Prioritizing Wellness and Community: My Strategy for Self-Care during the Busy Months

/in , , /by

Like many leaders of business, I find myself having seasonal ebbs and flows with work demands. It’s no secret that accountants have a “busy season”. I get asked all the time – how do you survive the busy season of accounting? For accountants, it’s typically January through April. Not only is this a busy volume of work to get done – it’s a double whammy being in the Midwest with the dark and gloomy cold weather days. 

So, the question is, how do I survive this season? How do I stay motivated? How do I keep my energy high? While it’s taken me many years, some coaching, and a lot of habit building to get there, I think I’ve landed on a routine that works. Let me share some of my favorite tips…

Integrating Wellness into Professional Life

Staying healthy – especially in a high demanding job – is an undertaking. Keeping my physical fitness and mental wellness in top shape is an entirely separate job. A job that I take very seriously. Here are the key components of my wellness strategy:

  • Light Exposure: I start each day with natural or artificial light to help reset my internal clock and improve mood and focus. Most mornings, you’ll find me reading a book for 30 minutes in front of my artificial light. 
  • Physical Activity: Regular exercise, including weight training and daily walks, is non-negotiable. It keeps my energy levels high and my mind clear. When the weather doesn’t cooperate, you’ll notice me walking on my desk treadmill. 
  • Nutrition: I pay close attention to what I eat and drink, balancing caffeine and nutrients to fuel my long days without the crash. While the food is important, I argue that hydration is everything. If you are living on caffeine and skipping the water, you will hit a wall. 
  • Social Interactions: Maintaining social connections is crucial, especially during winter. Whether it’s attending events, connecting with friends, or meeting peers, staying social helps avoid the slump that can come with colder, darker days. Social interactions are often the first to go when our energy is low – however, it might be the exact thing you need.
  • Streamline Easier Tasks: as an owner of a few businesses, I have leveraged technology to make sure the easy tasks stay easy. At The Charity CFO, the most significant tool to keep my/our work easier is Quickbooks Online. It streamlines our operations and client management so effectively that it frees up time—time I use to focus on growth and wellness. We use Quickbooks Online for everything financial at The Charity CFO – from bookkeeping tasks to running getting that final P&L over to our tax team each year and even processing 1099s each January. Keeping things streamlined makes my year-end close so much easier. This might come as a surprise to many, but yes, even during the busiest times of the year, I’m able to step away and invest in myself and my business. Which brings me to my next point…
  • Step Away: Knowing that I hit a wall with the darker, colder days, I intentionally plan trips to warmer weather climates in the fall for the upcoming months. Getting these on my calendar ahead of time guarantees I actually make it there.

The Power of Community and Strategic Retreats

Prioritizing your wellbeing is a critical component but let’s shift gears to focusing on working “on the business” rather than “in the business”. I set annual and quarterly goals each year for The Charity CFO. We keep track of our progress as we move through the year. That said, it is important to take time away to reflect on those goals, identify the current and biggest issues in the business, and connect with others that are going through a similar journey. 

This year, I took that time to connect with fellow accounting firm owners in sunny Fort Lauderdale. This wasn’t just a getaway; it was a strategic retreat, a deliberate step to build a supportive community and brainstorm innovative business strategies. We shared challenges, exchanged growth tactics, and discussed how to enhance our services—all while soaking up some much-needed vitamin D.

It’s imperative that not only should you carve out time to sit in the quiet and be strategic about the organization you lead – but to also connect with peers doing the same thing. The camaraderie and fellowship helps keep your sanity simply by knowing you aren’t alone. Added bonus? You can find ideas from others that might help you solve some of your own problems. 

Looking Forward

As we continue through 2025, my commitment is to maintain this balanced approach, ensuring that wellness and community interaction are not sidelined but are integral parts of how we operate at The Charity CFO. This approach not only sustains our team but also drives our success, proving that you can indeed have it all—professional success, personal well-being, and active community involvement.

I encourage you to consider what kind of habits and tricks you can incorporate into your day-to-day life to make sure you take care of yourself – so that you can take care of your team.

This is a paid partnership with Intuit.