How can accountants avoid COVID burnout?

Over the last two years, COVID has affected people’s income, business, freedoms, travel, health, relationships, financial future and mental health. COVID has impacted almost all parts of our lives in one way or another.

COVID burnout is a type of stress characterised by exhaustion, lack of enthusiasm and motivation, feelings of ineffectiveness, frustration, cynicism, and reduced efficiency. Accounting practice principals typically have higher rates of burnout than the average population due to the principal’s high emotional and financial commitment to the practice and clients.

Strategies to prevent or reduce COVID burnout include:

• Scheduling meetings during core work hours, not your personal time.
• Getting out of the office during lunch.
• Taking your full holiday leave.
• Avoid bringing work home too often.
• Setting realistic deadlines and keeping them.
• Restricting overtime hours.
• Being willing to say ‘no’ when requests are unreasonable. This is important because clients can be unrealistic about what is possible – including time frames and results. You cannot perform miracles and you do have to work within the law.
• Adding enjoyable activities to your ‘to-do list’.
• Avoiding checking your email or answering work calls outside of hours.
• Making the most of slow or quiet periods to restore balance at work.
• Finding someone to talk to can help.
• Learn to relax and allocate time to do the things you enjoy, such as exercising, meditation or reading.
• Looking after your physical health. A balanced diet, regular exercise, sleep, and avoiding harmful levels of alcohol and other drugs.