Busy seasons can feel like they might swallow everything that matters most, but they can also become powerful reminders of what helps work and life fit together. For Michelle, a partner in a large accounting firm, the most intense months of the year have taught her the value of clear communication, intentional planning, and knowing when to ask for help.
Setting the stage
Michelle’s busy season looks a lot like many professionals’ crunch times, and what we at ThirdPath call “episodic overwork”: long days, high expectations, and a constant stream of deadlines. She knows that if she does not create structure early, work can quickly crowd out family, rest, and her own well-being. Over time, she has developed a set of habits that keep her grounded both at the office and at home.
Communication at work
At work, Michelle starts by asking team members to share any personal appointments or planned time away at the very beginning of an engagement. Knowing these constraints upfront makes it easier to plan coverage, shift tasks, or adjust where and when work happens so deadlines stay realistic. She also urges managers and staff to speak up if timeframes are not workable or if their workload becomes too heavy. Experience has taught her by doing this she can always find ways to meet what’s most important for her clients alongside the needs of her team.
For Michelle, communication is not just about logistics; it is about creating a culture where people are not afraid to say, “This deadline does not seem realistic,” or “I have too much on my plate.” When team members share these concerns early, she can collaborate with clients to make sure to deliver high-quality work while also taking into consideration the needs of her team.
Communication at home
The same commitment to communication carries over into Michelle’s home life. Her family relies on a shared calendar that includes work obligations, kids’ activities, and personal commitments, and as soon as a new event comes up, it goes onto the calendar. On Sundays, she and her husband sit down to walk through the coming week, making sure rides, meals, and coverage are in place, and lining up backups when needed.
As their kids have grown older, Michelle and her husband have learned how important it is to include them in these weekly conversations. Bringing the kids into the planning helps ensure their commitments are not forgotten and teaches them how to think ahead about their own schedules.
Building a support system
Underneath the calendar and the planning is an intentional family decision: if Michelle was going to pursue partnership in public accounting, her spouse would choose a role with more stable hours. During busy season, that means he usually handles school or daycare pickups, dinner, and most evenings at home, giving Michelle space to meet her work demands without everything at home falling apart.
Beyond their immediate household, Michelle has always tried to cultivate a strong support network. When the kids were younger, grandparents often stepped in to help in a pinch; now, she leans on neighbors, friends, and other parents for last-minute rides, carpool swaps, and unexpected schedule changes. She has learned that the broader the network, the easier it is to navigate the surprises that come with a demanding season.
Buying back time and energy
Michelle also gives herself permission to spend money differently during busy season. She outsources more than usual, especially house cleaning and other household tasks, because the reduction in stress and mental load is worth the investment. Those choices free up time and energy for what matters most: her family, her health, and doing her job well when it truly counts.
She looks for small ways to create breathing room in her days. On mornings without early meetings, she sometimes works from home for a couple of hours, gaining quiet focus time and saving commuting minutes that add up over the course of a week.
Protecting rest and focus
Even in the thick of busy season, Michelle aims to take at least one full day off each week. Without that downtime, she notices she burns out quickly and becomes far less effective, no matter how many hours she puts in. She applies the same logic to evenings: when she is too tired, working late at the office only makes her slower and less efficient.
Instead, she often leaves the office, has dinner, spends time with her husband and kids, and then logs back in for a couple of hours from home if needed. Technology makes it easier to do things like reviewing work from the sidelines of a soccer practice, but she has also learned how important it is to be intentional about turning work off when it is time.
Ending the season with intention
Busy season will probably never feel easy for Michelle, but it no longer feels out of control. Clear communication, thoughtful planning, a strong support system, and deliberate choices about when to work, and when not to, help her stay focused on what matters most. Her experience suggests that busy seasons do not just demand more hours; they invite more intention about how those hours are spent, both at work and at home.
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