How to Keep Your Brain and Books Balanced

Feeling a bit worn out? Your mental health can take a nosedive at this time of year, especially with the cold, dark and dreary weather we’ve been having. So what can you do to improve your (and your team’s) mental wellbeing? In spirit of good will, we’re sharing some simple tips you can use to recharge your batteries.

Set boundaries with your clients

Are clients calling you late at night about a deadline they missed? If they never sent you the documents you asked for, it’s on them. It’s easy to fall down the slippery slope of listening to their late night late submission woes, but as a busy accountant, you need to set strong boundaries.

One way of doing this could be to write a blurb on the bottom of your emails that lets them know the consequences of late submissions. Pop it in your onboarding comms too – sing it from the rooftops if you have to. This ensures that they’re informed from the get-go, and have no leg to stand on when they start playing the blame game.

You can have friendly, supportive relationships with your clients and you can leave work at work. It’s just about managing their expectations from day one and sticking to your boundaries.

The power of a 10-minute break

Long hours and constant deadlines to race against can be taxing on your mind. While we understand your time is extremely limited, a 10-minute break can do wonders. We’re not talking about a 10-minute break scrolling through Facebook, Twitter or TikTok. We’re talking about a quality break for your brain after all, that brain of yours does a lot of work and deserves some respite.

Why not seize the opportunity to read a book, get out in the fresh air or even do some yoga? According to the HSE, exercise, fresh air and some upbeat tunes can help you relax. So pop on your favourite playlist and take a quick walk around the block. If there’s a park nearby, all the better. If you’re at home, grab a cuppa and spend a few minutes soaking up some sun in the garden, or roll out your yoga mat for a quick flow.

Set an example for your team

A positive company culture starts from the top. When your cup is full, you can pour onto those around you. Be a positive influence for your staff. If you’re overstretched and working all hours, they might feel uneasy letting you know there’s too much on their plate too. If you want your staff to approach you when their work/life balance is deteriorating , then make sure you walk your talk first. Take your full lunch hour, leave at a reasonable time. We’re only human and can only do our best with what we’ve got. One way to keep your staff in the loop is to have a wellbeing catch up each quarter. Give your team space during these meetings to reflect on their wellbeing, how it’s improved and further areas for improvement.

Keep calm and carry on with practice management software

Have you ever been so bogged down with paperwork, documents, and filing that you felt like your head was spinning? We get it. As an accountant, it’s crucial that you stay on top of everything for your practice to run smoothly. However, for your mental health and wellbeing, being in a constant state of stress isn’t good for anyone. With that being said, why not invest in software to support you, like practice management software? Not only does it reduce the stress in your life, but it also reduces your team’s by cutting out a tonne of admin work.

Take AccountancyManager for example. The software can send out emails to chase up clients for you, so you don’t have to. You can make an email from one of our pre-made templates, customise it to how you see fit, and choose who you want to send it to and when. If you want to add a short disclaimer to the bottom of some emails like we suggested above, our canned messages’ lets you write the email (one time only), and then add it to as many emails as you like, minus all the admin. This frees up those hours during the week that are wasted from mindlessly typing.

For peace of mind, our audit trail captures all the activity relating to each client – from signing documents to opening emails. So when clients come in complaining about tax files not submitted or sign offs not approved, you know your backup is only a couple of clicks away.

With less worries on your plate, and better organisation within your firm, you can have more time to rest, relax and restore. And when you establish a better work/life balance, you naturally become more efficient, better at making strategic decisions for your firm, and ultimately, perform better in your role. Give practice management software a whirl today to see how it can improve you and your team’s wellbeing.

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This content may have been developed with the assistance of AI tools. Content is reviewed by a member of the Bright team before publication. Guidance on legislation can be obtained from your industry body.