Tax season can be exceptionally stressful for corporate and private tax preparers alike. Many accountants work overtime to help prepare reports and statements even if they are not directly responsible for tax filing. This stress can result in a lack of focus and health problems over time. Keeping focus during the busy tax season can help ensure maximum efficiency and increase your productivity without sacrificing your health.
Experienced accountants likely have their own methods of dealing with stress, but simple changes to your work schedule may help you remain more focused during the busy tax season. One of the ways to stay focused during this time is to schedule your work sessions in blocks of sixty to ninety minutes. Working for a predetermined amount of time allows you to dedicate your full attention to the task at hand. Given the many different things that can trigger a tax audit, it is especially important to avoid as many distractions as possible.
The exhaustion that can build up during your work sessions can take its toll, and you need to make the most of your downtime between each focused period. While it may seem counterintuitive, effective breaks can help you maintain focus longer when you return to your desk. Taking a brisk walk around the office, enjoying quiet meditation, or simply closing your eyes and listening to your favorite music at your desk can help relieve the stress of the tax season and let you return to your work refreshed and ready to tackle the tasks at hand. This can help reduce errors caused by fatigue.
Your focus can also flag if you get ill during tax season. One of the ways to stay focused as you work is to eat foods that promote healthy brain function. It is easy to deplete your body's reserves of important nutrients during stressful periods. Focusing on fruits, vegetables, and foods with omega-3 fatty acids that promote brain health can help ward off illness and keep you performing at peak condition throughout tax season. The rigors of constant work and long days can take their toll on your body, and providing the fuel your body needs for optimal operation can keep you focused and effective for longer periods of time without threatening your personal health.
Staying focused as you help clients prepare tax returns for the year isn't always easy, but following these three tips can help ensure that you are ready to handle the many different tasks that tax season requires. Combining healthy eating with regular breaks and predetermined work periods can help you focus on your work without putting your health at risk.
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