[jc1103]

Have you ever dealt with burn out? What helped you to overcome the feelings of burn out?

I’m starting full-time soon in public accounting and hope that I won’t get burned out (haha), but in case I ever do, I would love to hear about your experience and how you’ve been able to overcome it.

[CPAIN2K17]

I'd like to know too haha. I am 3 weeks away from potentially my last test and burnt out is an understatement. It is so hard for me to study at this point, not sure what to do to press on for the last three weeks.

[Radez]

I'm in the same boat. I understand recognizing burn-out is the first step. I think the next step is spending time with friends/family/hobbies. Those things tend to be restorative. However, we're here, and doing this work at this pace because we all have deadlines that don't necessarily allow for those sorts of detours. So the only thing keeping me going is the daily reminder that I chose this course for reasons that are still true and valid. That, and the grim desire to justify the time, resources and effort I've spent getting to this point.

jc1103 – One of the things I've observed with burnout is that it saps your agency. If you start to feel like you're a victim of your circumstances, and it is souring you on work and life, then it's important to step back and remember you have the power to make changes. I have found it helpful in the past to evaluate what's making me unhappy, and what I would change to address it. Then I evaluate the cost of making that change. Sometimes the cost is too high. If that's the case, then at least I've made a choice to remain in my current circumstances and that can help my attitude. Also, get enough sleep. That will help a ton as well.

[Anonymous]

I've never really had burnout from having too much work, but I have from studying.

Burnout from studying I think most people have dealt with one way or another by finding ways to relax and take their mind off studying for a bit.

As for work, things can get repetitive, but there is always something to learn. You have to find your balance and know your limits and capabilities. Another big factor is if you work with a group of people you are comfortable with and happy to be around, it can make those long hours a heck of a lot more bearable.

I think in your first 1-3 years working in public, you will experience a whole lot of maturing and lifestyle changes. It can be both a good and not so good thing, depending on your perspective.

[Anonymous]

If you're talking about CPA exam burnout, I'm King Burnout. I burned out on my FAR studies this past December and, like an idiot, rescheduled it for January because of the burnout.
I should've just taken it in December because by January, I was even more burned out and forgot even more of what I'd studied. Live and learn….and (for some of us) learn from the lost money on a failed exam that by rights should have been a pass.

But, I'll stop crying now and just tell you that the remedy for burnout is simply to stop studying for a week or two and get your perspective back. I've basically been studying, even if only for an hour or less per day, for a year now. I haven't taken any time off yet. I take BEC on August 12th. I won't be studying again until after Labor Day (September 4th). It will be good because if I tried to launch into my final section of study (REG), I wouldn't have had a chance to get my perspective back. If you study too much, the studying will eventually become ineffective. For most people. If you're one of the ones who can push through all four in a row in a time so short that you don't have time to burn out, you're one of the lucky vast minority.

Now, there's another layer to your sandwich here…you work in public accounting. I don't think this is busy season, is it? That doesnt' come until year-end and year-beginning, and we're not there yet. So, now is the prime time to get a lot of CPA exam studies done because once you hit year-end, it will be a maelstrom of activity and you will probably be so burned out from work that your studying will not be effective.

The best of wishes to you.

[Anonymous]

Sometimes u need to take a 1-3 week break to let your body and mind reset – especially as you are further into the exam process. I have taken a break for a couple of days and up to 3 weeks. I've also had my medications for depression adjusted, which helped a lot.

Goodluck and keep grinding!

[Author]

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