To help you stay calm and focused during RRSP season, suggests Rosemary Smyth, coach and owner of Rosemary Smyth and Associates in Victoria, B.C., simply accept that it is a busy time, and understanding how much you can actually accomplish within a short period.
If this RRSP season has been particularly stressful for you, here are a few tips to make these last few days a little easier and help you prepare for next year:
> Have some fun
Make RRSP season a little more bearable by always having a little time set aside for fun.
Even if you have to schedule it, says Smyth, always make sure you plan some leisure time within the busy period. It could be a fun outing on the weekend or some time for yourself one day a week.
Give yourself something big to look forward to as well, she says, by planning a vacation for after RRSP season.
> Find a confidante
It’s always helpful to “talk it out” when you feel stressed or frustrated, Smyth says. Share your concerns or frustrations with someone, Smyth says, so as not to bottle everything up.
Talk to someone you can trust, she says, whether it’s a co-worker, a friend, your spouse or a coach.
> Celebrate a little
Let off some steam by celebrating the end of RRSP season.
Hail the success of the season and everyone’s hard work, says Smyth, by doing something small but significant to mark the end of such a busy time.
Your celebration could be something as simple as taking the team out for lunch or planning something with your family.
> Review your performance
Make next year’s RRSP season easier by taking some time to think about how you handled things this time around.
Do a de-brief of this RRSP season, says Smyth. Think about what what you could have done to make things easier, such as calling clients earlier to remind them of the deadline or scheduling appointments in advance. Remember also to think about what went well that should be repeated next year.