Working in the accounting field is a demanding job. The hours are long, the deadlines are many, and constantly changing regulations means the work just gets more complicated. But wait! We’re not trying to scare you off. Though these are real aspects of the field, most accounting firms work diligently to protect their team members and help them find a way to create a positive work-life balance.

That said, it is very important that professionals in the accounting field be aware of the challenges they face and take proactive steps, as individuals, to avoid burnout in their work. Read on for some helpful tips on how to avoid getting burned out.

1. Develop Work-Life Synergy – Creating a healthy balance between your work responsibilities and the elements of your outside-of-work life is key to avoiding burnout. Make sure that you are intentional about how you prioritize your career ambitions, your family and friends, your leisure time, and your spiritual life. Achieving work-life synergy means owning your work balance. This looks like reaching a place where you can grasp achievement at work while still devoting sufficient time to other aspects of your life.

2. Take Ownership of Your Workload – Maintaining a clear picture of your responsibilities and their timelines is a big part of avoiding burnout. Remaining organized helps you avoid the unpleasant surprise of forgetting a task or its due date. Click here for some helpful advice from Method on how to stay organized as an accounting professional.

3. Be Proactive – Professionals who are able to avoid getting burned out have this in common: they are proactive and realistic about managing their workload. One you have developed a clear picture of your workload (see item #2 above), take the time to evaluate what you have on your plate. If it is too much, don’t try handle it alone! Instead, reach out to your manager or team members to discuss what changes could be made in order to make things more manageable. Don’t wait until the last minute, scrambling to take care of too much responsibility; instead, be proactive and realistic about what is reasonable for one person to take on.

4. Take Care of Your Physical Wellbeing – Failure to maintain your physical health is a big contributor to burnout in the workplace. You need to prioritize things like exercising regularly, eating a well-balanced diet, and getting enough sleep in order to handle the rigorous demands of your job. When poor physical wellbeing and burnout get combined, they have a dangerous snowball effect that will impact all areas of your life.

5. Make Your Own Schedule – When possible, combat burnout by employing a flexible work schedule. Previously a rare option, flexible schedules are becoming more popular and more common. The ability to adapt in this area allows you to operate in the way that best fits your individual needs and preferences. If your workplace does not already offer flexible schedules, consider proposing the idea to your manager.

Burnout makes it difficult to do your job; severe cases of burnout may make it impossible to remain in your current position. While a large portion of avoiding burnout falls on your employer, it is also incumbent upon you to take responsibility for maintaining balance in your life.