Be honest — have you ever ended a year thinking, "Next year has to be better than this one"?

You start every January with the best intentions. You tell yourself you'll be more organized, more productive, less stressed… maybe even carve out a little more time for yourself.

But then tax season rolls in, deadlines pile up, and before you know it, you're right back in the same cycle — overworked, stretched thin, and wondering where the year went.

If that sounds familiar, this week's episode of The Smarter Accountant Podcast is for you.

In this episode I'm sharing why most accountants' planning methods don't actually work — and how to plan in a way that finally does.

Because here's the truth: if you want next year to feel different, you can't keep planning the same way. To-do lists and willpower aren't enough.

The secret to having an easier year isn't about working harder — it's about understanding how your brain works and creating clarity for your time, your energy, and your focus.

This episode is especially for you if:

• You start the year strong but lose control by spring.
  
• You rely on endless to-do lists that never seem to shrink.
  
• You feel like you're always reacting to what's urgent instead of focusing on what matters.
  
• You want to feel calmer and more in control next year — not just busier.
  
• You're ready to stop repeating the same stressful cycle and finally plan in a way that works with your brain.

If you've ever wanted next year to truly feel easier, this episode will show you how to make that happen.

You can read the full show notes HERE

You can take the 5-minute Smarter Accountant Quiz HERE

You can download The Smarter Accountant Podcast Guide HERE

You can download The Smarter Accountant's Cheat Sheet For Better Time Management HERE

Ever find yourself avoiding a task even though you want to get it done?

That's not a time problem—it's a brain problem.

Your brain is wired to avoid discomfort, which means it sees starting as a threat. The trick is learning how to calm that reaction and make it safe to begin.

In this week's Smarter in 5 Minutes, I'm sharing one brain hack that stops procrastination in its tracks—so you can start sooner, stress less, and finish faster.

Have you ever noticed how people seem to treat you like you're always available?

Maybe it's a client who thinks it's fine to text you at 9pm.

Or a coworker who drops something on your desk with the words, "Can you take care of this real quick?"

Or maybe it's the unspoken expectation that you'll always pick up the slack—no matter how much you already have on your plate.

It's easy to shrug it off as "just the way things are," especially in accounting where the workload is heavy and the pressure never stops.

But the truth is, people treat you the way you've taught them to treat you—even if you didn't mean to.

And that's exactly what I'm talking about in this week's episode of The Smarter Accountant Podcast: 2 Things Accountants Need To Teach Other People.

The way others treat your time and energy isn't random—it's shaped by what you allow and what you communicate.

And if you've been feeling pulled in a million directions, saying yes when you want to say no, or watching your day slip away because of everyone else's priorities, this episode will show you why it happens and what you can do about it.

This episode is especially for you if:

• You often feel like your time belongs to everyone else.
  
• You find yourself saying yes when you really want to say no.
  
• You're tired of being the go-to person who's always expected to pick up the slack.
  
• You want to set boundaries without feeling guilty or rude.

You deserve to feel like your time matters—and this episode will show you the first step to making that happen.

can read the full show notes HERE

You can take the 5-minute Smarter Accountant Quiz HERE

You can download The Smarter Accountant Podcast Guide HERE

You can download The Smarter Accountant's Cheat Sheet For Better Time Management HERE