five things getting me through busy season | 2021 tax busy szn

Hello hello!

Happy Monday! How was your week? The snow was pretty much all melted in Seattle by Tuesday-ish, but my heart goes out to everyone in Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana – I’m hoping they receive enough resources soon to get back to a somewhat normal lifestyle. 🤍

Today I wanted to share the first of my “2021 tax busy szn” series! So far I only have ~three~ busy-season-related posts planned, but hopefully more ideas pop up in the coming weeks. I thought this series would be kind of (?) interesting, hopefully helpful for future public accountants, and at the very least, entertaining to look back on. If you’re not interested lol this is going to be 90% of my life until April 15 so (((((:

If you’re not familiar or if you’re new around here, hi! My full-time job is at a public accounting firm and I work in tax. More specifically, I work on the federal side. So you know your personal tax return you have to file by 4/15? I prepare those but for corporations, very wealthy people, and other types of organizations like LPs, LLPs, LLCs… the list goes on. And since most tax return deadlines fall on 3/15 or 4/15, busy season starts in early/mid-February; it’s essentially kind of an intense grind and guaranteed working more than your typical 40 hour work week.

… or so it goes. This is my first busy season, so I’m hoping this series will help uncover the ~mystery~ of busy season for people because I know I was super curious before I started working! I’m planning on being 100% honest about my experience (without breaking firm confidentiality rules, of course).

I will say that my first busy season has been a little atypical because a) we’re in a pandemic, and b) I was on a unique project for the early weeks of busy season but working weird/crazy hours nevertheless. My project ends this week so I’ll officially be diving into tax busy season, but these five things have already been and will get me through the rest of busy season:

1: EYE DROPS / for others, blue-light glasses and/or Night Mode

I tried the whole blue-light glasses thing back when I was in school, but I kind of realized that keeping my computer displays (and tbh, my phone screen too) permanently on Night Mode also helps reduce eye strain. I wear contact lenses during the day and my eyes still get tired, so a few drops of these really help my dry/tired eyeballs.

2: MORE THAN ONE MONITOR

One of the managers at my firm gave us first-years a busy season tip: the closer your setup resembles that of an air traffic controller, the better. I laughed at that but in all seriousness, it really does make me more efficient! When you need to have 5+ Excel workbooks open, having more than one monitor is a GAME-changer. Oh by the way, here’s my updated setup from what it was like in the fall!

For those wondering why I got rid of my standing desk attachment: blame the third monitor. It wouldn’t fit anymore haha

3: Headspace

I mentioned Headspace earlier this year in my 2021 intentions and habits, but I’m here to hype it up again because I’m still meditating everyday and loving it!! Meditating is such an interesting habit because the process is different everyday but the outcome is always the same. Some days it feels easy to do, some days it feels impossible. Either way, I feel better every single time I do it. More at ease and less stressed for sure.

4: Alllll the teas.

As most of you know, I’m an avid coffee AND tea drinker. Typically, I’ll have an 2 cups of earl grey before 3pm every day (or 2 cups of light-roast French-press coffee on sleepy days), and then non-caffeinated tea for the rest of the evening (however late I’m working! Also, there is a difference between decaffeinated vs. non-caffeinated tea!). My favorite non-caffeinated tea is peppermint tea, but I’ve been branching out to other flavors, like this one!

5: Blush haha a weird one!!

For all my ladies out there (or anyone, you do you!!), let’s be honest – is anyone who’s working from home still putting on a full face of makeup like they used to, pre-COVID? Lol noooot me. I read somewhere that a good makeup tip to appear more awake is to use blush and honestly… kind of a game-changer. I feel like it actually makes a difference on Zoom calls too – you look less washed-out. My makeup “routine” these days is literally only moisturizer and blush ahha.

A bonus: a BOPpin’ playlist! I made a busy season playlist but I’m kind of embarrassed to share it haha. A lot of pop but I have jazz music for when I need deep focus!

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That’s it! I hope y’all will join me as I get through my first busy season 🙂

Thanks for reading and have a lovely week ahead!!

Jen x