Overcoming Burn-out

[DTS]

My coworker asked, if they run away, are they subject to recapture?

Sorry you were having such a rotten day, but this must have put a smile on your face when the co-worker threw this out there.

It did me. Thanks for sharing it.

D

[joanmcq]

Not Indymac!

[newbie]

However, my fantasy of getting in my van conversion and driving off into the middle of nowhere with a pile of novels (leaving the phone behind) is still sounding better and better. How long can I live on my savings......?

Depends on which bank they are deposited!

[joanmcq]

I've been listening to the nutcracker and/or ein kleine nachtmusik for 1hour and 25 minutes trying to find out how the IRS computed additional tax on a CP11.

But I did just get a very nice Mrs. Wesloh who found the error. and did not put me back on hold when I begged her not to! We had a nice discussion of the horrors of stimulus payments while she did her notes.

However, my fantasy of getting in my van conversion and driving off into the middle of nowhere with a pile of novels (leaving the phone behind) is still sounding better and better. How long can I live on my savings......?

[Acownt4it]

I am so burned out. My husband told me the other day that if anything happens to him, he hopes I get remarried quickly because I will work myself to death if I don't have someone to remind me to stop. How bad is that?
I am still working 60+ hours per week at my accounting firm and we have another business that is I spend another 10+ hours at. I can't believe it is already July 17, where did the summer go? I don't even have a tan.
I am in the process of assessing my clients and getting rid of the PIAes and focus on the profitable side of the business.
Thank god I have this forum. All of you keep me focused and give me fresh view points and I never feel alone. There are people that understand the demons I fight everyday being self-employed and trying to do the best job possible for each and every one of my clients.
Thanks to all,

[JohnH]

I think you need to scratch a little deeper & get more info from the client.
Sure glad I'm not clawing my way through that return.

[joanmcq]

Today I was feeling so burned out I just wanted to leave and go curl up in a ball somewhere. Nearly started crying, and I did just get back from vacation.

Then I got a DIY return in, and flipping through (I only have the back half of the return) and I saw a depreciation schedule with a line "Cats". depreciation life, 9. no kidding.

Had a second biz in which they also listed 'cats' but this time they used Sec 179. My coworker asked, if they run away, are they subject to recapture?

[geekgirldany]

I was really into video games myself. A good way to zone out sometimes I am trying not to buy the Xbox 360 since they lowered the price.

[David1980]

Before I got into taxes with a more "routine" year I'd fall into a routine where I basically played video games all my free time and never accomplished anything. Never really fell behind on cleaning or car maintenance or anything like that either, which I now do during the tax season.

However, during the off season I am much better at getting special projects taken care of. So I'll do 2-3 big projects (remodeling a bedroom type of stuff, major automotive repairs, etc...) per year during the off season.

[geekgirldany]

I consider it highlights. I just don't have to pay for it. I started wearing my hair short so I think the gray came through quicker.

[fliszt]

Well, folks,

guess I'll post and say thank you for letting me join your group. Yes, I'm starting the burn-out mode too, but am going to head it off at the pass. Instead of feeling tired, worn-out, down in the dull-drums, I've started exercising every morning on the tread mill. Not too far, but it's a start. Then I'm playing golf twice a week (taking off Friday afternoons and Sunday morning). We also have been inviting friends over more often on Sat. evenings. Plus, I'm trying to do more mental imagining of the things that bring me pleasure. Which seem to include tax clients. I have a bunch. And I like all of them (finally). I remind myself how much I look forward to seeing each of them every year. I like the “thank you” notes they send telling me how much they appreciate the job I do for them. I appreciate very much when they look at me after their tax return is finished and say, “Larry, you’re really a good man”. There are soooo many things that make me feel good about being able to work for them and not a whole lot of bad things anymore. I used to have clients whose personalities did not mesh with mine which made “that” day seem long. But they are all gone now. Which is a blessing of being an elder and not needing money as much as I did when I was young and “had to” take any/every client.
I think when I look at all my blessings, (and there are more than I can count) I no longer feel “burned-out” -- just thankful. I used to discuss this with Birdlegs a lot. He ALWAYS looked through those rose-colored glasses and I guess I won’t forget all the good things he told me about how fortunate he was to be able to work into his twilight years.
Even though I’m an EA, I don’t have half the knowledge you all have, but then and again I’m thankful for all of you being there to help people like me.
Thank you!
Larry

[Jiggers]

Hair color?

Oh the other day I saw a picture of myself from 1999. Geez I looked young. I was surprised at how much different I look now to that picture. I know people age but geez. I have gray hair now.

I don't care what color my hair turns, as long as it doesn't turn loose!

[geekgirldany]

I too have friends and relatives tell me I am in a burn out. I took a week off at the beginning of May. Which means for me I only came out to the office for 2 hours.

I work so much more than when I worked for someone else. I just bought an old VW Bug and made plans to restore it myself. But it has been here two months and I have not done a thing to it. I'll then think back 10 or so years ago when I had a beetle and was working on it. Seem like I had all the time in the world to work on it. At the time I was working for someone else. I think to myself "where is all my time going to".

I need to get a personal life. Start going back to church and meet new people. Get the business off my mind so when I go to bed at night I am not making a list of what I need to do the next day. Let it go!

Oh the other day I saw a picture of myself from 1999. Geez I looked young. I was surprised at how much different I look now to that picture. I know people age but geez. I have gray hair now.

[AuditorTurnedGood]

Very true

[\QUOTE]
I have a feeling that most of us that are in the perdictament are sole practioners that have no responsiblity but to ourself,,,,, not good.......[/QUOTE]

I just started my practice and had to borrow to get through the first year and a half or so. I find myself now keeping consistant 60-80 hour billable weeks to pay down the debt I accumulated. It is very easy for all of us sole props to get sucked into our own vortex. The clients demands, at least in my case, seem so much smaller than the demands I put on myself on behalf of the client. I had to be reminded last week that an ill family member was more important than a QB inventory issue - by the client. I vaugly remember chucking my job in corporate tax to achieve greater work life balance. I get the feeling I'm not alone here.

[Gretel]

It sure is a constant challenge to keep a healthy balance between my own needs and everything else that needs to be done. It also is a challenge to do things at the right time. Meaning at times certain things are very easy to do, which are a nightmare at other times.

Contrary to some people I am aiming at letting things get to me instead of trying not to let things get to me. I find it costs much less energy to let things get to me and work through it than fighting this all the time and still schlepping it around.

The physical is a very important factor too. First of all good nutrition (not pills) and healthy teeth. After my root canals have been removed all problems I had with my right arm are gone.