Tax or Turkey? Which do you want to be thinking about this Christmas break
Christmas is meant to be a time for resting, eating far too many roast potatoes, and pretending you know the rules of every board game your family brings out. It is not meant to be a time where the words tax return float through your mind with the same persistence as Mariah Carey on every radio station.
Yet many accountants and bookkeepers find themselves sitting by the fire, trying to switch off, only to be ambushed by thoughts of January deadlines and clients who still have not sent even a single bank statement. It is a season of joy for most people, but for the accounting world it can also feel like the calm before a very stormy month.
This blog is here to help you choose turkey over tax this year. Or at the very least, to help you reduce the mental clutter so you can enjoy a well deserved break.
The Christmas Tax Mind Creep
You know the one. You sit down with a mince pie, take one bite, and suddenly your brain whispers the name of a client who remains completely silent until exactly 23 January every year. You try to enjoy a Christmas film, but every time a character mentions money you are reminded of an overdue document. Even the sight of a wrapped gift starts to look like a reminder that you still have returns to file.
It is perfectly normal for work thoughts to surface at the worst possible moments, but it does not mean they have to take over your holiday.
Why the Pressure Feels Bigger at Christmas
The January tax deadline casts a long shadow. Combined with the rush of year end work, it creates the perfect recipe for stress. Add in festive obligations like shopping, social events, keeping the house tidy, and trying to convince the family that yes, you really do need a quiet hour to yourself, it becomes a lot.
But the truth is that much of the pressure builds because the systems around us are not always built for ease. Manual tasks, endless jumping between systems, and chasing clients can turn a peaceful December into a guilt ridden countdown.
The good news is that you can change that.
How to Give Yourself More Breathing Room
There are simple steps you can take right now to lighten that load and help future you have a merrier Christmas.
Start wrapping up early
Not the presents. The workflow. Even small tasks finished ahead of time create space later on.
Create one calm centre for your work
If everything lives in different systems you are more likely to feel overwhelmed. A central source of truth, like our beanieverse with houbeanie and the rest of the beanies, means you always know where things are and which tasks are already handled.
Automate anything that feels repetitive
If a task repeats itself every week, month or quarter, something should be doing it for you. From data collection to bank checks to client reminders, automation removes the weight of all the tiny jobs that chip away at your energy.
Set clear boundaries for the break
Tell clients when you are finishing for Christmas. Tell them again if needed. Your time off is precious and you should protect it.
Make this the year your holiday is actually a holiday
Imagine this Christmas. There you are, enjoying your plate of turkey with all the trimmings. The only numbers you need to think about are how many pigs in blankets you can reasonably eat. Your mind is quiet. Your break is an actual break. And January does not feel like a beast waiting for you on the other side.
That is what happens when your systems support you rather than demand from you. With the right tools and a touch of planning, you genuinely can unplug.
So this year, ask yourself the real question.
Tax or turkey?
I know which one I would pick. And with a little help, you will finally get to pick it too.
