5 Tax Time Stress-Busting Tips

We’ve all heard it a million gazillion times: “Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” Benjamin Franklin, in a letter to Jean-Baptiste Leroy, 1789

With April 15 right around the corner, these words couldn’t be any more pertinent. When we’re in those last few weeks before the deadline for filing, many of us begin to feel panicky. And panic? Not good. Panic can make you do stupid stuff, like forgetting to sign your name on your forms. What can you do to get through the season stress-free or at least, almost stress-free?

They Work!

We’re not going to give you lots of helpful, concrete tax tips. Instead, we’re going to tell you 5 ways to let go and let Go, as the 12-steppers say. These are stress-busting tips and they work. We guarantee it. Really.

1)      Chocolate. Tried and true. Always works. Keep a stash in your office, and when the letters on those tax forms start to blur, grab a chocolate bar. It’s no joke. There’s serotonin in chocolate and that’s the feel-good neurotransmitter. Besides, chocolate tastes really good!

2)      Put it away and take a walk! Starting to feel your hair standing on end as you search your memory for yet another pertinent factoid you need to complete your tax forms? Go for a walk. That’s right. Put the forms away and just leave the house. Thirty minutes should be enough to clear your mind. You’ll return to the job refreshed and energetic.

3)      Do something nice for someone. It shouldn’t surprise you, but doing something nice for someone makes you feel good. Remember how great you felt when you donated your car to Kars4Kids? It wasn’t about the tax deduction you received, it was about helping needy kids (though the tax deduction didn’t hurt!). Call your mother to let her know you care. Chauffeur an infirm neighbor to the doctor. Volunteer at the homeless shelter for an hour. Those forms will still be waiting on your desk for you when you’re done, but you won’t mind nearly as much.

4)      Deep breathing. Even three minutes of deep-breathing can put your fractious soul to rights. And you don’t even have to leave your desk. Do close your eyes, though, you don’t want to see those forms while you’re getting in the zone.

5)      It’s only temporary. Sometimes, just remembering that this too shall pass, gives you back your perspective, enabling you to focus on the work at hand. It’s true. After you file, that’s it for another year. You can do this. Honest.

Esti Landau works at Kars4kids.