The Traits of Accountants: The Need to ‘Close the Books’
The Drive to Finish
As accountants, we’re always chasing that feeling of completion – the underlined achievement of closing the books and getting the job done. Whether it’s balancing the trial balance, finalising accounts for clients, or filing tax returns, we thrive on the task’s conclusion. There’s something satisfying about crossing off a big task from the list. And when it comes to deadlines – annual accounts, tax returns, and the ever-circling deadlines – we feel the weight of responsibility. After all, failing to meet these deadlines doesn’t just mean missing a target; it means fines, penalties, and unhappy clients.
The Constant Pressure of Deadlines
In the world of accounting, closing the books doesn’t just refer to year-end tax return filings. For accountants and bookkeepers, this pressure is continuous. It’s not just an annual event. It can be weekly, monthly, quarterly, and for payroll, often a regular occurrence. We’ve been conditioned to focus on the end result, the completion of the task, and the relief of ticking that box or highlighting it off the list. But this drive to finish can sometimes become a struggle.
The Struggle with Multitasking
For a long time, I struggled with this relentless drive to finish each task as quickly as possible. I would throw myself into one project and push myself until it was over the finishing line. But then, I realised that by focusing on just one thing at a time, I was losing momentum. My productivity would decrease, and that feeling of stagnation would start creeping in. That’s when I learned to multitask, juggling a few tasks at once. By working on multiple things at the same time, I could chip away at the list, feeling a sense of accomplishment as I ticked off tasks gradually throughout the week.
The Mental Toll of Task-Driven Perfectionism
This approach helped me achieve more in a week and feel better about my progress. I now realise that putting all my energy into just one task can lead to burnout. When I start concentrating fully on a single task, I lose interest, and the momentum fades. Before I know it, I find myself feeling down, anxious, and thinking I haven’t achieved anything. This anxiety and lack of progress often spiral into a deeper depressive state, feeding into a vicious circle.
“I have done it! What a feeling, I have achieved something today, this week, this year. I have blogged today.”
Thanks for stopping by – Have a good day!
The Depressed Accountant™