 

Now, he no longer feels like he’s treading water. Instead, he’s growing, learning, and actually enjoying his work again.

As you can see, job crafting can have an amazing impact on job satisfaction and I don’t know any accountant who wouldn’t like to improve that.

Key Takeaway and Action Item

The biggest takeaway here is that you have more control over how your job feels than you might think. Job crafting isn’t about overhauling everything—it’s about making small, intentional adjustments that make work easier and less frustrating.

This week, ask yourself, “What’s one small change I could make in my job to feel less stressed or more engaged?”

Maybe it’s shifting your focus toward tasks that energize you, finding ways to collaborate with people you work well with, or reframing how you think about a routine task.

Once you’ve identified that one small shift, start there. Focus on just one area at a time—whether it’s tweaking a task, improving a work relationship, or changing your mindset.

Stay flexible. Some changes will work better than others, and that’s okay. Job crafting is a process, not a one-time fix. Experiment, adjust, and pay attention to what makes the biggest difference.

And don’t forget to acknowledge the wins. Even small changes can make work feel lighter and more manageable.

The bottom line is that when you focus on what you can control, your job starts working for you—not against you. And that’s what makes all the difference.

Pulling Back the Curtain

Pulling back the curtain for a moment…

There was a time in my career when I honestly thought the only way to survive in this profession was to just keep pushing. I didn’t question whether the way I was working was sustainable—I just assumed exhaustion was part of the deal.

But I remember one afternoon, sitting at my desk after a long day, and thinking, “This isn’t working anymore.” I was good at my job, but I wasn’t enjoying it. I felt like I was doing a hundred little things every day that didn’t actually tap into my strengths or make me feel fulfilled.

That moment was the beginning of what I now know was my own version of job crafting. Not because someone told me to do it. Not because I had a new job or a new boss. But because I knew something had to change—and no one else was going to change it for me.

I started with one thing: being more intentional with how I used my time. I looked at the tasks that drained me and the ones that gave me energy. I started setting better boundaries. I stopped saying yes out of guilt. I gave myself permission to rearrange how I worked so I could feel better while still doing good work.

And what’s wild is that once I started making those small adjustments, I actually became more productive and felt less burned out. I wasn’t constantly running on fumes or trying to prove something. I was just doing the job in a way that worked better for me.

More recently I used job crafting to get clear about how much more productive and focused I am working from home.  Being a classic introvert means I get my energy from being alone, so I have structured my day to have limited interaction but with much better efficiency and more energy at the end of the day.

That’s what job crafting is about. It’s not about doing less—it’s about doing things differently, in a way that fits you.

If this episode made you think, “I wish my job felt better,” I want to encourage you to take The Smarter Accountant Quiz at www.thesmarteraccountant.com. It’s a quick and eye-opening way to see how you might be underutilizing your strengths or making things harder than they need to be.

And if you want support figuring out what could shift for you, I offer a free 30-minute call. You can book that at www.thesmarteraccountant.com/calendar. Whether you’re burned out, stuck, or just ready for something to feel easier, we can talk about where to start.

And if you’ve been enjoying the podcast, I’d be so grateful if you shared it with another accountant. So many of us have accepted unnecessary stress as normal, and this work is about showing what’s actually possible.

The truth is that you’re already smart, but this podcast will show you how to be smarter.

Before I get started I wanted to let you know that I’m going to be offering the same CPE course a few times each month and so the next time the Smarter Accountant CPE Course “Everything You Need To Know About Procrastination” will be offered is on Friday, June 13th at 12 pm EST.  You can sign up at https://thesmarteraccountant.com/cpe/.  You’ll not only get CPE credit but I will also be sending the replay and a workbook so that you can apply what you learned.

Have you ever had one of those days where everything feels heavy—even if nothing is technically “wrong”? You’re answering emails, checking things off your list, maybe even staying late to get ahead… and yet, you still feel behind, scattered, and drained.

If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone.

The truth is, there’s one mental habit most accountants are stuck in that makes everything harder than it needs to be. It’s sneaky. Automatic. And often goes completely unnoticed.

You don’t learn about it in school or in any CPE class—but it affects how you manage your time, how you respond to stress, and even how you feel at the end of the day.

This mental habit is the reason you might feel overwhelmed even when you’re getting things done. It’s the reason your days can feel like a blur of urgency, even if you’re organized and capable.

Here’s something to consider: think about the last time you were completely overwhelmed. Was it really the number of things on your list? Or was it the voice in your head saying, “This is too much. I’ll never catch up”?

Most of us don’t even realize that we’re believing every single thought our brain throws at us. And when we do that without question, those thoughts start to run the show—whether they’re helpful or not.

This is why so many accountants feel stuck, even when they’re doing everything “right.”  But the good news? You’re not stuck. Not even close.

Today we’re going to uncover the one mental habit that’s quietly making your work life harder than it has to be—and what happens when you start thinking differently, on purpose.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re just reacting all day instead of leading your time and your workload, this episode is going to give you a whole new way to see what’s really going on. 

The Mental Habit That Keeps Accountants Stuck

So what is this mental habit that’s making work feel so overwhelming—even when you’re doing your best?

It’s the habit of never questioning your own thinking.

In psychology, it’s called metacognition—basically, thinking about your thinking. It’s your ability to pause, notice what your brain is telling you, and decide whether those thoughts are actually helpful.

But here’s the thing: most of us don’t do this. Especially as accountants, we’re taught to look at facts and numbers—but we rarely step back to examine the thoughts running through our own minds all day long.

Instead, we believe every thought our brain offers:

“There’s not enough time.”

“I can’t say no.”

“I’ll never catch up.”

And because we don’t question those thoughts, they quietly control how we feel and what we do.

Think of metacognition like a mental audit. Instead of reviewing financial statements, you’re reviewing your own thought processes. You’re checking for errors—not in your spreadsheets, but in your assumptions.

Let’s say two accountants have the exact same workload. One is burned out and anxious. The other is calm and focused. What’s the difference? Not the workload. The way they think about the workload.

The overwhelmed accountant believes they have no control. The focused one believes they get to decide what matters. It’s not the work that’s the problem—it’s the mental habit of reacting instead of reflecting.

When you start paying attention to your thoughts—really noticing what’s running in the background—you can choose which ones to keep and which ones to let go of. And that’s where real change happens.

In the next section, let’s look at why this habit is so common among accountants—and why breaking it can be a complete game-changer.

How Questioning Your Thoughts Can Instantly Improve Your Work Life

If you’re like most accountants, it probably feels like your biggest challenges come from your workload, tight deadlines, or demanding clients. But here’s the truth: it’s not the work—it’s the way you think about the work that creates the most stress.

This is why that one mental habit—never questioning your thoughts—can quietly make everything harder.

When you don’t pause to notice what your brain is telling you, you stay stuck in reaction mode. You move from task to task, feeling overwhelmed, but never fully understanding why.

That’s where metacognition—thinking about your thinking—comes in. It gives you the power to stop the stress cycle before it takes over your day.

Let’s take time management. If you believe, “I have to be available all the time,” your brain will push you to check emails constantly and say yes to everything, even when it pulls you away from important work.

But when you step back and ask, “Is that even true?”—you create space to make smarter, more intentional choices.

The same thing happens with decision-making. Without awareness, you make decisions out of habit or urgency. You overcommit, say yes when you want to say no, and feel frustrated—but never stop to ask yourself what’s really driving those choices.

Stress and overwhelm is the same story. The feeling doesn’t come from your calendar—it comes from thoughts like, “There’s too much to do,” running unchecked in the background. Challenge that thought, you start to feel more in control—even if your schedule stays the same.

Even relationships get easier. If a boss or client is difficult, it’s easy to assume they are the problem. But when you slow down and notice what you’re thinking—like assuming they don’t respect you or always expecting the worst—you can start to respond in a calmer, more productive way.

And then there’s the issue confidence. If your brain keeps telling you you’re not doing enough or not good enough, those thoughts will chip away at your confidence—even when you’re doing just fine.

When you start catching those thoughts, you stop taking them as facts—and everything changes.

This kind of awareness is what separates constantly stressed accountants from those who feel calm and in control.

But if it’s so helpful, why don’t we do it more often? To answer that, we need to look at what’s happening in your brain.

Why Your Brain Keeps You Stuck in Stress Mode Without You Realizing It

Here’s the thing most accountants don’t know—your brain is designed to keep you on autopilot.

It forms thought patterns based on your past experiences and then repeats them, whether they’re helpful or not. So if you’ve spent years responding to stress by overworking or trying to please everyone, your brain will default to those patterns automatically.

This is why you often react the same way to tight deadlines, difficult clients, or a packed calendar—even if you’ve promised yourself you’d handle things differently this time.

The part of your brain responsible for making smart, strategic choices is your prefrontal cortex—what I like to call your Supervising Parent. This is where long-term thinking, planning, and problem-solving happen.

But when you’re overwhelmed or rushed, another part of your brain takes over: your survival brain. I call it your Toddler Brain because it reacts emotionally, wants instant gratification, and doesn’t think things through.

That’s when you start making choices from urgency instead of intention. You check your email obsessively, say yes to requests you don’t have time for, and prioritize tasks that feel urgent—even if they’re not actually important.

This tendency has a name: The Mere Urgency Effect.

It’s your brain’s way of tricking you into believing that urgent = important, even when it’s not. And for accountants, this mental shortcut shows up everywhere—especially in the pressure to always be available.

You might feel guilty for not checking your inbox every ten minutes, even though staying focused on one meaningful task would be far more productive.

Without metacognition, these patterns run silently in the background. You don’t realize you’re stuck in them—you just feel overwhelmed, reactive, and exhausted.

But when you start observing your thoughts, you interrupt those automatic loops. You take back control from the Toddler Brain and re-engage your Supervising Parent.

So, what actually changes when an accountant puts this into practice? Let me show you what that looks like in real life.

Becoming a Smarter Accountant: Using Metacognition

Let me share what this looks like in practice.

I worked with an accountant who was doing everything she could to stay on top of her work—but still felt completely overwhelmed. No matter how many hours she put in, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was always behind.

Her days were packed with emails, meetings, client requests, and constant interruptions. The projects that actually mattered were always pushed to the side. She was exhausted but couldn’t figure out why she wasn’t making more progress.

She thought the problem was her workload. But the real issue was how she thought about her workload.

She believed she had to say yes to everything. She believed that answering emails right away was part of being a good accountant. She believed that if she just worked harder, she would eventually catch up.

But her brain was stuck in that familiar, automatic habit—reacting to everything that felt urgent. She wasn’t making decisions with intention—she was just trying to keep up.

Once she started learning metacognition—learning to think about her thinking—everything started to shift.

She began catching her thoughts in real time.  She saw that her belief, “I have to respond immediately,” wasn’t actually true.

She realized that saying yes to every request meant saying no to the deep work that really moved things forward.  And she finally questioned the belief that more hours equals more productivity.

She started setting priorities ahead of time instead of reacting in the moment. She gave herself permission to pause, to choose, and to protect her focus.

The result was that she started working fewer hours—and getting more done.  She stopped ending every day frustrated and drained.

And for the first time in years, she felt in control of her workload instead of being controlled by it.

This is what smarter accountants do. They don’t just try to keep up—they learn how to think differently so they can finally work differently.

And that leads us to the most important takeaway from today’s episode.

Key Takeaway and Action Item

The most important thing to remember is that the way you think shapes the way you work. If you never stop to examine your thoughts, you’ll keep running in the same patterns—stressed, overwhelmed, and constantly reacting. But when you learn to step back and observe your thinking, everything changes.

For this week, ask yourself, “Where am I letting my automatic thoughts run the show instead of making intentional choices?”

The truth is, if you never question your thoughts, they will control you. You’ll keep believing you don’t have enough time, that you have to say yes to everything, or that working harder is the only solution. But those are just thoughts—not facts.

When you start paying attention to what’s happening in your mind, you can decide which thoughts to keep and which ones to change. That’s how accountants move from feeling stuck to feeling in control. It’s not about working more or doing things faster. It’s about thinking smarter.

The bottom line is that you don’t need another productivity hack or time management trick. You need a new way of thinking.

Pulling Back the Curtain

Pulling back the curtain for a moment…

I’ll be honest—there was a long stretch in my career where I didn’t even realize my brain was offering me thoughts that weren’t helpful. I didn’t question them. I didn’t slow down long enough to notice them.

I just believed them.

Thoughts like, “You’re falling behind,” or “If you were better at this, you wouldn’t feel so stressed,” or “You have to say yes or people will be disappointed.”

And the thing is, those thoughts weren’t loud or dramatic. They were subtle. They felt factual. I didn’t even think to challenge them because they seemed like common sense.

But they were running the show—controlling how I felt, how I worked, and how I saw myself.

I remember this one week in particular, years ago, when I was absolutely crushed with deadlines. I had my calendar planned out perfectly, but nothing went according to plan. And instead of adjusting or giving myself any grace, my brain went straight into, “You’re failing. You’re behind. You’re not doing enough.”

I stayed up late. I skipped meals. I spun in self-doubt.

Not because the work was impossible—but because I was believing everything my brain said, without question.

That’s when things really started to shift for me—when I learned to pause and say, “Wait… is that actually true?”

That simple question changed everything. It gave me a little distance between me and the thought. And that distance gave me power.

This is why I teach metacognition to every accountant I work with—because it’s not about doing more. It’s about thinking differently so you can finally work differently.

If this episode made something click for you—if you started to notice how often your thoughts are quietly running the show—I want to invite you to take The Smarter Accountant Quiz at www.thesmarteraccountant.com.

It’s not just a quiz—it’s a mirror. It’ll help you start to see what’s really going on beneath the surface of your stress or procrastination or overwhelm.

And if you want help making sense of what’s coming up, you can schedule a free 30-minute call with me at www.thesmarteraccountant.com/calendar. We’ll walk through what your brain’s been believing—and what’s actually true.

And if you’ve been enjoying this podcast, the best way you can support it is by sharing it with another accountant. We’ve all believed thoughts that don’t serve us. Sometimes, we just need someone to show us how to think smarter.

The truth is that you’re already smart, but this podcast will show you how to be smarter.

Before I get started I wanted to remind you that The Smarter Accountant CPE Course “Everything You Need To Know About Procrastination” is on Wednesday, May 21st at 4 pm EST.  You can sign up at https://thesmarteraccountant.com/cpe/.  You’ll not only get CPE credit but I will also be sending the replay and a workbook so that you can apply what you learned.

If you don’t know this about me, one of my favorite topics to discuss is time management.  As accountants, we’re taught a lot of things and have a lot of knowledge, but ironically, effective time management is not one of them. 

The thing is, there’s a lot of advice out there about how to get more done, but a lot of it isn’t from an accountant who’s been in the trenches, it’s not helpful, and it might actually be holding you back. What if the things you’ve been told about managing your time aren’t even true?

Think about it: how often do you push yourself to work harder or longer, only to feel more drained and less productive? Or maybe you’ve followed all the so-called “rules” but still feel like you’re barely keeping your head above water.

The problem isn’t you—it’s the lies we’ve been told about how time management should work. And these lies can make life even harder for us with deadlines, demanding clients, and long to-do lists.

So today, I want to explore some of the biggest myths about time management that could be holding you back. By the end of this, you might just see time—and yourself—a little differently.

Lie #1 – Waking up an hour earlier is the answer to having a more balanced day

This advice is everywhere—“Wake up earlier, and you’ll get more done!” It sounds simple, right? But what if the problem isn’t about when you wake up, but how you’re using the time you already have?

The truth is, waking up earlier doesn’t magically make you more productive. Productivity is about how well you manage your energy and focus throughout the day, not how early your alarm goes off. If you’re running on fumes, waking up earlier just gives you more tired hours to struggle through.

Honestly, I am an early riser, but that doesn’t guarantee I’ll have a more balanced, productive day.  What makes it possible for me to be so productive is effectively planning my time, no matter what time I wake up.

Since this is the podcast that blends brain science and accounting, here’s where the brain science comes in: your brain needs enough sleep to function at its best. When you cut your sleep short, even by an hour, it has an impact on your ability to concentrate, make decisions, and manage your emotions. 

You might think staying up late or pushing through exhaustion helps you get more done—but the science says otherwise.  Research shows that lack of sleep makes it harder to focus, remember things, make decisions, and stay calm. Even if you’re putting in the hours, your brain just can’t keep up. It’s like trying to drive with the emergency brake on.

Instead of focusing on waking up earlier, think about how you can protect your energy and focus during the day. A balanced day isn’t about squeezing more hours in—it’s about making the hours you have count.

Lie #2 – If you work more hours, you’re more productive

It’s easy to think that working longer means getting more done. After all, more hours should equal more results, right? But here’s the catch—our brains don’t work that way.

The truth is, working more hours often leads to doing less of what actually matters. Overwork drains your energy, dulls your focus, and sets you up for burnout. You may feel busy, but busy isn’t the same as being productive.

Here’s why: your brain has a limited capacity to stay sharp and make good decisions. The prefrontal cortex—the Supervising Parent part of your brain responsible for focus and problem-solving—gets tired with prolonged use. When it’s tired, even simple tasks take longer, and mistakes become more common.

In fact, I worked less hours while I was recently going through chemo and I was more productive than I’ve ever been.  How is that possible?  Well research backs this up.

Between 2015 and 2019, Iceland ran a major experiment: they let thousands of workers shift from a 40-hour week to a 35 or 36-hour week, without reducing their pay.

You’d think less time at work would mean less productivity, right?  But that’s not what happened.

In fact, productivity stayed the same or even went up, and people were happier, healthier, and more focused. They had more energy, less stress, and a better work-life balance—which helped them actually do better work in less time.

For me, when I had limited time and energy, my brain focused on what really matters. I cut out the extra noise and got to the point faster.  That’s not laziness—it’s smart and efficient.

So, instead of clocking extra hours, consider how you can work smarter, not longer. True productivity is about making the most of your brain’s prime time, not about squeezing every last minute out of the day.

Lie #3 – If you stay later, you’re more dedicated

We’ve all seen it—the person who’s always the last to leave the office. It’s easy to assume they’re the most committed. But is staying late really a sign of dedication, or is it something else entirely?

The truth is, staying late often says more about poor time boundaries than true commitment. It can signal that you’re stretching yourself too thin or trying to meet impossible expectations. Being “always on” doesn’t make you a better accountant—it just makes you more exhausted.

Here’s what’s happening in your brain: the reward system confuses guilt with accomplishment. When you stay late, you might feel a temporary sense of relief, as if you’ve done something extra. But that feeling is misleading. Over time, it reinforces a cycle where overworking becomes the norm, and rest feels like failure.

This lie is something I dealt with early on in my career at Deloitte.  Thankfully, I found a way to show I was dedicated, working a reduced schedule and still leaving at 5:30 every work day.

The truth is, dedication isn’t about how late you stay—it’s about how effectively you use your time and energy during the day. Setting boundaries around your workday isn’t a lack of commitment; it’s a smart way to protect your focus, your health, and your long-term success.

Lie #4 – To-do lists are necessary to manage your time

I get that there’s something satisfying about writing a to-do list. It feels like you’re getting organized, like you’re taking control. But have you ever noticed how often your list just gets longer, or how some tasks linger for days (or weeks)?

The truth is, to-do lists alone won’t help you manage your time. Without prioritization and decision-making, they’re just wishful thinking on paper. They show you what needs to be done but not when or how to do it.

Here’s what’s happening in your brain: when you write a list, your brain gets a quick hit of relief—it feels like you’ve made progress. But when it comes time to execute, your brain can become overwhelmed by the sheer number of choices. Without a clear plan, your list can actually increase stress instead of reducing it.

I tell my time management coaching clients that to-do lists are not time management, they’re workflow management.  True time management is making effective decisions and planning.

The bottom line is that managing your time isn’t about checking off as many items as possible; it’s about focusing on what matters most. A to-do list can be a helpful tool, but only when paired with thoughtful decisions about priorities and action steps. Otherwise, it’s just another thing to manage.

Lie #5 – Setting time boundaries is not good business

It’s tempting to believe that always being available makes you a better professional. After all, saying “yes” to every client or colleague and staying flexible sounds like the recipe for success, right? But what if constantly being “on” is actually working against you?

The truth is, setting time boundaries isn’t just good business—it’s essential. Clear boundaries protect your focus and energy, allowing you to show up fully for your clients without running yourself into the ground. When you’re burned out, the quality of your work suffers, and so does your ability to serve.

Here’s the fascinating part: your brain is wired to feel discomfort when you say “no.” Social conditioning has taught us that agreeing to everything keeps the peace and earns approval. But in reality, saying “no” is critical for brain balance—it prevents overload and preserves the mental clarity you need to do your best work.

I have learned how to set and stick to effective time boundaries over the years and it has made a huge difference for me both professionally and personally.

The thing is, boundaries aren’t barriers; they’re bridges to better service and a sustainable career. When you set limits, you’re not just protecting yourself—you’re ensuring that your clients and colleagues get the best version of you, every time.

Lie #6 – Procrastination means you’re lazy or unmotivated

When you procrastinate, it’s easy to label yourself as lazy. Maybe you’ve even told yourself you’re just not motivated enough to get things done. But what if procrastination isn’t about laziness at all?

The truth is, procrastination often comes from something deeper. Things like fear of failure, perfectionism, or even decision fatigue can all cause you to put things off. It’s not about not wanting to do the work—it’s about feeling stuck or overwhelmed by what the work represents.

Here’s what’s happening in your brain: the primitive Toddler brain, which processes fear, reacts to perceived threats. If a task feels too big, uncertain, or likely to fail, your brain sees it as a threat and steers you toward avoidance. To your brain, procrastination becomes a way to protect yourself from discomfort, even if it creates more stress in the long run.

Thankfully, once you understand the feelings that are driving you to procrastinate, you’ll see that procrastination is not your fault, but that it is much easier to overcome than you realize.

So, no, procrastination doesn’t make you lazy—it makes you human. Understanding why you’re avoiding something is the first step toward tackling it with more compassion and less judgment.

Lie #7 – Everything is equally important, so just start anywhere

When your to-do list feels overwhelming, it’s easy to think, “I’ll just start anywhere and work my way through it.” It feels like progress, but is it really?

The truth is, not all tasks have the same impact. Some move the needle significantly, while others barely make a dent. If you treat everything as equally important, you risk spending your time on low-impact work while the high-priority tasks sit untouched.

Here’s what’s happening in your brain: it’s wired to see everything as urgent. I’ve discussed this before, but it’s known as the Mere Urgency Effect, where tasks that feel immediate grab your attention—even if they don’t matter much in the grand scheme. It’s why answering an email can feel just as pressing as finishing a critical project.

This is why, as I mentioned before, to-do lists are so ineffective.  Your brain sees a list of things to do and thinks everything is equally urgent and important.

The key isn’t to just start anywhere but to focus on what matters most. When you learn how to prioritize high-impact tasks, you make real progress instead of just spinning your wheels.

Lie #8 – Time blocking only works for certain personality types

Time blocking gets a bad rap for being “too rigid” or only working for super-organized people. You might think, “That’s not my style,” and write it off completely. But what if time blocking is actually more flexible than you’ve been led to believe?

The truth is, time blocking is a tool that anyone can adapt to fit their needs. For accountants juggling deadlines and competing priorities, it can be a game-changer. It’s not about creating a rigid schedule—it’s about giving yourself structure so you can focus and stay on track.

Here’s how your brain comes into play: the brain thrives on structure because it reduces decision fatigue and helps you stay organized. However, it also resists systems that feel too restrictive, which is why overly detailed or unrealistic time blocks can feel stifling.

I have seen the incredible power of effective time blocking which is why I created a process called “Container Calendaring.”  It takes the basics of time blocking and makes it easier to guarantee that you actually follow through.

The bottom line is that time blocking isn’t one-size-fits-all—it’s customizable. You can design it to work with your personality, workload, and preferences. When used smartly, it can give you the balance of structure and flexibility you need to get more done without feeling overwhelmed.

Lie # 9 – You need to respond to emails as soon as they come in

It’s easy to feel like every email needs your immediate attention. After all, isn’t being responsive just good business? But constantly checking and replying to emails might be doing more harm than good.

The truth is, responding to emails the moment they arrive derails your focus and interrupts the flow of deep, meaningful work. Every time you stop what you’re doing to check your inbox, you’re forcing your brain to switch gears, which wastes time and energy.

Here’s what’s happening in your brain: every time you check an email, you get a tiny dopamine hit—the same chemical that makes social media addictive. It feels rewarding in the moment, but it fragments your attention and makes it harder to concentrate on bigger tasks.

I’ve often joked that email is an accountant’s drug of choice, but there is brain science behind that.  Just try not checking email for a day or two and you’ll feel like an addict going through withdrawals.

So, instead of letting emails control your day, try creating dedicated times to check and respond. Your focus—and your productivity—will thank you.

Lie #10 – It’s faster and easier to just do it yourself

When you’re juggling a million tasks, it’s tempting to think, “I’ll just handle it myself—it’s quicker that way.” But is it really faster, or is it just a shortcut that’s holding you back?

The truth is, doing everything yourself might feel easier in the moment, but it costs you valuable time in the long run. Delegation isn’t just about offloading work; it’s an investment that frees you up to focus on higher-impact tasks that truly move the needle.

Here’s what’s happening in your brain: it craves short-term ease, so it naturally resists delegation. Training someone or trusting them with responsibility takes effort upfront, but it pays off over time by reducing your workload and increasing efficiency.

My time management coaching clients that have mastered delegation have said it has had the greatest impact on their career satisfaction and has reduced burnout significantly.  

The truth is, you don’t have to do it all to be successful. Letting go of the “faster and easier” myth allows you to grow, both in your career and your capacity to focus on what really matters.

Becoming a Smarter Accountant: Overcoming Time Management Lies

Now let me share a few stories about coaching clients that learned to overcome some of the time management lies.  

One client thought waking up earlier would be the answer to her packed schedule. Every morning, she set her alarm an hour earlier, convinced she’d get ahead, but by mid-afternoon, she was completely drained. She felt like something was wrong with her because she couldn’t keep her energy up.

After working on becoming a Smarter Accountant, she realized the real problem wasn’t her effort—it was her lack of rest. Once she started prioritizing sleep and planning her work around her natural energy peaks, everything changed. She got more done in less time and finally felt like herself again.

Another client believed working long hours was the only way to stay on top of everything. Staying late became part of his routine, almost like proof of his dedication. But the more hours he worked, the more drained he felt—and the mistakes started piling up.

After working together, he learned that setting boundaries wasn’t about doing less—it was about doing better. By focusing on his most important tasks during his peak energy times, he could leave the office earlier and still get everything done. He told me that his clients were happier, and so was he.

Another one of my clients relied on to-do lists every day, but no matter how much she crossed off, the list just kept growing. It felt like she was always behind, and by the end of the day, she was overwhelmed and guilty for not doing more.

The Smarter Accountant Coaching Program helped her see that it wasn’t about how many tasks she finished—it was about doing the right ones. She started using my time blocking process, Container Calendaring, to plan her high-priority work, and it made all the difference. Now, she finally feels like she’s in control of her time.

Another coaching client told me that he couldn’t resist his email inbox. Every time a new message came in, he stopped what he was doing to respond. He thought being available was just part of the job, but it left him feeling scattered and unproductive.

After learning how to set and stick to boundaries with his time, he set simple boundaries with specific times to check and respond to emails instead of reacting all day. It was tough at first, but he quickly noticed how much more he could accomplish when he wasn’t glued to his inbox. His focus improved, and so did his results.

The last client I want to share with you was convinced it was faster to do everything herself. Delegating felt like too much work—it was easier to just handle it all. But trying to juggle everything left her stressed and constantly behind.

After working together, she started to see delegation as a long-term solution, not just a quick fix. She invested time in training her team, and soon, she had more space to focus on the big picture. Not only did her workload lighten, but her team grew professionally with the added responsibility.

So, do any of these stories sound familiar? If they do, I want you to know that there’s hope, and there’s a way forward.  It’s not about doing more—it’s about doing what works. 

Now I’m going to share the key takeaway from today and an action item for the upcoming week.

Key Takeaway and Action Item

The key takeaway from this episode is that the lies you believe about time management aren’t just unhelpful—they’re holding you back. Start by choosing one lie you’ve been living by and ask yourself, ‘What would change if I stopped believing this?’.

This question helps you pause and reflect on whether your current approach to managing your time is really working for you or just adding stress. 

For example, do you believe that working longer hours means you’re more productive? Or that responding to every email immediately is good for your career? These beliefs often feel natural because they’ve been reinforced over time, but that doesn’t mean they’re helpful.

By identifying just one belief that might be holding you back, you can start to make changes that align better with how your brain works and what your goals actually are. It’s not about overhauling everything at once—it’s about taking that first step to question what’s not serving you.

Pulling Back The Curtain

Pulling back the curtain for a moment…

As I mentioned earlier, when I was going through chemo recently, I had to work fewer hours—it wasn’t optional. I physically couldn’t do what I used to, and at first, I panicked. I thought, “How am I going to keep up? What’s going to fall through the cracks? Will my clients or coworkers think I’m not pulling my weight?”

I’ve been in public accounting for decades, and like a lot of accountants, I’ve carried around the belief that long hours equals a strong work ethic. So being forced to slow down felt like a threat—not just to my schedule, but to how I saw myself as a professional.

But something surprising happened: I got more done in less time than I ever had before.

I was sharper. I planned better. I wasn’t wasting time on things that didn’t really matter. Because I didn’t have the luxury of long hours, I had to be smarter with the time I did have—and it honestly changed everything.

I started seeing how many time management lies I had been living by for years. Things like “working longer proves your commitment,” or “you have to say yes to everything to be seen as a team player.” I didn’t even realize how much those beliefs were draining me—until I had no choice but to challenge them.

I noticed when I was feeling guilty for not having the energy to push through and I reminded myself that trying to get accounting work done when I’m feeling guilty, stressed, or any other negative emotion isn’t helpful.  By managing my mind, choosing more productive emotions, and only then sitting down to get work done, I was able to be much more efficient and productive.

That experience reminded me of something I tell my coaching clients all the time: time management isn’t about doing more. It’s about thinking differently about time—about your time.

Unfortunately, I think one of the biggest mistakes this profession makes is not teaching effective time management early on.  I think it’s one of the reasons that accountants are so burned out and miserable.

But I can tell you this – when you learn how to effectively manage your brain and your time, you will begin to see your work in a whole new light.  You’ll get more done in less time and you’ll free up time for the things and the people you love.

If today’s episode made you rethink any of the time management advice you’ve followed—or if you’re starting to wonder whether it’s actually working for you—I want to invite you to take The Smarter Accountant Quiz at www.thesmarteraccountant.com.

It only takes a few minutes, but it can show you which patterns might be getting in your way. And if you want help breaking those patterns, you can also schedule a free 30-minute call with me at www.thesmarteraccountant.com/calendar.

And if this podcast has been helpful, the best thing you can do is share it with another accountant. We’ve all been taught the same time management myths—but we don’t have to keep believing them.

The truth is that you’re already smart, but this podcast will show you how to be smarter.

Before I get started, I wanted to remind you to stay to the end because I just added a new section to the podcast titled “Pulling Back The Curtain” where I give you a behind the scenes look at how I’ve personally dealt with the topic I’m discussing in each episode.  Hopefully, it will give you a better idea about the person behind this microphone.

I also wanted to mention that The Smarter Accountant CPE Course “Everything You Need To Know About Procrastination” is on Wednesday, May 21st at 4 pm EST.  You can sign up at https://thesmarteraccountant.com/cpe/.  You’ll not only get CPE credit but I will also be sending the replay and a workbook so that you can apply what you learned.

Tax season’s over—finally. You got through the long hours, the crazy deadlines, and all those last-minute surprises.

And now that it’s behind you, it’s totally normal to just want to move on. You might be thinking, “Let’s not even talk about it until next year… or maybe the next extension deadline.”

But here’s the thing—what if now is actually the best time to hit pause? Not to beat yourself up, but just to take a quick, honest look at how it really went.

We’re so used to powering through that we rarely stop and ask, “What would I want to do differently next time?” The problem is, when you don’t stop and reflect, it’s easy to fall right back into the same hard season again and again.

This isn’t about guilt or shame. It’s about curiosity—for just a few minutes.

You already know tax season takes a toll. On your time, your body, your mind, your family. But do you know where it hit you the hardest?

It’s kind of like finishing a big project and never checking to see what actually worked… or what totally fell apart. You just keep doing it the same way, even if that way isn’t really working.

And let’s be clear—you’re not lazy, and you’re not disorganized. You’re just busy. But what if a little reflection now could make a huge difference later?

Imagine if next tax season didn’t feel so chaotic. What if a few small changes now could help you feel more in control next time?

Whether you realize it or not, you’ve already learned a lot. You’ve just been too tired or too slammed to notice.

And no, I’m not saying you need to spend hours reviewing every detail. But what if you gave yourself just a little space to look back—without judgment?

Because here’s the thing: if you don’t look back, your brain assumes everything went fine. And that means next year will look exactly the same.

But what if this year could be the last one that felt this hard? What if this is your chance to start doing things smarter?

Most people won’t take the time to reflect. That’s exactly why it matters so much when you do.

You don’t need a perfect tax season. You just need some clarity.

So here’s the big question: What would you find out if you looked back with fresh eyes?

Let’s talk about it.

What Is a Tax Season Autopsy?

A Tax Season Autopsy is just a simple way to look back once the season is over and do a little digging. It’s where you ask yourself, “What actually worked for me? What didn’t? And what would I want to do differently next time?”

It’s not about pointing fingers or beating yourself up. It’s just about paying attention, from a non-judgemental space, so you can learn from what you just went through.

Think about it like this—athletes watch game replays, surgeons talk through what happened in the OR, and performers rewatch their shows to see where they can improve.

They’re not doing it because they messed up. They’re doing it because they want to keep getting better.

That’s exactly what this is. A Tax Season Autopsy is your way of saying, “Okay, let’s hit pause and see what this season taught me.”

It’s really just about awareness—slowing down long enough to notice what helped and what hurt. Because the truth is, most of us are so quick to move on that we don’t even give ourselves the chance to take anything useful from the experience.

Smarter Accountants don’t treat tax season like something to forget as fast as possible. They look at it like a goldmine of clues—clues about how they work, how they feel, and where things went off track.

They don’t make it personal. They look at it like information. Not drama—just data.

And once you start doing that, you realize how helpful it actually is. You can make small changes that stick, instead of trying to overhaul everything next year in a panic.

No guilt. No shame. Just a chance to reset with a little more clarity and a lot more intention.

When you look at it that way, a Tax Season Autopsy isn’t about the past—it’s really about giving yourself a better future.

So if it’s this helpful, why don’t more accountants do it? Let’s talk about that next.

Why Most Accountants Skip This Step

Let’s be honest—once tax season ends, the last thing most of us want to do is look back. You’re tired, you’re fried, and all you want is to feel normal again.

And that totally makes sense. Your brain is wired to avoid anything that feels uncomfortable. Thinking back on a tough season can bring up regret, frustration, or even guilt, and your brain would rather you skip all that.

So it gives you thoughts like, “It’s done, just move on,” or “Next year will be different,” or even, “Why bother thinking about it now?” Those thoughts sound harmless, but they’re sneaky—they keep you stuck in the same loop.

The problem is, if you don’t take even a few minutes to learn from what happened, you’re probably going to repeat it. Not because you’re doing anything wrong, but because your brain assumes, “Well, I guess this is just how we do it.”

That’s why every tax season can start to feel the same—rushed, stressful, and way too much. You fall into the same patterns, make the same choices, and cross your fingers that somehow it’ll be better next time.

But hoping things get better isn’t a real plan. And skipping this step means your brain keeps running the same playbook year after year.

Taking time to reflect might feel optional, but it’s actually one of the smartest things you can do. It’s what gives you the chance to do things differently—without having to work harder.

And if your brain is resisting it, that doesn’t mean you’re lazy or unmotivated. It just means your brain is doing what it thinks will protect you.

But maybe the real protection comes from understanding what actually happened. And that’s where knowing a little brain science can help. Let’s take a look at that now.

The Brain Science Behind Reflection

Your brain loves routine—even if that routine is completely draining. It’ll keep doing what’s familiar, even if it’s not really working for you.

That’s because your brain sees familiar as safe. If you made it through tax season doing things a certain way, your brain thinks, “Great! Let’s do that again.”

Unless you pause and reflect, your brain won’t stop to ask, “Was that actually the best way?” It just assumes, “Well, that’s how we always do it.”

Here’s the good news: there’s another part of your brain that can help you think ahead and make better choices. It’s called the prefrontal cortex, or what I refer to as The Supervising Parent—and it’s the part that helps you plan, evaluate, and make smarter decisions.

But there’s a catch—it only works when you use it intentionally or on purpose.

If you’re constantly rushing from one thing to the next, reacting to emails, putting out fires, and just trying to stay afloat, that smarter part of your brain doesn’t get much of a say.

That’s why slowing down to reflect is so important. If you want different results, you need different thinking. And that starts by giving your brain a moment to step out of autopilot.

So now that you know why reflection in the form of a Tax Season Autopsy matters, the next step is knowing what to reflect on. Let’s now talk about 5 questions to ask yourself after tax season

Five Questions to Ask Yourself After Tax Season

Once things start to settle down, it’s worth taking just a few minutes to ask yourself some simple questions. Not to overwhelm yourself—but to get a little clarity that could really help you next time around.

1. What actually worked this season?

Start by giving yourself credit. Even if this season felt tough overall, there were probably a few things that made it a little easier.

Maybe you stuck to your office hours more than usual, and that helped you feel less drained at the end of the day. Maybe you finally used that shared calendar with your team or batch-processed client emails instead of checking them all day long.

Even small wins count. This question is about seeing what did go well, so you can keep doing it or build on it next year.

2. What didn’t work—and why?

This isn’t about blaming yourself. It’s about getting real with what made things harder than they needed to be.

Maybe you agreed to take on too many last-minute returns, thinking you could squeeze them in. Maybe you worked weekends even though you promised yourself you wouldn’t—and now you’re more exhausted than ever.

Ask yourself why it didn’t work. Was it lack of planning? People-pleasing? Fear of saying no? The goal is to spot the patterns that tripped you up, so you don’t keep repeating them.

3. What would I want to do differently next year?

Think of this like setting your future self up for success. What would you want to change if you could do it all over again?

Maybe you want to build in time for breaks, or set firmer deadlines for when you’ll stop accepting new work.

And here’s the deeper part—ask yourself: What would I need to think or feel to actually follow through?

For example, if you want to turn down late work, maybe you need to think, “My time has value,” or feel more confident setting boundaries. If you want to delegate more, maybe you need to feel trust in your team. The mindset piece matters more than we realize.

4. Where did I lose time that I didn’t expect to lose?

This question can uncover the sneaky time drains you may not have noticed while you were in the middle of it all.

Maybe you were constantly pulled into client emergencies that could’ve been avoided with better upfront communication. Or maybe you spent hours trying to find documents or organize files because your systems weren’t solid.

This is a chance to look at time management with fresh eyes—especially the things that stole your time without you even realizing it.

5. Where did I feel the most overwhelmed?

Think back to the moments when you felt like everything was unraveling. Was it during onboarding new clients? Was it juggling home and work responsibilities? This question can help you see where things started to break down so you know what needs more support next time.

As you think through your answers, consider your boundaries, your energy levels, and your support system. What was missing? What do you wish you had done earlier?

These questions aren’t meant to solve everything at once. They’re simply a way to pay attention—and give yourself more options next time around.

And bonus points – have your team do their own version of a Tax Season Autopsy too. You’ll get a bigger picture of what worked, what didn’t, and how to make improvements as a team—not just as an individual.

Still wondering if this kind of reflection really makes a difference? Let me tell you about a coaching client who tried it for the first time—and what happened next.

Becoming a Smarter Accountant: Performing a Successful Tax Season Autopsy

One of my coaching clients used to hate the idea of reflecting—especially after tax season. Her attitude was basically, “It’s over. I survived. Let’s not bring it up again.”

She figured looking back would just make her feel worse. To her, it felt like picking at old wounds when she was already beyond exhausted.

When I first brought up the idea of doing a Tax Season Autopsy, she was not into it. She actually said, “Why would I want to rehash all that chaos?” But eventually, she agreed to give it a try—just once.

We kept it really simple. She answered a few questions, took 15 minutes to think about her experience, and that was it.

What came up for her was eye-opening. She realized how much time she lost saying yes to last-minute client requests, and how often she skipped breaks thinking it would help her catch up—when it actually left her more drained.

She also noticed how she avoided asking for help because she thought it would take too long to explain things. But in the end, she was doing everything herself and feeling totally overwhelmed.

The next year, she went into tax season with a plan. She set firmer boundaries with her clients, blocked time for focused work, and even gave herself catch-up time every week—something she’d never even thought to do before.

The change was huge. She was still working hard, but she wasn’t crashing and burning. She felt calmer, more in control, and way less reactive.

Now, she actually looks forward to doing a quick reflection after tax season. It helps her see what’s working and where she can make little adjustments that add up over time.

She didn’t overhaul everything overnight. She just gave herself the chance to learn from her own experience—and it made her smarter each year.

And honestly, you can do the same thing.

Key Takeaway and Action Item

Have you ever promised yourself that next tax season would be different—but it wasn’t? That’s exactly why doing a Tax Season Autopsy matters.

It’s not just a nice idea—it’s a habit that smart leaders rely on to stop repeating the same painful patterns. It’s how you start taking back control of your time, your energy, and your future.

Doing a Tax Season Autopsy isn’t extra credit—it’s what smart leaders do. It’s how you take control of your time, your energy, and your experience going forward.

For this week, I suggest asking yourself, “If nothing changes between now and next tax season, what’s likely to happen again?”

Really sit with that for a minute. Your answer is more important than any checklist or planner.

Because that answer holds the insight you need. It shows you exactly where to focus your attention now, so you’re not stuck in the same stressful cycle next year.

Don’t wait until next tax season to wish you had done things differently. Small awareness now leads to big change later.

And if you’re wondering what this looked like in my own career, let me pull back the curtain and share a story I’ve never told before.

Pulling Back the Curtain

I’ll never forget this one particular tax season, years ago, when I kept telling myself I just had to push through. No breaks, barely any sleep, nonstop stress—I figured that was just part of the job.

I kept thinking, “I’ll rest when it’s over.” I didn’t think I had time to slow down or reflect, so I didn’t. And by the end of that season, I was completely burned out.

The scary part? I didn’t even notice how bad it had gotten until weeks later. I was snapping at my family, couldn’t focus, and honestly, I felt like all the joy had drained out of my work. I remember thinking, “Wait… is this what it’s going to be like every year?”

And it didn’t help that it was my first tax season being married to my second husband. He was not happy with what tax season turned me into—and honestly, I couldn’t blame him. That was the moment I realized something had to change.

The first time I did what I now call a Tax Season Autopsy, I’ll be honest—it was uncomfortable. I didn’t want to look back. I wanted to forget it ever happened.

But I pushed through that resistance and sat down to ask myself a few simple questions. And once I did, it was like a fog started to lift.

I realized a lot of my stress came from how I was approaching the season—not just the workload. I noticed patterns I had never seen before. And for the first time, I actually had something I could work with.

That one small act of reflection made a huge difference. I started planning more intentionally, setting better boundaries, and thinking ahead instead of always reacting in the moment.

Was it perfect? Of course not. But it was smarter. And that alone changed everything.

If this past season left you drained or frustrated, you’re definitely not alone. And the good news is—you don’t have to do it that way again.

Taking time to reflect doesn’t mean you’re weak. It means you’re wise. And it might be one of the smartest things you ever do for your future self.

If you’re interested in becoming a Smarter Accountant, I have The Smarter Accountant Quiz as the first step. It’s quick, it’s free, and it’ll help you see what’s actually getting in your way. You can find it at https://thesmarteraccountant.com.

And if you want help with anything you’re struggling with or figuring out what to do next, I offer a free 30-minute call. You can sign up at https://thesmarteraccountant.com/calendar.

And one last thing—if you’ve been enjoying this podcast, the best way you can support it is by sharing it with other accountants. Whether it’s a friend, a coworker, or someone who’s quietly struggling the way you once were, spreading the word helps more accountants discover there’s a smarter way to work.

The truth is that you’re already smart, but this podcast will show you how to be smarter.

Before we dive in, I want to let you know I’m doing something a little different starting this week.

At the end of each episode, I’m going to start sharing something I’ve never really done before—something more personal. I’m calling it “Pulling Back the Curtain,” and it’s where I’ll talk honestly about what I’ve learned the hard way in my own accounting career.

It’s not about tips or strategies—it’s about the real life. The behind-the-scenes struggles that I can share about each week’s topic and shifts that helped me become a Smarter Accountant.

So be sure to stick around to the end—because what I’m sharing today might be exactly what you didn’t know you needed to hear.

On this 100th episode of The Smarter Accountant Podcast, I wanted to give you a sneak peek into what I’ve learned over the past 35 years and what I’ve been teaching accountants for over a decade.

When I started out as an accountant, I thought stress and long hours were just part of the job. It felt normal to always be busy, constantly checking my to-do list, and telling myself, “I’ll catch up soon.” But no matter how hard I worked, that moment never came.

For years, I tried working faster, staying later, and using every time management hack I could find. But I still felt like I was barely keeping my head above water. And I know I’m not the only one.

That’s why I wrote The Smarter Accountant and started my coaching business—to help accountants find a sustainable way to work. In my 6-week program, every accountant starts by taking The Smarter Accountant Quiz to see what’s really getting in their way. Then, they choose three key struggles to focus on, and after years of coaching, I’ve noticed the same challenges come up again and again.

There are a few core issues that keep us feeling stuck, stressed, and exhausted—no matter how many hours we put in. And honestly, it makes sense. The deadlines, client demands, and never-ending to-do lists make it easy to feel like you’re always behind.

But here’s the thing—working harder isn’t the solution. If it was, you’d feel better by now. Instead, most of us just keep pushing through, thinking, “Maybe next week will be better,” or “Once I get through this deadline, things will calm down.” But they never do.

If you’ve ever thought, “Why can’t I get ahead?” or “Why does it feel like I’m working all the time but never actually catching up?”—you’re not alone. You might think you just need better time management, but the real issue is what’s happening underneath.

Most accountants assume stress, long hours, and pressure are just part of the job. But what if that’s not true? What if the things making work so frustrating aren’t just “how it is,” but patterns that can actually be changed?

That’s what I see in coaching all the time. These same struggles show up again and again, but once accountants learn how to shift their thinking, everything changes. They don’t just work smarter—they feel better. They stop spinning their wheels and start making real progress, not just at work, but in every area of their life.

So, what are these struggles? And why do they keep showing up? That’s exactly what we’re going to talk about today. I’m willing to bet you’ll recognize at least one of them in your own life. And by the end of this, you’ll see them in a whole new way.

Why Accountants Feel Constantly Stressed and Overwhelmed

As I said earlier, I’ve been keeping a tally of the most common issues that accountants want to work on with me and for years, stress has been the #1 issue.  But in a few minutes I’m going to share the issue that has actually surpassed stress and overwhelm (if you can believe it!).

But right now, let’s talk about stress and overwhelm—because if you’re an accountant, I know you’ve been there. That feeling of constantly being behind, like no matter how early you start or how late you work, there’s always more to do.  

I remember starting my day thinking, “Today, I’m going to get ahead.” But before I knew it, the day was gone, and my to-do list had somehow gotten longer. No matter how hard I worked, I was always scrambling, always reacting, always playing catch-up.

Even when I got things done, I never really felt relieved. As soon as I crossed one thing off, ten more popped up. It felt like running on a treadmill that wouldn’t stop, no matter how fast I moved.

The real problem? Stress doesn’t just drain your energy—it wrecks your focus and decision-making. When you’re overwhelmed, your brain runs on emergency mode all the time. You start making rushed decisions, struggling to concentrate, and feeling completely drained. It’s no wonder accountants burn out. You’re not just doing the work—you’re carrying the weight of the work.

And here’s what makes it even trickier—your brain isn’t prioritizing important work. It’s prioritizing urgent work. You end up reacting to everything instead of making real progress. It’s like spending all day bailing water out of a boat instead of fixing the leak.

I used to think the solution was just working harder—starting earlier, staying later, making better to-do lists. But no matter what I did, I still felt overwhelmed. That’s when I realized something big: overwhelm isn’t just about how much you have to do. It’s about how your brain processes what you have to do.

Your brain isn’t built to handle everything at once. It sees all your tasks, emails, and deadlines as equally urgent, even when they’re not. That’s why your to-do list feels impossible.

But here’s the thing—it’s not just the workload. It’s your thoughts about the workload that create overwhelm. When I used to think, “I’ll never get this all done,” or “I have too much to do and not enough time,” my brain went into panic mode. And a panicked brain isn’t efficient. It jumps from task to task, gets distracted, and burns out faster.

If stress and overwhelm have been running the show for you, trust me, I get it. But here’s the good news—once you learn how to manage your thoughts about your workload, everything changes. The goal isn’t to get rid of work—it’s to stop feeling like it’s crushing you. And that is absolutely possible.

The Real Reason Accountants Struggle With Time Management

If you’re like most accountants, it probably feels like there’s never enough time. You start the day with a plan, but before you know it, emails, last-minute requests, and interruptions pull you in a million directions. It’s like the entire world is on a mission to keep you from getting anything done.

And the most frustrating part? You are busy. You’re constantly working, constantly checking things off, constantly doing. But somehow, at the end of the day, it feels like nothing really got accomplished. You think, “Where did the day go?” or “Why am I working so much but not making real progress?”

I used to think the solution was simple—just get better at organizing my tasks. I tried all the systems. I made detailed to-do lists, color-coded my calendar, and planned my day down to the minute. But no matter how much I planned, I still felt scattered and behind. That’s when I realized something big: time management isn’t just about planning—it’s about decision-making.

Here’s what I mean. Every time you sit down to work, your brain has to make decisions. “What should I do first?” “How long should this take?” “Is this even the best use of my time?” But if you don’t make those decisions ahead of time, your brain defaults to whatever feels urgent in the moment. And urgent doesn’t always mean important.

This is why so many accountants spend their days reacting instead of managing their time. You bounce between emails, answer questions, and handle whatever pops up—because when you don’t have a clear system, everything feels equally important. And before you know it, your entire day is filled with low-impact tasks that don’t actually move the needle.

The real problem isn’t a lack of time—it’s a lack of intentionality with time. When you don’t have a clear way to prioritize, time just disappears. It bleeds into your personal life, your evenings, and your weekends. You tell yourself, “I’ll just catch up later,” but later never comes.

And let’s talk about to-do lists for a second—because, honestly, they don’t work the way we think they do. We treat them like a magic fix, but they’re just a storage system, not a time system. 

They remind you of what needs to be done, but they don’t actually help you do the work. That’s why you can have a long to-do list and still feel stuck—because checking things off doesn’t mean you’re focusing on what actually matters.

If you feel like you’re always busy but never truly productive, you’re not alone. The good news? You don’t need more hours in the day—you just need a better way to decide how you’re using the ones you already have.

Why You’re Busy All Day But Still Feel Unproductive

If you’ve ever worked all day, checked off tasks, and still felt like you accomplished nothing, you’re not alone. It’s frustrating to put in long hours and wonder, “Why does it feel like I got nothing done?”

A big part of the problem is distractions. You sit down to focus, but before you know it, you’re answering emails, responding to messages, and getting pulled into something else. Then you finally get back to your task—only to get interrupted again.

And then there’s procrastination. You have important work to do, but suddenly checking email or organizing your desk seems urgent. You tell yourself, “I’ll start in five minutes,” but an hour later, you’re even more behind.

Here’s the truth—working more hours doesn’t mean getting more done. If you’re constantly switching tasks, getting interrupted, or putting things off, you’re spending time working without real progress. And that just leads to more stress and frustration.

So why is it so hard to stay focused? Because deep, focused work takes effort, and your brain prefers easy tasks, like checking email or skimming spreadsheets. That’s why you feel the urge to do anything except the thing you’re supposed to be doing.

And procrastination? It’s not about time management—it’s about avoiding discomfort. When a task feels overwhelming or boring, your brain looks for an escape. You tell yourself, “I’ll feel more ready later,” but later comes, and you still don’t want to do it.

If you’ve ever wondered why you struggle to push through, it’s not about discipline. It’s about how your brain is wired. But once you understand what’s happening, you can stop feeling guilty and start working with your brain instead of against it.

Because productivity isn’t about working harder—it’s about staying focused on what actually matters. And once you figure that out, everything changes.

How Accounting Work Is Affecting Your Relationships

If you’re an accountant, you’ve probably felt how work takes over your life. By the time you get home, you’re exhausted, but your brain is still stuck on work. You want to be present with family or friends, but that little voice keeps saying, “I should be getting more done.”

I know that feeling. I’ve sat at family dinners, nodding along while mentally running through my to-do list. I’ve told myself, “I’ll just check one quick email,” only to lose 30 minutes. Even when I promised to unplug, work was always in the back of my mind.

When work bleeds into personal time, relationships suffer. At first, it’s subtle, but over time, you feel more disconnected. Maybe your partner seems distant, your kids don’t come to you as much, or friends stop reaching out. And the more disconnected you feel, the more stress you carry.

That stress follows you back to work, creating a cycle—more work leads to less connection, which leads to more stress, making you work even more. Before you know it, work is running your entire life.

So why is it so hard to shut work off? Most accountants believe working more makes them better. There’s this unspoken rule that true dedication means answering emails late at night, always being available, and putting in extra hours. It’s easy to say, “I’ll slow down after this deadline,” but there’s always another one.

The truth is, your brain isn’t wired to balance priorities naturally. It prioritizes what feels urgent, so work will always win unless you intentionally make space for personal time. That’s why it’s easy to ignore family time but impossible to ignore a work email.

If you’ve been feeling like work is taking over, you’re not alone. But real success isn’t about working more—it’s about creating a life where work and personal time both have space. And being a great accountant doesn’t have to mean sacrificing everything else.

Why Accountants Struggle to Set Boundaries With Work

Another common issue that accountants want to work on is boundaries. It’s hard to say no when people are counting on you. You don’t want to let anyone down, so you take on more, answer emails at all hours, and convince yourself, “It’s just easier if I handle it myself.”

At first, it doesn’t seem like a big deal. You stay late, squeeze in one more task, or check emails after dinner. But over time, work takes over, and personal time disappears. You keep saying, “I’ll slow down after this deadline,” but there’s always another one.

Then resentment kicks in. You wonder, “Why do people expect so much from me?” But the more you say yes, the more they assume you always will. When you finally try to set a boundary, guilt creeps in.

So why is saying no so hard? Most of us don’t want to disappoint others. We fear being seen as difficult or unreliable, so we convince ourselves, “It’s just this one time,” even when we’re already stretched too thin.

But here’s the truth—setting boundaries doesn’t push people away. It actually teaches them to respect your time. When you protect your schedule, others adjust. When you stop answering emails at night, people stop expecting instant replies. When you set limits, you do better work because you’re not running on empty.

If you’ve been struggling with boundaries, you’re not alone. But you don’t have to wait until burnout to set them. Boundaries aren’t about shutting people out—they’re about making sure you don’t lose yourself in the process.

What Causes Imposter Syndrome in Accountants (And How to Spot It)

Remember I said earlier that stress had been the most common issue that accountants want to work on, but that there was another issue that had become even more common?  Well, that issue is imposter syndrome.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re not as good as people think you are, you’re not alone. You might look like you have it all together on the outside, but inside, there’s this little voice saying, “I don’t really know what I’m doing,” or “What if they find out I’m not as good as they think?”

No matter how much experience you have, you still second-guess yourself. You double-check your work, then check it again just to be sure. You compare yourself to other accountants and think, “They seem so much more confident. Why don’t I feel that way?” And no matter how many wins you have, they never seem to be enough to quiet the doubt.

Imposter syndrome doesn’t just mess with your confidence—it holds you back. Instead of speaking up in meetings, you stay quiet because you don’t want to say the wrong thing. Instead of going after new opportunities, you hesitate because you’re not sure you’re ready. And when you do get recognition for your work, you brush it off, thinking, “They’re just being nice,” or “I just got lucky.”

And here’s the tricky part—it makes you work even harder. You over-prepare, overthink, and put in extra hours just to make sure no one ever questions your abilities. But no matter how much you do, it never feels like enough. Instead of feeling more confident, you just feel more exhausted.

So why does this happen? Why do so many accountants, even the most skilled ones, struggle with self-doubt?

The truth is, your brain is wired to focus on what’s wrong, not what’s right. It has a negativity bias, which means it’s constantly scanning for mistakes, weaknesses, and reasons why you might not be good enough. And once your brain starts looking for evidence that you don’t measure up, it finds plenty—because that’s what it’s trained to see.

But here’s the thing—confidence isn’t something you either have or don’t have. It’s a skill. The only difference between confident accountants and those struggling with imposter syndrome is what they believe about themselves. Confident people aren’t always the smartest or the most talented—they just don’t spend all their time questioning whether they belong.

If you’ve been stuck in self-doubt, you’re not alone. But the good news is, imposter syndrome isn’t a sign that you’re not good enough. It’s just a sign that your brain is doing what brains do. And once you learn how to shift those thoughts, you stop feeling like an imposter and start owning what you already bring to the table.

Becoming a Smarter Accountant: Transforming Stress, Time Management, and Imposter Syndrome

Now let me share about one of my coaching clients.  When he first came to coaching, he was completely overwhelmed. Every day felt like a race he was losing. He told me, “I wake up stressed, rush through the day, and go to bed feeling like I didn’t do enough. No matter how much I work, it never feels like it’s enough.”

He worked long hours but never felt accomplished. Even after finishing a big project, he thought, “I probably missed something,” or “Anyone else could have done this better.”

Time management was another struggle. He started each day with a plan, but the minute an email or request came in, everything fell apart. He jumped between tasks, reacting all day, and by evening, he had no idea where the time had gone.

Then there was self-doubt. Despite years of experience, he constantly questioned if he was good enough. He compared himself to colleagues, hesitated to speak up in meetings, and brushed off praise, thinking, “They’re just being nice,” or “That was just luck.”

When we started working together, we focused on stress. He assumed it came from his workload, but he realized a big part of it came from his thoughts about his workload. Every morning, he’d think, “I have too much to do,” which made everything feel worse. We worked on shifting those thoughts so he could regain control.

Next, we tackled time management. Instead of overwhelming to-do lists, he started making clear decisions about what needed to get done, what could wait, and how much time each task deserved. By planning intentionally, he stopped reacting and started focusing on what mattered most.

Then came imposter syndrome. He had spent years feeling like he had to prove himself. Through coaching, he saw how his brain was wired to focus on mistakes rather than wins. He practiced noticing his successes, challenging negative thoughts, and trusting his own experience instead of assuming others knew more.

A few months later, everything felt different. He told me, “For the first time in years, I don’t feel like I’m scrambling all the time.” He was still busy, but stress, poor time management, and self-doubt no longer controlled his career. And because of that, everything felt easier.

If you’ve ever felt this way, know this—it doesn’t have to be this way. You don’t have to feel constantly behind or doubt your abilities. Just like he did, you can take back control. And when you do, everything changes.

Key Takeaway and Action Item

The key takeaway from today’s episode is that the biggest struggles accountants face—stress, time management issues, imposter syndrome, and more—aren’t just part of the job. They’re patterns that can be changed. 

The truth is that when you learn how to manage your thoughts, make clear decisions about your time, and stop doubting your own abilities, everything gets easier. You don’t need more hours in the day—you just need a better way to use the ones you already have.

For this week, ask yourself, “What’s the one struggle that’s causing me the most stress right now?”

Maybe it’s constantly feeling behind, second-guessing yourself, or never having enough time. Whatever it is, recognizing it is the first step to changing it. Because once you see what’s really getting in your way, you can start to take back control.

And if any of what I talked about today sounds familiar, take The Smarter Accountant Quiz. It only takes five minutes, and it will help you get clear on what’s holding you back. Once you know that, you can start making real changes that actually last.

Take the quiz now and see what’s standing between you and a smarter way to work. You might be surprised by what you find.

Pulling Back The Curtain

As I said in the beginning, I’m going to start switching things up at the end of the podcast and I’m going to start sharing some behind the scenes, personal experiences with the topic of the week.

I think it’s the perfect time to go a little deeper and let the listeners see more of me—the accountant, the coach, and the human behind the mic.

With that said, pulling back the curtain for a second…

I still remember sitting at my desk years ago—kids were little, I was working full-time in public accounting, and I’d come home every night completely drained. Not just tired—emotionally fried. I’d lie in bed thinking, “Is this really what my career is supposed to feel like?”

But I kept pushing through. I told myself I just needed to work harder… get more organized… be better. Meanwhile, I was waking up anxious, second-guessing my work, and silently comparing myself to everyone else who looked like they had it all together.

I didn’t talk about it back then. I didn’t even realize how common it was to feel overwhelmed, behind, and not good enough—especially as an accountant.

That’s part of why I started this podcast. And in this 100th episode, talking about the 6 most common issues accountants face? I wasn’t just sharing what I’ve seen in coaching—I was sharing what I’ve lived.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re constantly chasing a finish line that keeps moving, like you’re capable but stuck, or like you’re the only one who feels this way… please know, you’re not. You’re actually in really good company.

That’s why I created The Smarter Accountant Quiz. It’s not fluff—it’s designed to help you spot the deeper issue that’s running in the background. And once you see it, everything can start to shift.

You can take the quiz in under five minutes at www.thesmarteraccountant.com. And if you want help figuring out what it all means for you, schedule a free 30-minute call with me at www.thesmarteraccountant.com/calendar. No pressure, just clarity.

The truth is that you’re already smart, but this podcast will show you how to be smarter.

Let’s be real—meetings can feel like the bane of our work lives. We’ve all been there: you’re juggling deadlines, emails are piling up, and then, ding!—it’s time for yet another meeting. 

You log on, sit through an hour of discussion, and leave wondering, “What did we actually accomplish?” Or worse, you leave with more on your plate than when you started. It’s frustrating, right?

Now, don’t get me wrong. Meetings can be incredibly useful. They’re supposed to help us connect, plan, and move forward. But when they’re unproductive or dragged out, they can start to feel like huge time-wasters. 

For us accountants especially, time is precious. Every hour spent in an ineffective meeting is an hour we could have used to tackle client work, finalize reports, or check off those tasks we actually want to get done.

So, why do meetings so often feel like a drain? Maybe it’s because they interrupt your flow just as you’re getting into a productive groove. Or perhaps it’s the lack of focus and direction—meetings without a clear agenda that wander all over the place before finally wrapping up with a vague sense of “we’ll circle back on that.” Sound familiar?

And then there’s the toll it takes on your mental energy. Let’s be honest, a jam-packed day full of meetings can leave you feeling drained. 

Have you ever found yourself finishing a day of back-to-back meetings and realizing you’re too mentally wiped out to tackle anything else? There’s a reason for that. Our brains can only handle so much “meeting mode” before they’re completely tapped out.

But what if there was a way to change all that? What if meetings could be a tool, not a time-suck? 

Imagine if every meeting had a clear purpose, wrapped up on time, and left you feeling focused and ready to tackle the next thing on your list. It may sound like wishful thinking, but it’s completely possible with a few small changes.

So here’s the big question: What would it take to make your meetings more effective? What if, instead of dreading them, you could actually look forward to meetings as an opportunity to get things done quickly and efficiently? What if meetings didn’t just steal your time but actually gave you back more focus, more clarity, and more time in your day?

If you’re intrigued by the idea of reclaiming your time and making meetings work for you instead of against you, keep listening. I’m going to dive into why meetings so often go wrong, what’s actually happening in our brains during those long sessions, and some practical tips to make sure every meeting you attend is as effective as it can be. 

By the end of this, you’ll be able to approach meetings with a fresh perspective—and who knows, you might even find yourself with a little extra time in your day.

The Biggest Issues with Ineffective Meetings

Let’s dig into why meetings can feel like they’re wasting time instead of maximizing it. If you’ve ever left a meeting wondering what it was even about, you’re not alone. Ineffective meetings often boil down to a few recurring issues that, unfortunately, are all too common.

One major culprit is the lack of clear goals and agendas. When meetings don’t have a defined purpose, they tend to meander. 

Discussions veer off course, and everyone’s talking, but no one’s quite sure what they’re trying to achieve. Without a focused goal, meetings can quickly turn into long-winded conversations that go in circles. 

People leave feeling just as unclear as they were when they came in—and now they’ve also lost an hour or more they could’ve spent on focused work.

Another issue is inviting too many people. While it can feel inclusive to have everyone present, more participants mean more opinions, which can lead to more sidetracks and tangents. 

And not everyone in the room always needs to be there—some may not have any decision-making role, while others only need the final recap. Too many attendees can add unnecessary complexity, stretching meetings longer than necessary.

Poor time management is another factor that drags meetings down. You’ve probably seen it happen: a meeting that was supposed to be 30 minutes stretches into 45, then an hour, and you realize you’re nowhere near wrapping up. 

This overrun cuts into other tasks and disrupts the flow of the day. Without a time-bound agenda, it’s easy for discussions to lose focus and for small topics to eat up large chunks of time. Everyone’s left playing catch-up with their own work after the meeting finally ends.

Then there’s the trap of recurring meetings that haven’t evolved. Weekly check-ins or standing meetings can be helpful, but over time, they can become routine and lose purpose. 

If the meeting format stays the same, people may start to feel like they’re simply going through the motions. In these cases, a meeting that once felt productive can turn into a box to check off, rather than a tool to help the team move forward.

Finally, there’s the hidden financial impact of unproductive meetings. Time spent in an unproductive meeting is money spent with little to show for it, especially for accountants who could be using that time to bill clients or wrap up projects. 

Every hour lost in a meeting without results is an hour lost from tasks that drive revenue and productivity.

The good news is, with some intentional tweaks, it’s entirely possible to avoid these pitfalls. By identifying and addressing these common issues, meetings can become a powerful tool for moving work forward rather than a frustrating time-sink. 

Why Meetings Can Be Productivity and Time Killers

Alright, so we know what makes meetings ineffective, but have you ever wondered why they feel so draining? Let’s be real—it’s not just about how long they are or how many people are there. 

There’s a reason why, by the end of a meeting, you can feel like your brain’s been squeezed dry and you still have a mountain of work left.

One big reason is how meetings completely interrupt our flow state. You know that feeling when you’re deep into a task—like, really in the zone, knocking things out left and right? That’s what we call being in a “flow state,” and it’s when we do our best work. 

But meetings just pull us right out of that zone. And it’s not easy to jump back in, either. 

Research shows that it can take up to 20 minutes to fully regain your focus after an interruption. So every time you have to stop what you’re doing for a meeting, you lose a chunk of productive time. 

By the time you’re back on task, you’re already playing catch-up, and your brain is working overtime to get back in that groove.

Then there’s the opportunity cost of meetings—basically, what we’re giving up every time we spend an hour or more in a meeting. For accountants especially, that time could be used on high-impact work, like getting through client files, preparing for tax season, or planning ahead for deadlines. 

Instead, meetings that drag on (or could have been emails) end up eating into that time. And the funny thing is, the work doesn’t go away! So we end up staying later or working through lunch just to make up for it. It’s like we’re constantly chasing time because of these meetings.

And I know you’ve probably felt this, too—the mental and physical drain that meetings cause. Back-to-back meetings, especially long ones, can leave you mentally fried. 

Our brains aren’t wired to stay hyper-focused for long stretches without a break, so if you’re sitting in a meeting that’s going past 20 or 30 minutes, your focus naturally starts to drift. You start zoning out, and by the end, it’s like your brain just can’t handle any more information. 

Add in the physical toll from sitting still for too long and staring at a screen, and it’s no wonder you feel completely wiped by the end of the day.

When meetings are stacked one after another like this, it’s like they’re slowly draining your productivity without you even realizing it. But here’s the thing: once we understand why meetings are so exhausting, we can start designing them to work with our brains, not against them. 

Now I want to dive into the brain science behind why we feel so spent after a meeting and how knowing this can actually help us turn meetings into a tool that works in our favor, not against us.

The Brain Science Behind Effective Meetings

Let’s get into what’s actually going on in our brains during these meetings, because understanding a few basics can make all the difference.

First, our brains are built to focus best in short, intense bursts. They’re not designed for long stretches of nonstop concentration. It’s kind of like trying to stretch a rubber band—if you keep pulling, it’s eventually going to snap. 

That’s why those long meetings leave us feeling mentally checked out halfway through, even when we’re really trying to stay engaged. Keeping meetings short and focused actually works with our brains instead of against them.

Then there’s cognitive load—basically, how much information our brains can process at once. Imagine your brain as a computer with limited RAM; once it’s maxed out, everything slows down, and processing new information becomes tough. 

Meetings that pack in too many topics or lack structure overload our “mental RAM.” But when a meeting has a clear structure and agenda, it’s easier for our brains to keep up and stay engaged.

We also deal with something called decision fatigue. Every choice we make in a meeting—whether to speak up, process information, or follow a discussion—drains our mental energy. 

So, in long meetings or complex discussions, we’re more likely to feel wiped out by the end, with our decision-making abilities shot. That’s why a focused, purposeful meeting leaves us feeling more productive, while a long, wandering one leaves us drained.

And let’s talk about memory and retention. Our brains actually remember concise points and focused conversations better than winding discussions. 

Ever wonder why you can barely remember half of what was covered after a long meeting? It’s because our brains don’t know which parts to prioritize. When meetings are clear, with specific takeaways and action items, it’s much easier to remember what’s important.

Knowing these brain basics doesn’t just help us understand why meetings can be so exhausting—it also shows us how to design them to work for us. When we keep cognitive load low, avoid decision fatigue, and respect our brain’s attention span, meetings can go from draining to actually productive.

Now, let’s bust a few common myths about meetings that might be holding us back from making them as effective as they could be.

Busting Myths About Meetings

Alright, let’s get real about some of the myths that keep meetings stuck in “unproductive” mode. These are things we’ve all heard—or maybe even believed—that seem harmless but actually make meetings more exhausting and less effective. Time to bust these myths wide open.

Myth #1: Everyone Needs to Be in the Room

A big one, right? We tend to think that inviting the whole team is inclusive, but it usually just creates more noise. When everyone’s there, discussions get sidetracked, more opinions get tossed in, and it’s way harder to keep the meeting focused. 

The truth is that only the people directly involved in the topic or decision need to be there. Fewer people mean clearer conversations and faster decisions. Next time you’re setting up a meeting, ask yourself, “Who really needs to be here?”

Myth #2: Longer Meetings Get More Done

Ever been in a meeting that drags on and on because someone thinks more time means better results? It’s a myth that doesn’t hold up. In reality, the longer a meeting goes, the more people zone out, and engagement plummets. 

Meetings don’t need to be long—they just need to be focused. Some of the best meetings are 15 or 20 minutes because they cut right to the main points, leaving everyone free to get on with their day. Think of meetings like a sprint, not a marathon.

Myth #3: Weekly Meetings Are Always Necessary

We often get stuck in the habit of scheduling weekly or bi-weekly meetings, assuming they’re essential. But sometimes, recurring meetings lose their purpose, and people start attending out of habit instead of need. 

If there’s no new information or updates, that weekly check-in can become a time drain. Don’t be afraid to cancel a meeting if it’s not adding value. Instead, call a meeting only when there’s something specific to discuss. People will show up more engaged and ready to contribute.

Myth #4: Meetings Need to Cover Everything

It’s tempting to try to tackle as many topics as possible to “make the most of the time.” But cramming everything into one meeting often overwhelms people, and nothing gets fully resolved. 

Instead, keep each meeting focused on one or two key topics. When you stick to a specific agenda, everyone can dive deeper into the discussion and leave with a clear understanding of next steps. Less really is more when it comes to meeting agendas.

Letting go of these outdated ideas about meetings can open up a whole new way of thinking. By ditching these myths, we can design meetings that are lean, effective, and actually helpful. 

Now let’s get into some practical strategies for running meetings that make the most of everyone’s time.

Strategies for Holding More Effective Meetings

Alright, so we’ve busted the myths, and we know the brain science—now let’s talk about what we can actually do to make meetings better. These strategies are all about making meetings feel purposeful, keeping them on track, and helping everyone walk away feeling like their time was well spent. Because let’s be honest, if we’re going to be in a meeting, it better be worth it, right?

Set a Clear Objective

This one might sound obvious, but it’s amazing how many meetings kick off without a clear purpose. When everyone knows the exact goal of the meeting—whether it’s to make a decision, solve a problem, or update the team on progress—it sets a tone that keeps things focused. 

Think of the objective as the meeting’s anchor. If the discussion starts to drift (as it often does), a clear objective helps steer it back. So, before sending out that calendar invite, ask yourself, “What do I want to accomplish in this meeting?” If you can’t answer that, maybe it’s time to rethink the need for the meeting altogether.

Create a Time-Bound Agenda

Have you ever noticed how meetings without an agenda seem to last forever? An agenda not only shows people what will be covered, but it also sets a time limit for each topic. It’s like setting up mini-deadlines within the meeting, which naturally keeps the pace moving. 

And here’s a tip—try sharing the agenda before the meeting starts. This gives everyone a chance to prepare, making discussions faster and more productive. Bonus points if you set a hard stop time. When people know the meeting won’t go on indefinitely, they’re more likely to stay focused and get to the point.

Limit Participants to Essentials

It can feel tempting to invite everyone to a meeting “just in case” they have input. But too many people can actually slow things down and make it harder to reach decisions. Instead, only invite those who are directly involved in the topic or who need to take action afterward. 

You can always send out a summary to others if they need to stay in the loop. Keeping the guest list lean creates a more focused environment where decisions can be made quickly and efficiently.

Use Visuals and Summaries

We talked about how the brain processes and retains information, right? Well, visuals and summaries are a fantastic way to make things stick. When key points are reinforced visually—whether that’s through a quick slide, a chart, or even a few bullet points—it’s easier for people to follow along and retain what’s being discussed. 

And wrapping up with a summary of action items at the end? That’s like the cherry on top. It reinforces what’s been decided and makes sure everyone leaves on the same page.

Assign Action Items and Follow Up

One of the best ways to make meetings meaningful is to end with clear action items and deadlines. Let’s face it: meetings without follow-ups tend to go nowhere. If there’s no accountability, it’s easy for all those great ideas and decisions to fade into the background once everyone’s back to their busy workdays. 

When each person has a specific task and a timeline, it keeps the momentum going. And don’t forget a quick follow-up afterward—an email or a shared document with the action points can be all it takes to keep everyone aligned.

These strategies aren’t just about making meetings more efficient; they’re about giving everyone a sense of purpose and accomplishment. When meetings are clear, focused, and actionable, they actually add value instead of taking it away. 

And the best part? You’ll likely find yourself spending less time in meetings and more time actually getting things done.

Becoming a Smarter Accountant: Learning To Have More Effective Meetings

One of my coaching clients is a manager at a mid-sized firm, and was stuck in a cycle of endless, draining meetings that felt more like obstacles than opportunities. Each week, she’d gather her team for what was supposed to be a productive check-in, but without a set agenda or clear focus, the meetings quickly spiraled. 

Discussions would jump from one topic to the next, with everyone chiming in on unrelated issues. By the end of each session, her list of action items had somehow tripled, and she left feeling mentally exhausted and stressed, knowing her actual work was piling up. 

She dreaded these meetings, but felt they were just part of the job.

Once we began working together, she admitted she hadn’t realized how much her meetings were dragging down her productivity—and her team’s. We worked on creating a new approach: each meeting would have a clear goal, a time-bound agenda, and only the essential team members needed to get things done. 

She learned how to set boundaries within the meeting to keep discussions focused and purposeful. The transformation was immediate. Her meetings went from nearly an hour to a focused 20-30 minutes, with everyone leaving clear on their action items. 

She told me that not only did her own productivity soar, but her team seemed more engaged, too. She now walks into meetings with confidence, knowing they’re designed to move projects forward instead of holding them back. 

For this client, meetings have become a powerful tool, not a necessary evil—and she finally has the time and energy to focus on what really matters in her work.

The bottom line is if you’re dreading meetings, you need to learn how to run or participate in more effective meetings. 

Now I’m going to share the key takeaway from today and an action item for the upcoming week.

Key Takeaway and Action Item

The key takeaway from this episode is that effective meetings aren’t just about saving time—they’re about creating clarity, maintaining focus, and ensuring everyone leaves with a sense of purpose and actionable steps.

For this week, ask yourself, “What can I change or suggest for my next meeting to make it more focused and valuable for everyone involved?”

This question encourages you to look at your meetings with a fresh perspective. Instead of seeing them as an obligation, consider them an opportunity to drive real progress. 

Consider specific changes you can make, like setting a clear agenda, inviting only necessary participants, or ending with defined action items. By taking even a few small steps, you can turn meetings from time-drains into productive sessions that help you and your team move forward with energy and direction.

Well, that’s what I have for you today. Thank you for joining me as I shared The Smarter Accountant’s guide to more effective meetings. I hope you’re walking away with a better understanding of what’s been getting in your way when it comes to effective meetings.

As I always say, you’ve worked hard to become an accountant; it’s time to make it easier to be one.

If you’d like to discuss how to better manage your time or anything you’re currently struggling with, you can schedule a free 30-minute call with me at  https://thesmarteraccountant.com/calendar/. 

And don’t forget to check back each week for more tips and strategies to help you go from being a stressed accountant to a Smarter Accountant.

Also, if you haven’t already, make sure to take The Smarter Accountant Quiz at www.thesmarteraccountant.com to see if you’ve been underutilizing your accountant brain. It’s a great starting point to see where you are and how you can improve.

Lastly, if you’ve found today’s episode helpful, I’d really appreciate it if you could spread the word to other accountants. The more we get this message out, the more we can change the narrative in the accounting profession and help accountants everywhere.

The truth is that you’re already smart, but this podcast will show you how to be smarter.

Let’s be honest—how often do you sit there waiting for that spark of motivation to finally kick in? Maybe it’s a pile of client work staring at you, or a lingering task that’s been on your to-do list for way too long. 

You think, “I’ll get to it when I feel more motivated,” and then… nothing. The spark never comes, and suddenly you’re scrambling to get things done at the last minute.

It’s frustrating, isn’t it? This idea that motivation should somehow show up when we need it most, like a magic wand to make everything easier. 

So if motivation isn’t the key to getting things done… what is? And how do the most productive accountants make progress even when they don’t feel like it? Stick with me, because what I’m about to share might just change the way you approach your work forever.

Think about it. Motivation feels so good when it’s there, right? Like you’re unstoppable and ready to tackle anything. But what happens when it disappears? 

It’s kind of like a fair-weather friend—great company when things are easy but nowhere to be found when life gets tough. You can’t rely on it, and yet so many of us keep waiting for it to show up before we take action.

Here’s the thing: we’ve all been conditioned to believe that motivation is the key to success. You hear it everywhere—find your motivation, stay motivated, motivate your team. 

But no one really talks about how unreliable it is. No one tells you what to do when you wake up on Monday morning feeling completely unmotivated and staring down another busy week.

The truth is, motivation isn’t even the thing that gets the most successful people through their days. So, what is? That’s the question that changes everything.

Have you ever wondered why some people seem to push through no matter how they feel, while others can’t seem to get started unless they “feel like it”? What’s the secret to getting things done on the days when your motivation tank is running on empty?

I’ll give you a hint: it’s not about finding motivation. It’s about building something far more reliable.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re stuck in a cycle of waiting for motivation to strike, only to end up overwhelmed and behind, keep listening. The truth about motivation—and why it isn’t what you think—might just change the way you approach your work and your life.

Ready to learn what no one ever told you? Let’s dive in.

The Fleeting Nature of Motivation

Let’s break down what motivation actually is. At its core, it’s just a feeling—one that comes and goes, often when you least expect it. 

Sometimes it’s sparked by an exciting goal, a deadline, or even just the thought of finally crossing something off your list. Other times? It’s nowhere to be found, no matter how hard you try to summon it.

The challenge with motivation isn’t just that it’s inconsistent; it’s that we give it so much power. Think about it—how many times have you put off starting something because you weren’t “in the mood”? 

Maybe you were waiting for that magical burst of energy or inspiration to sweep you off your feet and make everything easier. But how often does that really happen?

The truth is, motivation doesn’t follow a schedule, and it doesn’t stick around just because you want it to. It can be influenced by your mood, your environment, and even things as random as the weather or how much sleep you got last night. Some days it’s there, but most days? Not so much.

And for accountants, this is where things get tricky. You can’t exactly wait around for motivation when deadlines are looming or clients are calling. If you’re relying on motivation to get you through your work, you might find yourself scrambling more often than not.

For example, let’s say you’ve got a client project sitting in front of you, and it’s not exactly your favorite task. Instead of diving in, you tell yourself, “I’ll tackle it later when I feel more motivated.” But “later” keeps getting pushed further and further back. 

Before you know it, the deadline is right around the corner, and you’re in full-on panic mode trying to pull it all together. Sound familiar?

Here’s the thing—this isn’t about willpower or discipline (yet). It’s about understanding that motivation was never meant to be the driving force behind everything you do. 

It’s a nice bonus when it shows up, sure, but it’s not the engine. Treating it like one is what creates the frustration and stress we all know too well.

So, if motivation isn’t reliable, what is? And how can you get things done even when that spark is nowhere to be found? The answer lies in building something much stronger, and that’s what we’ll explore next.

What’s More Effective Than Motivation?

If motivation is the unreliable friend who only shows up when it’s convenient, discipline is the one who’s always there for you, no matter what. Discipline doesn’t care if you’re tired, unmotivated, or having an off day. It’s the habit of showing up and taking action, even when you don’t feel like it.

The great thing about discipline is that it’s dependable. Unlike motivation, which comes and goes based on how you’re feeling, discipline is something you can count on. 

It’s not flashy or exciting, but it works. It’s the quiet, steady force that helps you keep moving forward, one step at a time, no matter how your day is going.

So, what exactly is discipline? It’s the choice to act, even when every part of you would rather procrastinate. 

It’s deciding in advance what needs to get done and then following through, whether you’re in the mood for it or not. Discipline doesn’t ask, “Do I feel like it?” It just does what needs to be done.

This is why discipline is so reliable—it builds momentum. Each time you act, you’re making progress, even if it’s small. And that progress adds up. You start to realize that even on days when you’re not at your best, you can still get things done.

Let’s look at how this plays out in real life. Imagine it’s Monday morning, and you’re already feeling overwhelmed. Maybe you’re not in the mood to tackle that client project that’s been sitting on your desk. 

If you’re waiting for motivation, that project might sit there all day—or worse, all week. But if you’ve developed discipline, you’ll start anyway. You’ll chip away at it, one piece at a time, until it’s done.

Here’s the truth: the accountants who consistently meet deadlines, even under pressure, aren’t relying on motivation to get them through. They’ve built the habit of discipline. They know that some days they won’t feel like it, and that’s okay. What matters is that they take action anyway.

Discipline isn’t always easy, but it’s always worth it. The more you practice it, the more it becomes second nature. And when it does, you’ll find that you don’t have to rely on fleeting feelings to get things done—you can trust yourself to show up and do the work, no matter what.

If motivation is the spark, discipline is the steady flame that keeps the fire going. It might not always feel exciting, but it’s exactly what you need to stay consistent and get things done.

The Brain Science Behind Why Motivation is Overrated

Let’s get into the “why” behind all of this. Motivation might feel great when it shows up, but it’s not designed to stick around—and there’s a good reason for that. Motivation comes from your brain’s reward system, specifically a chemical called dopamine. 

Every time you feel motivated, your brain is giving you a little hit of dopamine to encourage you to take action. It’s like your brain saying, “Hey, this feels good—let’s do more of this!”

But here’s the catch: dopamine isn’t meant to keep flowing indefinitely. It spikes quickly and then drops off just as fast. This is why you can start a task feeling fired up, only to lose steam halfway through. 

Your brain isn’t wired to keep you motivated—it’s wired to conserve energy. Once the initial excitement fades, your brain shifts into “saving mode,” and suddenly, the task you were so excited to start feels like a slog.

This is where discipline comes in. Unlike motivation, which is fueled by a quick burst of dopamine, discipline is about building habits that stick. 

Every time you follow through on something—whether it’s getting started on a project, sticking to a schedule, or knocking out that one task you’ve been avoiding—you’re strengthening the neural pathways in your brain that make it easier to act next time. It’s like carving a trail through the woods: the more you walk it, the clearer and easier the path becomes.

For accountants, this is a game-changer. Our work is full of recurring tasks—deadlines, client deliverables, monthly reconciliations. Waiting for motivation to get you through those tasks is like rolling the dice and hoping for the best. 

But discipline? Discipline rewires your brain to make action your default setting, even when you’re not “feeling it.”

Here’s an example. Let’s say you’re staring down a big project. It’s not urgent yet, so your brain isn’t giving you that dopamine hit to get started. If you’re relying on motivation, you might find yourself procrastinating, hoping that spark of energy will show up later. 

But if you’ve trained yourself to act out of discipline, you’ll get started anyway. Even if it’s just a small step, you’re teaching your brain, “This is what we do—we take action.” Over time, that habit becomes second nature, and starting gets easier and easier.

The best part? Your brain rewards discipline in its own way. Each time you take action, you build momentum, and with it, a quiet sense of confidence that you can handle whatever’s next. 

You stop waiting for motivation to show up, because you don’t need it anymore. You’ve built something much stronger—a system that works no matter what kind of day you’re having.

So, while motivation might give you a quick boost, discipline is the real secret to getting things done. And the more you understand how your brain works, the easier it becomes to use it to your advantage.

How To Build What Actually Works

Now that we’ve talked about why discipline is more reliable than motivation, let’s look at how you can actually build it. Here’s the good news: you don’t have to overhaul your entire life overnight to become disciplined. 

In fact, the best way to start is by thinking small—really small.  The truth is that discipline isn’t about making massive changes all at once; it’s about creating tiny habits that you can stick to consistently. 

For example, instead of saying, “I’m going to overhaul my whole workflow this week,” start with something as simple as committing to spend the first 10 minutes of your day tackling your highest-priority task. That’s it. Just 10 minutes. 

When you start small, it’s easier to keep your word to yourself, and every time you follow through, you’re building trust in your ability to act, no matter what.

One of the most powerful tools for building discipline is making decisions ahead of time. When you plan your day—or even your week—you’re essentially removing the mental debate about what to do in the moment. Time-blocking is perfect for this. 

By deciding ahead of time what you’ll do and when, you take the guesswork out of your day. You don’t have to sit there wondering, “What should I work on next?” You’ve already made the decision, and now all you have to do is follow through.

Think of it like making a reservation for your time. When you make a reservation at a restaurant, you don’t second-guess it when the time comes—you show up. It’s the same with time-blocking. You’re treating your time with the same level of respect and intention.

Here’s where it gets really powerful: discipline isn’t just about actions; it’s also about managing your thoughts. The way you talk to yourself matters more than you might realize. 

If your inner dialogue is full of thoughts like, “I don’t feel like doing this,” or “I’ll never get it all done,” guess what? Your brain is going to look for ways to confirm that.

But if you intentionally shift your thoughts to something like, “I can do hard things,” or “I’m just going to take the next step,” you’re creating a mental environment that makes action easier. It’s not about forcing positivity—it’s about giving yourself the kind of mindset that supports discipline, not fights against it.

Let me give you an example.  Imagine it’s a typical Monday morning, and your to-do list is already overwhelming. If you’re relying on motivation, you might spend half the day avoiding the toughest tasks, waiting to “feel ready.” 

But if you’ve built the habit of discipline, you’ll start small—maybe with a single email or a simple prep task for a client project. You’ll follow your time blocks, not because you feel like it, but because you’ve already decided they matter.

By the end of the day, you’re not just crossing things off your list—you’re reducing stress, gaining momentum, and proving to yourself that you can trust your own decisions. And that confidence? It’s priceless.

Building discipline doesn’t mean being perfect. It’s about showing up consistently, even when things aren’t ideal. Every small habit, every intentional choice, and every managed thought adds up, creating a system that works for you. 

And once you’ve built that system, you’ll never need to wait for motivation again. You’ll already have everything you need.

Becoming a Smarter Accountant: Successfully Managing His Workload Despite a Lack of Motivation

When he first came to me, one of my clients was drowning in a sea of deadlines and pressure. He was a highly skilled accountant, but he constantly felt like he was falling behind, stuck in a cycle of procrastination and last-minute scrambles. 

He’d tell me, “I know what I need to do, but I just can’t seem to get started. I keep waiting for the right moment, and it never comes.”

Every Sunday night, the weight of the week ahead would hit him like a ton of bricks. He’d plan to tackle his workload with the best intentions, only to get stuck in a spiral of avoidance by Monday morning. 

A single email could derail his entire day, and the projects he put off would haunt him until the deadlines loomed too close to ignore. By then, the stress was unbearable, and he’d end up working late into the night just to catch up.

He told me he felt ashamed. How could someone so smart and experienced fall into this pattern over and over again? I could totally feel his frustration. He wanted to do better—for his clients, for his career, and for himself—but he didn’t know where to start.

When we started working together we began by unraveling his dependence on motivation. He’d always believed he needed to “feel ready” to get started, and that belief was holding him hostage. I explained that motivation is fleeting, but discipline is something he could build step by step.

At first, it felt awkward for him. I encouraged him to start small, with micro-habits like setting aside 10 minutes each morning to dive into his most important task—whether he felt like it or not. 

He also began time-blocking his day, reserving time for tasks like he’d reserve a table at a restaurant. The shift wasn’t dramatic at first, but he stuck with it, and over time, those small steps started to build momentum.

The real breakthrough came when he started managing his thoughts. We worked on the internal dialogue that had been sabotaging him—thoughts like, “I’ll never get this done in time,” or “This is too much to handle.” 

Instead, he practiced replacing them with thoughts like, “I can handle this one step at a time,” and “Getting started is the hardest part, and I’m already doing it.”

Fast forward a few months, and he’s a completely different person. He still has deadlines and busy days, but now he faces them with confidence instead of dread. 

He doesn’t wait for motivation anymore; he trusts the systems we’ve built together and knows how to follow through, no matter how he’s feeling.

The most emotional moment for me came when he said, “For the first time in years, I feel like I’m in control of my work instead of my work controlling me.” That’s the power of discipline—it doesn’t just change the way you work; it changes the way you see yourself. And for him, that was everything.

The bottom line is, when you stop waiting for motivation and start building discipline, you take back your power—and that changes everything.

Now I’m going to share the key takeaway from today and an action item for the upcoming week.

Key Takeaway and Action Item

The key takeaway is this: Motivation is fleeting, but discipline is dependable. When you stop waiting for the perfect moment to feel ready and instead build small, consistent habits, you take control of your actions—and ultimately, your results. Discipline isn’t about perfection; it’s about showing up for yourself, even when it’s hard.

For this week, ask yourself, “What’s one small action I can commit to today, even if I don’t feel like it?”

This question shifts your focus from how you feel to what you can do. It reminds you that progress doesn’t require big, dramatic steps—it starts with something as simple as taking the next action. 

Asking yourself this question puts you in the driver’s seat. Instead of waiting for the right circumstances, you’re making the decision to act, no matter what’s going on around you.

It’s important because discipline grows through practice. The more you choose to take small actions—even when motivation isn’t there—the easier it becomes to trust yourself to follow through. Over time, those small steps build momentum, confidence, and a sense of control over your work and life.

When you ask this question regularly, it helps you focus on what’s possible right now. And that’s where true change begins.

Well, that’s what I have for you today. Thank you for joining me as I shared the truth about motivation that no one ever told you. I hope you’re walking away with a better understanding of what’s been getting in your way of getting things done.

As I always say, you’ve worked hard to become an accountant; it’s time to make it easier to be one.

If you’d like to discuss how to better manage your time or anything you’re currently struggling with, you can schedule a free 30-minute call with me at  https://thesmarteraccountant.com/calendar/. 

And don’t forget to check back each week for more tips and strategies to help you go from being a stressed accountant to a Smarter Accountant.

Also, if you haven’t already, make sure to take The Smarter Accountant Quiz at www.thesmarteraccountant.com to see if you’ve been underutilizing your accountant brain. It’s a great starting point to see where you are and how you can improve.

Lastly, if you’ve found today’s episode helpful, I’d really appreciate it if you could spread the word to other accountants. The more we get this message out, the more we can change the narrative in the accounting profession and help accountants everywhere.

The truth is that you’re already smart, but this podcast will show you how to be smarter.