You're deep in it now. The returns are piling up, your phone won't stop buzzing, and you've lost count of how many cups of coffee you've had today. If you're a solo tax preparer, mid-season burnout isn't just a possibility, it's practically a rite of passage.
But here's the thing: it doesn't have to wreck you. Burnout sneaks up when you push through without a plan. The good news? A few simple adjustments to your workflow, your breaks, and your client communication can make a real difference in how you feel (and how well you perform) through the rest of the season.
Let's talk about five practical ways to beat mid-season burnout without sacrificing the quality of your work.
1. Schedule Structured Breaks (Yes, Actually Take Them)
When you're slammed with deadlines, breaks feel like a luxury you can't afford. But skipping them is a trap. Your brain isn't built for eight-plus hours of continuous focus. Push through without pausing, and you'll notice more errors, slower processing, and that foggy feeling where you read the same line three times.
Here's a method that works well for tax pros: the 90/15 rule. Work for 90 minutes of focused, uninterrupted time, then take a full 15-minute break. Not a "check your phone while still staring at the screen" break: an actual break. Stand up. Walk away from your desk. Look at something that isn't a monitor.
Research shows this approach reduces error rates during peak tax rushes. That's not just about feeling better: it's about protecting your work and your reputation.
A few ideas for your 15-minute reset:
- Take a short walk outside, even just around the block
- Make a snack that isn't eaten at your desk
- Do some light stretching
- Put on noise-canceling headphones and listen to something that isn't work-related
The key is making breaks non-negotiable. Block them on your calendar if you have to. Treat them like client appointments you can't cancel.
2. Move Your Body (Even When You Don't Want To)
You already know exercise is good for you. But during tax season, it's usually the first thing to go. Who has time for the gym when you're working twelve-hour days?
Here's the reality: you don't need the gym. You need movement. And it doesn't have to be a lot.
Physical activity is one of the most effective stress reducers available, especially during high-pressure periods. Even brief sessions: ten minutes of walking, a quick yoga video, some basic stretches between clients: can lower your stress levels and refresh your focus.
Think of it as maintenance for your most important tool: your brain. Sitting in the same position for hours creates tension in your neck, shoulders, and back. That physical tension feeds into mental fatigue. Breaking it up with movement helps on both fronts.
Some low-effort options that work:
- A five-minute stretch routine between appointments
- Walking while you take phone calls (when possible)
- Standing up and moving during your 15-minute breaks
- A quick workout video before or after work (there are plenty of 10-15 minute options on YouTube)
You don't have to train for a marathon. Just move enough to remind your body it's not permanently attached to your office chair.
3. Set Clear Boundaries With Clients
This one's tough for solo preparers. Your clients depend on you, and you want to be responsive. But being available 24/7 isn't sustainable: and it's not even good for your clients in the long run. A burned-out preparer makes mistakes. A preparer with boundaries does better work.
The trick is setting expectations early and communicating them clearly. When clients know what to expect, they're usually fine with it. It's the ambiguity that creates problems.
Here's what to communicate upfront:
- Your working hours. Put them in your email signature, on your website, and in your voicemail greeting.
- Response times. Let clients know when they can expect to hear back (e.g., "I respond to emails within 24 business hours").
- Deadlines for documents. Be clear about when you need their information to complete their return on time.
- Meeting availability. Use a scheduling tool so clients can book time without endless back-and-forth.
When a client texts you at 9 PM on a Saturday, you don't have to respond immediately. If you've set expectations, a reply on Monday morning is perfectly reasonable.
Boundaries aren't about being unavailable. They're about being predictable. Clients respect that more than you might think.
4. Practice Quick Stress Management Techniques
Stress during tax season is unavoidable. But how you handle it makes a big difference in whether it accumulates into burnout or gets processed and released.
You don't need to become a meditation guru. Even brief mindfulness practices: two to five minutes: can provide meaningful relief when things get intense.
A few techniques that work well for busy professionals:
Box breathing. Inhale for four counts, hold for four counts, exhale for four counts, hold for four counts. Repeat for a minute or two. This activates your parasympathetic nervous system and calms the stress response.
The 5-4-3-2-1 grounding technique. When you're feeling overwhelmed, pause and notice: five things you can see, four things you can touch, three things you can hear, two things you can smell, one thing you can taste. It pulls you out of anxiety and back into the present moment.
Brief guided meditations. Apps like Headspace, Calm, or Insight Timer have sessions as short as three minutes. Perfect for a quick reset between clients.
The goal isn't to eliminate stress: that's not realistic during tax season. The goal is to process it regularly so it doesn't build up. Think of these techniques as pressure release valves.
5. Protect Your Sleep Like Your Practice Depends on It (Because It Does)
When deadlines loom, sleep is often the first sacrifice. You tell yourself you'll catch up after April 15th. But running on insufficient sleep doesn't just make you tired: it impairs your judgment, slows your processing, and makes you more susceptible to burnout.
Sleep is when your brain consolidates information and recovers from the day's stress. Cut it short, and you're starting each day at a deficit. That compounds over weeks.
Here's the uncomfortable truth: the work will still be there tomorrow. But your capacity to do it well depends on how rested you are.
Some practical tips for better sleep during busy season:
- Set a hard stop time at night. Even if it's 10 PM, having a cutoff helps your brain transition out of work mode.
- Avoid screens for 30-60 minutes before bed. The blue light and mental stimulation make it harder to fall asleep.
- Keep your bedroom cool and dark. Basic sleep hygiene makes a bigger difference than you might expect.
- Limit caffeine after early afternoon. It stays in your system longer than you think.
You might feel like you're being more productive by working late into the night. But the quality of that work suffers, and you're borrowing against tomorrow's energy. It's a losing trade.
Putting It All Together
Burnout isn't inevitable. It happens when you push through without systems in place to sustain yourself. The five strategies above: structured breaks, physical activity, client boundaries, stress management, and sleep: work together to create a sustainable rhythm.
You don't have to implement everything at once. Pick one or two that feel manageable and start there. Even small changes compound over the weeks of tax season.
Your clients need you at your best. That means taking care of yourself isn't optional: it's part of the job.
For more tips on building a sustainable tax practice, check out our quick tips to grow your tax business or explore resources at TIG Tax Pros.