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Before I get started, just a quick heads-up that I host a Monthly Group Coaching Program for accountants. We meet on the third Friday of every month at 12 pm EST, and it’s a great space to get support, grow, and connect with others who get what you’re going through. 

This month’s topic is all about underearning, whether you’re an employee or an entrepreneur.  

The truth is that underearning doesn’t just mean making less money. It means earning less than you’re capable of, often because of internal habits, beliefs, or behaviors that go unnoticed for years.

Whether you’re an employee or an entrepreneur, underearning can quietly affect how you price yourself, negotiate, ask for what you want, or even believe you’re allowed to earn more.

In the group coaching session we’re going to explore where underearning may be showing up in your career or business, what’s driving it under the surface, and what shifts are available if you want to start earning in alignment with your value.

If you want more details, just email me at dawn@thesmarteraccountant.com. I’d love to have you in the group!

Alright, let’s get into the episode…

Have you ever thought about walking away from your accounting career? Maybe you’re feeling burned out, overwhelmed, or just questioning if this is the right path for you. It’s something a lot of accountants go through, but rarely talk about.

The truth is, this career can be incredibly rewarding, but it can also be exhausting and stressful. There are days when the work feels endless, and no matter how much you do, you never seem to catch up. The pressure to meet deadlines, manage clients, and constantly keep things running can take a toll on your energy and your passion for the job.

But here’s something most people don’t talk about—it’s okay to feel this way. It’s completely normal to hit a point where you’re wondering, “Is this really worth it?” It’s even okay to question whether you should continue in this field.

When you’re feeling this way, it can seem like the only option is to leave the profession behind. But what if you could make a change that helps you feel more in control, more confident, and more connected to your work again? What if you didn’t have to leave to feel better?

That’s what today’s episode is all about. We’re going to dive into some of the most common reasons accountants consider quitting and what’s really behind these feelings. It’s not about blaming the career—it’s about looking at what’s going on inside your head and your life that might be leading to these thoughts.

You’re not alone in feeling stuck or unsure about your career. In fact, many accountants come to me struggling with this, but they don’t always know what to do about it. That’s why it’s so important to start asking yourself the right questions, so you can move forward with more clarity and confidence.

If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Am I cut out for this?” or “Why does this feel so hard?” then keep listening. This episode might just help you find the answers you’ve been looking for.

So, let’s start by looking at the first reason many accountants want to leave this career.

Reason #1: Constant Stress and Overwhelm

As an accountant, it often feels like you’re always behind. The never-ending to-do lists, constant emails, and looming deadlines pile up, leaving you feeling like you’re juggling too many tasks at once. It’s easy to get lost in the noise, constantly putting out fires and never truly feeling caught up.

This constant stress isn’t just a minor inconvenience—it’s a serious problem. When you’re under pressure all the time, it starts to affect your health. You might feel physically drained, mentally foggy, and emotionally exhausted. 

And, let’s be honest, this stress can make it harder to do your best work. When your mind is constantly racing, it’s hard to focus, and the quality of your work might begin to slip. Worst of all, you’re so consumed with work that there’s no space left for self-care, leaving you feeling burnt out and disconnected from everything else in your life.

Here’s what you need to know: stress doesn’t have to be a normal part of the job. In fact, it’s a sign that the way you’re working isn’t sustainable. The problem isn’t the job itself—it’s the way you’re managing your time and brain. 

If you keep pushing through this cycle without changing how you work, it will eventually catch up with you. The truth is that you don’t have to accept stress as a given; it’s time to take a step back, reassess how you’re working, and find a way to make it more manageable.

But stress isn’t the only thing making accountants want to quit. Let’s move on to the next reason…

Reason #2: Lack of Work-Life Balance

If you’re like many accountants, it feels like there’s no time left for anything outside of work. Your job can often demand overtime, weekends, and late nights, leaving little space for your personal life. Vacations get pushed aside, family moments slip away, and before you know it, your work life starts to take over everything.

This imbalance isn’t just inconvenient—it’s dangerous. Without a proper work-life balance, burnout becomes inevitable for many accountants. 

When work consumes every moment, resentment starts to build up. You might feel frustrated, drained, and like you’re missing out on important parts of your life. 

Over time, this can lead to a sense that your career is taking more than it’s giving. What started as a passion or a career you chose because it brought you satisfaction can begin to feel like an exhausting burden.

Here’s what you need to know: finding balance isn’t just about managing your time—it’s about setting boundaries, recognizing your limits, and rethinking what success means to you. Success doesn’t have to mean working non-stop or sacrificing personal time. 

The truth is that you have the power to create a life where work and personal time coexist in a way that feels fulfilling, not draining.

If you’re feeling like your personal life is slipping through the cracks, the next reason may resonate with you…

Reason #3: Imposter Syndrome

Imposter syndrome is something that many accountants face, even those who are incredibly successful. In fact, it’s now the #1 issue that accountants want to work on with me.  It often makes you feel like you’re not good enough, like you’re just faking it, or like you don’t truly deserve the achievements you’ve worked so hard for. 

Even though you might be good at what you do, you might still question whether you really belong in the profession, wondering if you’re just one mistake away from being “found out.”

The problem with imposter syndrome is that it can hold you back. This constant self-doubt prevents growth and keeps you from fully embracing your success. 

Instead of celebrating your achievements, you’re stuck in an inner battle, questioning everything you do. Over time, this can drain your energy and confidence, leaving you feeling stuck and less likely to take risks or step into new opportunities.

What you need to know is that imposter syndrome is actually a normal feeling, especially in high-stakes professions like accounting. It doesn’t define your capability or worth. 

In fact, recognizing that these feelings are part of the human experience is the first step in overcoming them. The truth is that you don’t have to let imposter syndrome hold you back from reaching your full potential or enjoying your career.

Now, let’s explore the next reason why accountants might consider leaving this profession…

Reason #4: Doubts About Career Fulfillment

At some point, many accountants find themselves questioning why they chose this profession in the first place (I know I definitely have!). The work that once felt meaningful and exciting can start to feel distant, leaving you feeling disconnected or unfulfilled. 

You may even find yourself wondering, “Is this really the right career for me?” Despite your accomplishments, it might not feel as rewarding as it once did.

The problem with this lack of fulfillment is that it leads to disengagement. When you’re not feeling connected to your work, your job satisfaction takes a dive. 

You might even start questioning the value of the profession itself, making the work feel tedious, or worse, pointless. Even the most rewarding aspects of the job can lose their shine when you no longer see the purpose behind them.

What you need to know is that it’s possible to reconnect with your purpose and redefine what fulfillment looks like for you. Fulfillment doesn’t just come from climbing the career ladder—it comes from aligning your daily tasks with what truly matters to you. 

The truth is that it’s about identifying what brings you meaning and satisfaction in your work and reshaping your approach so that you feel more connected to what you’re doing every day.

If you’ve ever felt disconnected from your work, the final reason might really hit home…

Reason #5: The Never-Ending Cycle of Deadlines

If you’re an accountant, you’ve probably experienced the feeling of always rushing to meet deadlines. It’s a constant sense of urgency that never seems to let up. 

The pressure to finish reports, file tax returns, and keep up with the constant flow of tasks can leave you feeling like you’re never fully caught up—always moving from one deadline to the next.

This never-ending cycle is more than just stressful—it’s exhausting. It keeps you stuck in “survival mode,” where you’re just trying to get through the day instead of working strategically. 

The constant pressure not only leads to burnout but can also negatively impact your time management skills. In this mode, it’s hard to take pride in your work because you’re too focused on getting things done rather than doing them with intention and care.

What you need to know is that deadlines are a part of the job and they aren’t going away. However, you do have the power to choose how you respond to them. By learning to manage your time and brain more effectively, you can meet deadlines without feeling overwhelmed. 

The truth is that it’s not about doing more—it’s about doing things more strategically and with focus, so you can handle deadlines with ease and confidence.

Now that we’ve gone through the reasons why you might want to quit, let’s take a look at how all of this connects to your brain…

The Brain Science Behind It All

Our brains are wired to respond to stress, deadlines, and challenges in ways that can make things feel even harder than they need to be. When you’re under pressure, your brain triggers a “fight or flight” response, sending out stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. This reaction can make it difficult to think clearly, prioritize tasks, or even calm your nerves.

For accountants, this is especially problematic because the brain’s natural stress response makes it harder to focus on the task at hand and can cause overwhelm to build up quickly. When deadlines are looming, or when imposter syndrome kicks in, the brain often goes into overdrive, thinking you’re in a crisis—when in reality, you’re just managing a busy workload. 

The more we let these stress reactions control us, the harder it becomes to stay focused, make decisions, or even enjoy the work we’re doing.

What you need to know is that while your brain is hardwired to react this way, you don’t have to let it control your life. By learning how your brain works, you can start to manage these stress responses better. 

For example, when you’re feeling overwhelmed, you can recognize it as your brain’s reaction and take steps to calm it down. With the right tools, like understanding how to manage your time and your emotions, you can train your brain to respond more effectively. This can lead to less stress, more control, and ultimately, greater fulfillment in your career.

Now that we’ve explored the science behind these issues, let’s hear a story from one of my clients…

Becoming a Smarter Accountant: Falling Back In Love With Accounting 

Let me tell you about one of my clients who came to me feeling completely overwhelmed. Like a lot of you, he was working long hours, constantly stressed about deadlines, and felt like he couldn’t keep up. 

On top of that, he struggled with imposter syndrome, always doubting if he was good enough, even though he had years of experience and was well-regarded by his colleagues. He was stuck in a cycle of burnout and was starting to question if accounting was still the right career for him.

He shared how it felt like he was always “on” but never really making any progress. The constant pressure of looming deadlines made him feel like he was running a race that would never end. 

He was missing out on family time, neglecting his own health, and worse—he didn’t feel fulfilled anymore. He felt disconnected from why he chose accounting in the first place.

When we began working together, we started by focusing on managing his brain and his time. We talked about how his stress responses were driving his actions and making it harder to prioritize effectively. 

By learning simple brain management tools, he came to understand that the stress wasn’t about his capability—it was how he was reacting to the pressure. We also worked on setting clear boundaries with his time, teaching him how to say no and make time for himself and his family, which he had always put on the backburner.

Over time, he learned to stop letting stress control him. We focused on shifting his mindset—recognizing his achievements and understanding that imposter syndrome wasn’t something that defined him. 

As he implemented time-blocking and made more intentional decisions about his workload, he became more productive and felt less rushed and overwhelmed.

By learning to manage his responses to stress and rethinking what success meant for him, he was able to regain control and confidence. Now, he leaves work on time, enjoys his family life, and feels proud of the work he does, all while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

Let’s wrap up with a few key takeaways.

Key Takeaway and Action Item

So, let’s quickly recap the five reasons why accountants might want to leave the profession:

1. Stress: Constant pressure and overwhelming to-do lists that never seem to end.
   
2. Work-life imbalance: Feeling like you have no time for yourself or your loved ones, always working overtime.
   
3. Imposter syndrome: Doubting your abilities, even when you’re an expert in your field.
   
4. Lack of fulfillment: Losing sight of why you chose accounting and feeling disconnected from your work.
   
5. Endless deadlines: The feeling that you’re always rushing from one deadline to the next, never fully catching up.
   

But here’s the key takeaway: These challenges don’t mean you have to quit the profession. The solutions lie in how you manage your time, energy, and mindset. 

It’s about recognizing that the stress, overwhelm, and frustration you’re experiencing are signals that something needs to change. When you learn to manage your brain and your time effectively, you can create a career that feels more fulfilling, balanced, and sustainable.

So, here’s a question to ask yourself: “What’s one small change I can make in how I manage my time or mindset today to start feeling more in control and less overwhelmed?”

Asking yourself this question is important because it helps you shift from feeling like a victim of your circumstances to feeling empowered to take action. It’s easy to get stuck in the cycle of stress and overwhelm, but identifying even one small change can give you a sense of control and direction. 

By starting with something manageable, you can build momentum and begin to see that change is possible, without feeling like you need to overhaul everything at once.

Okay, as I finish up, let me pull back the curtain and share a personal story of how I can relate to this topic.

Pulling Back the Curtain

Now let me pull back the curtain…

I remember a time early in my career when I felt completely overwhelmed. It was during one of the busiest seasons, and I was juggling multiple clients, deadlines, and personal commitments. I was working late into the night, skipping meals, and barely seeing my family. 

Despite my years of experience, I started questioning if I could keep doing this long-term. Was I cut out for this? Was this career really worth the sacrifice?

At that point, I realized something had to change. I wasn’t just stressed because of the work; I was stressed because I didn’t have a clear plan or boundaries. 

I felt like I was just reacting to every demand without any sense of control or purpose. I had to make a shift—not just in how I managed my time, but in how I managed my brain and my energy. I started setting clearer boundaries, learning to say no when I needed to, and prioritizing time for myself and my family. 

Slowly, I rediscovered my passion for the work and found that balance between career and personal life that I had been missing.  And I promise, if you can relate to any of this, you don’t have to stop being an accountant; you just need someone to show you how to handle things in a smarter way.

If you’re feeling like you need to make a change, I encourage you to take The Smarter Accountant Quiz at www.thesmarteraccountant.com and schedule a free 30-minute call with me at www.thesmarteraccoutnant.com/calender. 

Let’s figure out how you can move forward without burnout or stress. Together, we can explore how to regain control, reduce overwhelm, and create a career that’s fulfilling and sustainable.

I want to leave you with this final encouragement: You don’t have to continue working the same way. By managing your brain, your time, and your energy differently, you can make your accounting career work for you—not the other way around. You have the power to create the balance, confidence, and fulfillment you’ve been looking for, without the stress and burnout.

And as always, if you found this episode helpful, share it with another accountant. You never know who needs to hear this.

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

Tax season is finally over, and if you’re like most accountants, you’re probably thinking, “I just need a break.” After weeks—or maybe months—of long hours, tight deadlines, and constant pressure, it’s tempting to believe that some time off will be the answer to everything. 

In fact, I’ve got a vacation planned with my husband next week, and I can’t wait to relax. But have you ever noticed how the stress seems to creep right back in, no matter how much rest you get?

We’ve all been there. You plan the perfect vacation or just a quiet weekend to recharge, thinking it will fix the exhaustion and overwhelm. And for a little while, it works. You feel better—lighter, even. 

But then Monday rolls around, or the emails start piling up again, and suddenly, it’s like you never left. Why does that happen? Why doesn’t time off give you the long-term relief you were hoping for?

The truth is, feeling stretched too thin isn’t just about working too much. It’s about the ongoing mental and emotional load that builds up over time—something a vacation or a few days off can’t fully reset. 

So here’s the big question: If breaks aren’t the full solution, what is? And how can we make sure this draining cycle doesn’t keep repeating every tax season?

I know it feels like rest should be enough. You’ve just pushed through one of the busiest times of the year, and of course, your body and brain need a break. But what if the real issue isn’t just needing more time off? 

What if it’s about changing the way you live and work every day—not just for a few weeks after April 15th, but all year long?

Think about it: Have you ever come back from a vacation, only to feel more overwhelmed by how much you’ve fallen behind? Have you ever wondered if there’s a way to feel more in control—even in the middle of busy season?

If you have, you’re not alone. Most of us find ourselves stuck in this same loop, wondering why rest alone never seems to be enough. 

We’ve been conditioned to think that time off is the cure—but what if that’s only part of the story? What if the real answer isn’t escaping your life for a little while, but creating a life that doesn’t constantly leave you depleted in the first place? Wouldn’t that be worth figuring out?

So, if you’ve ever felt like a week off wasn’t enough to make a lasting difference, stick with me. We’re going to talk about why the pressure keeps creeping back—and what actually needs to change to stop that from happening again.

Why Time Off Feels Good… But Doesn’t Actually Help

It’s no wonder so many accountants think a vacation or time off is the answer when everything feels like too much. When you’re stressed and overwhelmed, the idea of getting away from it all seems like the perfect solution. And for a little while, it does help.

You finally relax, sleep better, and maybe even feel like yourself again. But then, before you know it, you’re right back where you started—stressed, stretched thin, and wondering why the break didn’t last.

The truth is, vacations only provide temporary relief. Sure, you may feel better while you’re away, but the stressors you left behind are still there when you return.

The same workload, deadlines, and expectations don’t magically disappear just because you took a few days off. And without getting to the root of what’s draining you, it doesn’t take long for that old pressure and exhaustion to creep back in.

Think about this: Have you ever taken two weeks off, only to feel buried within days of being back? The emails, the meetings, the tasks that piled up in your absence—it can all hit you like a wave.

You might even feel worse than before your break, questioning whether taking time off was worth it at all.

But the real issue isn’t the vacation—it’s that stepping away doesn’t solve what’s making work so heavy in the first place. It doesn’t change how you think about your responsibilities or how you respond to stress. It doesn’t teach you how to protect your time or your energy in a sustainable way.

In the end, it’s like putting a band-aid on something deeper—it covers things up for a little while, but it doesn’t actually help you heal.

That’s why time off alone rarely creates lasting change. It’s not just about getting more rest. To truly feel better, we have to understand what’s creating the constant tension and figure out how to shift it—day by day, not just once in a while.

What’s Really Draining Your Energy

Let’s talk about what’s actually behind that constant sense of exhaustion—because it’s so much more than just being tired. It’s that deep, worn-down feeling that doesn’t go away with a good night’s sleep or even a long vacation. 

It’s what happens when stress stops being something that shows up once in a while and starts becoming a normal part of daily life. It’s emotional, mental, and physical strain all wrapped together, and it can leave you feeling completely depleted.

One of the biggest contributors to this kind of exhaustion is unrealistic expectations. Sometimes they come from the outside—like tight deadlines or demanding clients. But often, they come from within.
We tell ourselves we have to be perfect, we have to work harder than everyone else, and we have to say yes to everything. And honestly? That internal pressure can be just as heavy as anything anyone else puts on us.

Another big issue is boundaries—or the lack of them. When the line between work and life gets fuzzy, it’s easy for work to take over. Maybe you’re answering emails at night or thinking about work on your day off.

Even when you’re technically not working, it’s still in your head. And without clear boundaries, it’s like you never really get to shut down, which makes everything feel heavier.

Then there’s the pressure to always be “on.” Whether it’s performing well at work, staying on top of everything at home, or trying to meet everyone’s expectations, it can feel like there’s no room to breathe. 

That nonstop need to prove yourself and keep it all together? That’s what quietly wears you down over time.

And here’s the thing: this kind of depletion doesn’t happen overnight. It builds slowly—one late night here, one “yes” too many there—until one day, you realize you’re running on empty.

It’s not just about how much you’re doing. It’s about how much of yourself you’re giving away without enough space to recover.

To really change how you feel, you have to understand what’s happening beneath the surface—especially how your brain is wired to handle all of this. And that’s what we’re going to talk about next.

How Your Brain Reacts to Stress (And Why It Matters)

Let’s talk about what’s actually going on in your brain when everything starts to feel like too much—because once you understand it, it actually makes a lot of sense. 

Your brain is wired to handle stress in short bursts. It’s part of that ancient fight-or-flight response, where your body kicks into gear to help you deal with immediate danger.

Back in the day, this was incredibly helpful if, say, you were being chased by a lion. But today? Your brain reacts to emails, deadlines, and back-to-back meetings the same way it would to a life-threatening emergency. And the problem is—it doesn’t know when to shut the alarm off.

When stress sticks around too long, your brain gets stuck in overdrive, flooding your body with stress hormones like cortisol. And here’s the tricky part—too much cortisol doesn’t just leave you feeling on edge.

It also makes it harder to think clearly. That’s why everything can start to feel urgent, even when it’s not. Your brain is so busy trying to keep you “safe” that it can’t always tell the difference between a real crisis and just a full inbox.

Cortisol also affects your emotions. You might find yourself snapping at someone or feeling overwhelmed by something small. It’s not because you’re overreacting—it’s because your brain is stretched thin and trying to manage too much at once.

But here’s the good news: your brain can learn a different way to respond. With some simple, consistent changes, you can teach it how to calm down and focus—even when life is hectic. And that’s where real change starts.

This is exactly why vacations feel so good at first. When you step away from the usual stressors, your brain finally gets a break. It’s like hitting a reset button. 

But that reset doesn’t last if nothing else changes. Time off doesn’t rewire the way your brain reacts to pressure—it just hits pause for a little while. And when the stressors return, your brain goes right back to the old patterns it knows best.

Here’s the thing: your brain loves habits—even the unhelpful ones. If you don’t make intentional, ongoing shifts, it will default to what it’s used to: overthinking, overworking, and staying in a state of alert. 

That’s why short-term relief isn’t enough on its own. To really feel better, you need to teach your brain a new way to respond—and that starts with daily practices that support you.

So if breaks don’t bring lasting change and your brain thrives on routine, what’s the next step? That’s where small, intentional changes come in—and we’ll get into that next.

The Little Things That Actually Help You Feel Better

I’m going to mention a term that might make you roll your eyes, but stick with me. When I say “self-care,” you might picture something like spa days or binge-watching your favorite show. 

But for accountants, real self-care isn’t about occasional indulgences—it’s about building habits that make your day-to-day life feel more manageable and less draining. It’s about small, practical actions that support your well-being and help you feel more in control.

For example, how often do you push through lunch or skip breaks because there’s just too much to do? Taking even 10 minutes to step away from your desk—whether to eat a meal, stretch, or just breathe—can completely shift how you feel for the rest of the day.

And what about boundaries? Deciding when to shut down your computer for the night, even if everything isn’t finished, is a form of self-respect. It helps you recharge and protect your energy for the long haul.

Another small but powerful shift is how you handle interruptions. Instead of letting emails or phone calls dictate your day, try setting designated times to check your inbox or return calls. That simple change can reduce mental clutter and help you focus more deeply.

And if you’ve never tried mindfulness, it’s worth exploring. Just a few minutes to pause, close your eyes, and take some slow, deep breaths between client meetings can do more than you might expect. It gives your brain a reset and your nervous system a moment to calm down.

Now let’s talk about small, incremental changes—because these are the ones that stick. They’re doable, not overwhelming, and they quietly shift how your day flows.

For instance, you might start your morning by glancing at your calendar and choosing just one thing that absolutely needs to get done. That small act can help you feel grounded before the day gets away from you.

Or you could try building in 10–15 minutes of buffer time between meetings or tasks. That breathing room can prevent the rush from one thing to the next and give you space to reset.

One of my favorite shifts is practicing the power of “no.” Let’s say a colleague asks you to take on a project, but you know your plate is already full. Instead of automatically saying yes and dealing with the stress later, try something like, “I’d love to help, but my schedule’s tight right now. I’ll let you know when I have more capacity.” 

That kind of boundary isn’t selfish—it’s responsible. It’s how you protect your energy without guilt.

These daily habits may seem small, but that’s exactly what makes them so effective. Layered over time, they create a steadier, more sustainable way to work and live—one where you’re not constantly running on empty.

So, if these kinds of small shifts can make such a big difference, what does it look like in real life? Let me share how a few of my coaching clients put this into practice.

Becoming a Smarter Accountant: Reclaiming Their Time and Energy

Let me share a few examples of how my coaching clients made small, practical changes that fit into their busy lives—and saw big results. These weren’t major overhauls. Just simple tweaks that helped them feel more in control and work in a way that supported their energy, not drained it.

One client, a tax accountant, was constantly interrupted during her workday. We created a “focus zone” by setting specific times for uninterrupted work and using a simple sign on her door to signal availability. That small shift helped her get more done in less time—and feel a lot less scattered.

Another client struggled with perfectionism, spending hours tweaking reports that were already good enough. By adopting a “done is better than perfect” mindset for certain tasks, she freed up time to focus on higher-priority work and eased some of the pressure she’d been putting on herself.

One client couldn’t say no and kept taking on extra tasks, even when his schedule was already packed. We practiced using a simple phrase: “Let me check my schedule and get back to you.” Over time, he grew more confident saying no to requests that didn’t align with his priorities, and that made a huge difference in how he felt at the end of the day.

Another client felt mentally drained by all the decisions she had to make throughout the day. We set up a time-blocking system so she could plan her priorities the night before. That one change gave her more clarity and saved a ton of mental energy during the day.

Finally, a small firm owner felt overwhelmed because he was doing everything himself—including tasks his team was fully capable of handling. By putting a delegation plan in place and training his team to take on more responsibility, he created more space for big-picture thinking and found himself enjoying his work again.

These small changes might not seem like a big deal at first glance, but that’s exactly what makes them so effective. They’re easy to implement, sustainable over time, and tailored to what each person actually needs. The key is figuring out what works for you and turning it into a routine that supports—not drains—you.

The bottom line? When you have systems in place that protect your time and energy, everything else becomes more manageable. Time off becomes the bonus, not the lifeline. Instead of needing a break to recover, you’re using breaks to recharge—and that’s a much better place to be.

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 long hours and time off aren’t the full story—what really helps is making small, consistent changes that protect your energy and support you day to day. 

When you create routines that actually work for you, your life becomes more sustainable, and time off becomes a bonus, not something you depend on to recover.

So for this week, ask yourself, “What is one small change I can make today to protect my energy and feel more in control?”

This question matters because it shifts your mindset from waiting for relief to taking action now. Feeling overwhelmed can make you believe the solution has to be big or dramatic.

But more often than not, it’s the simple, intentional changes—like stepping away for a real lunch break, setting a clear boundary, or pausing for a breath—that have the biggest impact over time.

By starting with just one small shift, you’re moving toward a more balanced and sustainable way of working and living—something that will serve you long after tax season ends.

Well, that’s what I have for you today. Thank you for joining me as I shared why time off isn’t the reset you think it is. 

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.