Top 6 Strategies for CPAs to Fight Burnout and Stress

Most CPAs with experience in the field will tell you that stress and burnout are common occupational hazards – especially during busy periods like tax season or the end of the corporate fiscal year. But just because they happen often doesn’t mean they have to be accepted. If left unchecked, stress at work can cause serious issues, including major repercussions to your health.

You may not have much control over the factors that cause workplace stress and burnout, like an increased workload, a change in project management methods, or shifting economic conditions. But you can certainly control the way you respond to these challenges.  

In honor of May being recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month, below are six easy strategies you can use to protect yourself against the harmful effects of stress and burnout at work.   

Follow physical guidelines for working conditions  

It may not be as apparent, but physical stress from the way you work is just as dangerous as the mental kind. Be sure your workstation is set up to follow all practical guidelines for good working positions that won’t put strain on your back, neck or hands. You might need to change out some of your old equipment or purchase new accessories like a wrist rest or lumbar support. A healthy physical foundation will make it easier to weather other kinds of challenges in the workplace. 

Connect with your team outside of work  

Most CPAs spend a significant amount of time with coworkers. When things get busy, you might even see your colleagues more than your friends and family. It’s important to build a strong relationship with your coworkers for a number of reasons. A better connection with your team will help you work together professionally, especially when things get tough or workloads increase. Good relationships at work are also healthy on a personal level. Humans are social creatures that enjoy connecting with others. Research shows that strong relationships can reduce the impact of depression, anxiety, and even heart disease.  

Schedule time off from work 

While it may not be possible all the time, getting out of the office is critical for CPAs to avoid burnout and excessive stress. Skipping vacation days is becoming increasingly common – one study from 2024 indicated that about one-third of Americans’ PTO and vacation time goes unused. Even when they do take time off, more than 50% of employed individuals admit to working on vacation.  

Some responsibilities are unavoidable, but it’s important to get unplugged from work at least a few times a year. You don’t have to plan an elaborate international vacation when you take time off – you might think about taking a day trip with friends and family, or even just using a day off to catch up on projects around the house or enjoy a hobby that you’ve been neglecting. 

Reach out to colleagues and friends  

For many people, isolation is a natural response to elevated stress. It may not even be a conscious decision. But according to science, reaching out to others and communicating openly about difficult situations is healthier than trying to deal with everything on your own. Don’t be afraid to talk about challenges and stressful situations at work. If you’re in a leadership position, cultivate an environment where your team feels comfortable talking about their work obstacles and collaborating with others to find solutions.  

Track your most common stressors  

In a professional context, everyone has different triggers that lead to workplace stress. Some workers get overwhelmed dealing with an excessively high amount of communication. Conversely, others might start to feel anxious when there’s not enough communication or direction about ongoing projects or deadlines. The best way to understand your own personal stress triggers is to document them when they happen.   

During times when you feel particularly burned out or anxious about work, take a few minutes to jot down the specific situations that bring about these feelings. This step can help you anticipate possible stressors before they happen, which will minimize their impact and allow you to recover more quickly. 

Evaluate software and related processes  

Business software was designed to make our lives easier and minimize the time required to handle mundane tasks. But as we all know, sometimes technology harms our productivity more than it helps. Fortunately, stress related to software challenges is one of the easiest varieties to resolve.   

The first step to dealing with this kind of problem is reviewing the existing methods you use to get work done within software platforms. Consult product manuals, documentation and other instructional content to see if there’s an easier way to accomplish tasks that you’re struggling with.  

If this isn’t enough to solve your challenges, you may want to consider using an alternate tool – if it’s feasible under your current budget and time constraints. One of the best ways CPAs can reduce the stress brought about from technology is switching to a more streamlined platform, such as an accounting practice management software tool. This kind of software allows you to take care of several business processes without having to waste time switching back and forth to different applications. The right practice management platform will help you manage everything from reporting and analytics to secure file sharing, reducing the stress generated by software and improving your overall health and well-being.

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