It’s that time of year again, where coffee cups stack up, emails multiply overnight, and work-life balance feels like a distant dream. But before you get swamped by another tax season of long hours and last-minute client requests, let’s take a step back.
This year, instead of just powering through, what if you had a plan to make busy season manageable? Even though you’re already in the thick of it, it’s not too late to make these changes.
Here are three simple strategies to help you keep your sanity, your energy, and maybe even your weekends.
You know the ones; the clients who ignore your emails for months and then suddenly expect you to drop everything when they finally respond. Instead of rewarding this behavior, set clear boundaries now. Create deadlines for client submissions and stick to them. When clients know what to expect, they’re more likely to meet your terms.
Pro tip: If you haven’t already, categorize your client list. Prioritize high-value, organized clients and stop letting last-minute panic disrupt your workflow.
Nobody gets busy season stress like another accountant. That’s why having a busy season buddy or even a whole community of support can make a huge difference.
For example, at Renew we’ve built a space where accounting professionals can share advice, vent, and swap strategies to make busy season a little less stressful. You don’t have to do this alone; there’s strength in numbers.
It sounds impossible, but it’s not. The firms that thrive during tax season aren’t necessarily working harder. They’re working smarter. Whether it’s automating client follow-ups, raising prices, or filtering out low-value clients, small changes now can help you reclaim your time when things get hectic.
Want the playbook, which you can read in a 30-minute brain-break? Grab our 40 Hour Firm e-book, packed with strategies to streamline your practice and boost profitability, and to set a direction for everyone in your firm to work 40 hours a week or less all year round.
Don’t assume that during tax season, survival is the only option. With better systems, a stronger support network, and a smarter approach, you can take control of busy season instead of letting it control you.
The first step in moving to the 40-Hour Firm is to assess where you are right now. Take 5 minutes to complete our free Tax Season Assessment.
👉 Take Our Tax Season Assessment
When you submit the form, we will send you our Packaged Pricing Playbook and our 2025 Benchmark Report. We’ll also send you the 2026 report when it is released in August.
