Emerging Professionals

As Thanksgiving approaches, many accounting professionals are feeling the tension between two competing realities:

Because let's be honest... Most people are easing into quiet weeks, travel plans, and family time.

Meanwhile, accountants are balancing:

• year-end planning
• tax projections
• client follow-ups
• budgets + forecasts
• and the early rumblings of busy season

And still-there's an expectation to rest.

Across the profession, there's growing reflection on how the holiday season impacts workflow, client expectations, and personal boundaries. Many firms are already taking steps to create more breathing room leading into the long weekend, such as:

• Front-loading client communication:
  • Setting expectations early about what will (and won't) get done during the holiday week.
• Pre-planning year-end workflows:
  • Getting projections, workpapers, and reminders out before the rush hits in December.
• Protecting real time off:
  • Blocking the entire long weekend on my calendar - no emails, no "quick checks," no laptop (maybe a little)

With Thanksgiving around the corner, it's a good moment for the community to share insights and support one another.

1. How does Thanksgiving week impact your workflow?
Do you slow down, speed up, or use it as a reset?

2. What systems or boundaries help you actually disconnect?
Do you set communication limits? Rely on your team? Pre-batch work?

3. What's one thing you're genuinely looking forward to next week?
A meal, a moment, a break, a tradition?

This is a busy season for many in the profession, but conversations like this help everyone navigate the holidays with a bit more clarity, balance, and support.

Looking forward to hearing the group's thoughts. 🦃

@Victoria Thayer - this is an excellent post for this time of year!  For me, my answers are:

• Reset.  I think using Thanksgiving to reset before the bigger, busier holiday and before busy season really kicks off is what keeps me sane.  I try to take the whole week off if I can.
• I'm blessed to have a team that is able to fill in as needed, which is not always possible.  I love how everyone jumps in to help AND also benefits when they get to be totally offline too.
• A BREAK :)  Except from the kids - if there was some kind of "Thanksgiving Camp" that would give parents a few days of silence...I would pay large amounts of money for that :) 

This reminded me a lot of the post about busy season hours & managing your time and your boundaries.  Even though we've passed Thanksgiving, I'd love to hear how others are holding it together during the holidays!  (Hopefully, not holding it together by a thread!).  

@Dalton Sweaney - this kind of goes along with your post.  Good advice, I think :)