Helpful Stress Coping Skills for CPA Practice Owners

Not too long ago I had a colossally bad day. It felt like everything I touched broke, everyone I talked to was angry with me, and I couldn’t find a win.

Instead of resorting to violence or getting in bed at noon or drinking at lunch I decided to think of better ways to cope with my frustration. Sometimes in this business, we have great highs and very low lows, as any job has. We can put so much time and effort into a client and reap no financial rewards. It can be easy to over worry, and let that negative self-talk creep in.

It’s okay to have bad days, but I’ve learned some coping skills recently that have really helped me turn hard situations into bearable or even positive.

Every problem really only has four possible outcomes:

You can choose to be miserable and wallow in your despair. (I don’t recommend this solution!)
Try and change your perspective on the issue.
You can find a solution to the problem.
You can avoid the problem. (This doesn’t always have to be a bad thing.)

Putting these ideas into practice

Our brain is really wired for the future, and that can serve us well. Worrying about the future is essential, but ask yourself this, “is my worrying about this client I lost, or how much I didn’t accomplish today helpful or harmful thinking?” Can you instead say to yourself, “I learned something new today and will know how to handle this issue better in the future.” Could you map out a plan for how you can resolve the issue with this client? If you really need to let the emotions go, it is okay to take time away from the desk and do something you enjoy so you can come back fresh.

I can’t stress enough how important it is to take care of your mental well-being. Not only will it do you some good, it will help your business in immeasurable ways. Nothing is ever as good or as bad as you think it is, so keep perspective and remember better days are ahead.

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