Finding Resilience in the Grind

When burnout hits, find resilience in the grind!!

Let’s be honest, (screams into the mic) burnout is real! There’s a moment when you look at your to-do list, look at it again to make sure it’s accurate and your heart plummets because it feels like you’re drowning. For me, that moment is here due to month and year end closeouts, and the crazy tax season. Between handling business taxes for both work and part-time gigs, marketing for income tax clients, and preparing for my EA exams, I feel like I am on the verge of breaking. No really, I need an enormous glass of red wine and a good shoulder to cry on.

Luckily, I stumbled upon a financial therapy article discussing the concept of "financial resilience," highlighting the ability to adapt to financial stress without it spiraling into larger issues. It made me think about resilience in all areas of life. I started asking myself: Am I managing my resources, both financial and emotional, effectively? Meh, that answer is no, because I have handled and have gotten through a lot worst. Like the time I was the only person handling a large tax account, and all reports had to be done in a week, and the company randomly got selected for an audit meaning we had to pull reports for the prior 3 years. I will need the whole bottle of wine for that story.

However, after reflecting and analyzing why my answer was no, I decided to make a shift. I decided during this time treating my mental health like a budget: allocating time for rest, cutting unnecessary stress, and reinvesting in habits that bring me joy—like rollerblading or spending Sundays at the farmers market.

Burnout is a signal, not a defeat. Sometimes, it’s the universe’s way of telling you to recalibrate. And that’s okay.