Improving wellness for tax and accounting professionals

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What is wellness?

Why is overall accountant wellness important?

Making occupational wellness a priority

Tax and accounting professionals are known for working hard, especially during tax season. But this can take a toll on their well-being and lead to burnout. Many talented junior staff quit their jobs and shift careers because they can’t cope with the stress and the lack of work-life balance. That’s why firms need to pay attention to wellness and support their employees in achieving it. 

What is wellness? 

The Global Wellness Institute defines wellness as “an active process of being aware and making choices that lead toward an outcome of optimal holistic health and wellbeing.” Wellness is not something that happens to you, but something that you do for yourself. It involves many aspects of your life, such as physical and mental health, emotions, environment, and social relationships. 

How is wellness different from health? 

Health and wellness are often used as synonyms, but they are not the same thing. Health is your current state of being, both mentally and physically. It can be affected by diseases, injuries, or other factors that impair your well-being. Wellness, on the other hand, is a process that you follow to improve your health and well-being. It can help you prevent or manage health problems, as well as enhance your quality of life. Wellness creates a positive cycle, where the more you do for your well-being, the better you feel. 

Occupational wellness is a way of enhancing your well-being in the work environment. It involves taking steps to improve the factors that affect  health and productivity at work, such as social and physical aspects. 

Why is overall accountant wellness important? 

As an accountant, you face multiple pressures every day that can affect your health and happiness. Achieving occupational wellness means finding a balance between your work and your personal life and coping with the challenges of your profession. Here are some of the benefits of occupational wellness and some tips on how to improve it.

Reduce stress 

Stress can have a negative impact on your physical and mental well-being, leading to problems such as insomnia, anxiety, depression, or burnout. Some sources of stress for accountants are tight deadlines, heavy workloads, complex regulations, and elevated expectations from clients or managers. To reduce stress, you can try some of these strategies: 

• Use your company’s wellness programs, such as a gym, a counseling service, or a meditation app. 
• Set boundaries and prioritize your tasks, so that you don’t feel overwhelmed or overworked. Aim to do more in less time, with automation technology as a key tool.  
• Take breaks and relax during the day and avoid checking emails or work-related messages after hours. 

Manages time more efficiently

Time is a precious resource for accountants, who often work long hours and juggle multiple projects and clients. Poor time management can lead to stress, frustration, and lower quality of work. To manage your time better, you can try some of these tips: 

• Use technology to streamline your workflow and communicate more efficiently, such as cloud-based software, video conferencing, or chat platforms. 
• Plan ahead and set realistic goals and deadlines for yourself and your team and track your progress and achievements. 

• Say no to requests or commitments that are not aligned with your priorities or values and learn to negotiate or compromise when necessary. 

Making occupational wellness a priority 

Occupational wellness is not something that happens by chance, but rather something that you as an accountant need to actively pursue and maintain. It is important to assess your current level of wellness and find areas where you need to improve. Here are some ways to make your wellness a priority: 

• Exercise regularly and eat healthily, and avoid habits that can harm your health, such as smoking, drinking, or overeating. 
• Seek support and feedback from your colleagues, managers, mentors, or coaches, and build positive and trusting relationships at work. 
• Pursue professional development and learning opportunities and challenge yourself to grow and improve your skills and knowledge. 
• Find meaning and purpose in your work and celebrate your accomplishments and contributions.

Remember: occupational wellness is not only good for you but also for your clients and your firm. When you take care of yourself, you can perform better, enjoy your work more, and achieve your career goals.

Interested in more wellness information? Check out our self-care blog series to learn more about actionable strategies on how to take care of yourself through the busy tax season and throughout the year.