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

"I'll just do it myself."

It sounds efficient—but it's often your brain trying to avoid discomfort.

Your lower brain craves control and certainty, so it convinces you that doing everything yourself is safer and faster. But over time, that thought leads to overwhelm, exhaustion, and less focus on what truly matters.

In this week's Smarter in 5 Minutes, I'm sharing why your brain defaults to doing it all—and a smarter way to start delegating without the stress.

Be honest — how often do you sit down to get work done… only to get pulled straight into your inbox?

Do you feel like the emails never stop coming, no matter how many you answer?

Do you catch yourself checking your inbox "just for a second" — only to lose 30 minutes you didn't plan to spend?

And when you finally log off at the end of the day, do you still feel behind… even though you were busy the entire time?

If so, you're not alone. For accountants especially, email can feel like a full-time job on top of your actual job.

Clients, colleagues, and even your boss expect quick responses. The pressure to stay on top of it all is real.

That's why so many accountants dream about reaching Inbox Zero — that magical place where your inbox is empty, organized, and stress-free. But here's the problem… chasing Inbox Zero the wrong way can actually make things worse.

In this week's episode of The Smarter Accountant Podcast, I'm sharing a different approach — one that helps you reclaim control of your inbox and your focus without spending your entire day buried in emails.

This episode is especially for you if:

• You feel like email is running your day instead of you running it
  
• You check your inbox constantly but still feel behind
  
• You want a smarter way to manage email without spending hours doing it
  
• You've tried chasing Inbox Zero but end up more stressed, not less
  
• You want more focus, more control, and less overwhelm

Your inbox doesn't have to set the pace for your day. There's a better way to manage it — and I can't wait to share it with you.

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 notice how your brain seems to stop cooperating the moment pressure kicks in?

You can't focus, your thoughts scatter, and suddenly everything feels urgent.

That's not you falling apart—it's your brain in survival mode. When your lower brain senses threat, it hijacks your ability to think clearly.

In this week's Smarter in 5 Minutes, I'm explaining what your brain actually does under pressure—and how one short pause can bring your focus and calm back online.

Have you ever felt like no matter how hard you work, things in your accounting career never seem to get easier?

Do you start the day with the best intentions… only to end it wondering where all your time went?

Do you ever catch yourself thinking, "If I could just work harder, maybe I could finally get ahead"—but the harder you work, the heavier it feels?

You're not alone. Most accountants I work with feel like they're spinning their wheels, constantly reacting to emails, deadlines, and client demands without ever feeling fully in control.

But what if the answer isn't about working harder… it's about thinking differently?

In this week's episode of The Smarter Accountant Podcast, I'm sharing something unexpected: how a few ideas from quantum physics can actually make your accounting career easier.

I'll break down four simple concepts and show you how these tiny shifts in the way you think can change how your day feels and how much you get done.

These aren't theories you'll have to memorize. They're practical, brain-friendly ways to reduce stress, stay focused, and make accounting feel a little lighter—without working longer hours or adding yet another app or tool to your routine.

This episode is especially for you if:

• You feel like you're constantly working but not making real progress
  
• Your stress levels spike the moment another "urgent" email lands
  
• You're exhausted from reacting to everyone else's priorities
  
• You want to work smarter—not harder—and have more control over your day
  
• If you've ever wished accounting could feel easier, this episode is for you.

Because sometimes, all it takes is one small shift to change everything.

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

"If I can't do it perfectly, I won't do it at all."

Sound familiar?

That's your brain's survival wiring at work. When something feels challenging or uncertain, your lower brain wants simplicity: do it all or do nothing.

The problem is, that shortcut keeps you stuck and makes progress harder than it has to be.

In this week's Smarter in 5 Minutes, I'm sharing why your brain defaults to all-or-nothing thinking—and one simple shift that helps you move forward, even when things feel overwhelming.

Listen now — it's just 5 minutes.