Battling End of Financial Year Burnout

7 March 2012

Battling End of Financial Year Burnout

New Zealand finance and accounting staff are going into overdrive as they plan for end of financial year this month. The long work days and relentless deadlines can lead to stress and low morale – not to mention job dissatisfaction.

Megan Alexander, general manager at finance and accounting recruitment firm Robert Half, says work-related stress is a growing concern for organisations and should not be ignored. It ultimately impacts employee productivity and leads to increased absenteeism.

Megan offers five useful tips for dealing with increased workloads, pressure and stress during the financial peak period.

Look at your schedule. The way you manage your time can also affect your ability to rebound from job exhaustion. If you are spending too much energy on non-critical initiatives, you may be creating additional pressure at work. Try keeping a simple record of your activities for a week and divide the findings into categories such as ‘researching, ‘reviewing proposals’ and ‘responding to emails’. Ensure you are devoting adequate time to the highest priorities.

Learn to manage upward. End of financial year is a difficult time for everyone and frayed nerves test even the best relationships. If your boss has become a micromanager, making subtle changes to the way you work can help you manage the relationship and create a better working environment. A small change like offering brief, frequent project updates may provide the reassurance your boss needs that you’re on top of things.

Ask for help. A symptom of burnout is a feeling of isolation. You may think there aren’t enough hours in the day or that you’re the only one who can review a particular document. But someone else might bring in a fresh perspective – not to mention relieve some of the burden. Have an honest conversation with your manager about your workload and don’t be afraid to ask for assistance. It is ok to let others know that you’re facing difficulties.

Look outside the square. Often businesses forget to look outside the square to tap into the plethora of external resources available when the going gets tough. If you know you’re going to be overloaded during a particularly busy phase of work, make arrangements to hire a temp, or even a team of them. They will see you through the busy phase and help deliver the project on time without burning out yourself or other employees.

Take a break. Make sure you allow time to periodically recharge. Even if you’re working long hours, you can minimise stress and maximise your performance on the job by taking five or 10 minute breaks throughout the day. Stand up and stretch or go for a short walk. Don’t fall into the trap of eating lunch at your desk – go to the lunch room or courtyard. Getting away from the office or having a change of scenery can give you a fresh perspective and allow you to return to work with renewed focus and energy.

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