I always like the month of January. I like to make New Year’s Resolutions and I like to think that I can actually keep the resolutions that I make. And I think I have good progress on the resolutions for a couple of weeks. I know, I know a lot of people fall off keeping resolutions after only a few weeks.
It is now time for me to write about my excuse for breaking my resolutions. I can sum it up in two words – Tax Season. Starting in January, my workload starts to increase and I begin to think about how I can do more work during the week. Of course, that means more hours working and less time to exercise, organize, read etc. and there go the resolutions.
This week one of my c0-workers announced that they are going to work for a client of hers as an employee for two days of the week and will only be able to work in our office for three days a week. This co-worker was very nervous when she finally gathered enough courage to tell the boss. This was because we thought the boss would be very mad about this decision. When it was said and done the boss seemed quite pleased. Probably because she saw it as a cost saving move for the firm. I can only see as more work for me; more stress for me.
I have already decided that it was time to maybe start putting in some weekend hours. This means it is starting. The time when work starts to overtake my life. This year I do not want to be consumed with working on tax returns every waking minute of the day. Every year I say this and I fail miserable in trying to keep a balance between work, family and leisure.
I was reading the paper this morning and luckily for me I came across an article on stress.
Stress happens when people perceive that the demands they face exceed the ability to cope. – Sharon Jayson
Well that is what happens during tax season. The demand to complete tax returns accurately and quickly as more and more of them are dropped off to prepare create this unbelievable feeling of not being able to get them done.
So here is the way suggested to manage the stress.
- Exercise
- Take a break even if it is only 20 minutes
- Share feelings with others who you trust and can validate your feelings
- Meditate or mindful prayer
Then this morning I started reading some blogs that I like to keep up with. I came across these excerpts of a sermon by John Piper that I think may help me, too.
Reflections 