Stress can not only affect any accountant but can become severe enough to take him or her out of the profession and into the hospital or totally of the picture. 

 

An accountant starts a career with a great deal of excitement and expectations. At some stage that accountant may start an independent practice, also with a great deal of excitement, expectations, a new sense of freedom and many misgivings, worries and fears.  hat accountant is emotionally invested in the new business, and a large part of his or her self-esteem is involved in the success or failure of the accounting practice. 

 

When you combine this with anxieties about making enough money to pay the bills, it's no wonder that accounting entrepreneurs often compensate by working longer hours and eventually become workaholics. A support system that is sometimes present in the corporate environment - where fellow partner, staff or team workers may share feelings, hopes, dreams and disappointment is absent from the professional life of the accounting entrepreneur and they may sometimes feel isolated and even overwhelmed. 

 

When and whether you experience burnout depends upon your tolerance for frustration and boredom. It also depends on the social, recreational and creative outlets you have in your life. Whether or not you have family, it is very easy to feel isolated unless special efforts are made to meet with people with whom you can have meaningful relationships. You may have to force yourself to turn off the cell phone at 6 p.m. and understand that it's better to lose a few dollars and keep your sanity and health. You have to be confident that if you turn down an assignment now, it will be made up next week, and it does take an exceptional amount of discipline to do this. 

 

Look at everything you have done as an accomplishment. Adapt the attitude that you are a winner. You have done something that a lot of people will never do. You started and are building an accounting business. Many people rest on their 'failures' and never go any further.  Look at everything as a learning situation.