Sweaty, Smiley, Satisfied… from a Self-Assessment Tax Return?

Yes.

Stay with me.

Honestly.

As some of you know, as well as being an accountant, I am a qualified group fitness instructor and group indoor cycling coach. Years of teaching people to clip in, breathe, and most importantly believe taught me a lot about motivation, confidence, and doing the hard things - even when you don’t want to.

Believe it or not, the crossover between spin class confidence and “do your tax return before January panic sets in” is… surprisingly strong.

Because the hardest part of both?Getting your arse through the goddam door.

The Hidden Magic of “Just Turning Up”

In the studio, I could help people do far more than they thought was possible. But I couldn’t drag them in. They had to get themselves there. So the first victory, that of simply showing up - that was theirs.

Once they arrived though?

That was my zone.

My happy place.

There was a system:

Warm welcome.

Low-pressure start.

Quick wins.

Great music.

A simple intention: just sit, pedal, enjoy it.

It wasn’t about the outcome. It was about the moment.

I never believed in shouting people into success. I believed in making the beginning feel safe enough that they’d want to keep going - and once you start (even with the intention to take it easy), something kicks in:

“Oh… I can actually do this.” And suddenly they’re going faster, climbing harder, pushing past a point they didn’t think they’d reach.

Past the point they intended to go to.

This is not magic. It’s psychology and structure.

And you can use the exact same approach to get your self-assessment done.

Honest!

Why Tax Returns Feel Like the Worst Spin Class of Your Life

Doing your tax return at the end of January is the business-owner version of going to a spin class where:

• the instructor screams in your face whilst hardcore trance is played too loud,

• the resistance is set to “mountain at altitude”,

• you’re using up all your energy to not throw up over the person in front of you,

• and whilst in that world of pain you swear you’ll never put yourself through this again.

You stagger out, sweaty-for-all-the-wrong-reasons, traumatised but relieved the longest 45 minutes of your life is finally over.

And then - because you’re human - you forget the pain, avoid it for 11 months, and decide to go back again in January, and so it begins… again.

It’s not that you’re bad with money or maths or numbers. It’s not that you “should know better”. It’s just that you’ve set the bar too damn high.

“Do an entire year of bookkeeping and submit my tax return in January” is the motivational equivalent of: “Climb a mountain, with no warm-up, after not exercising since 2018.” And for some of you you’re also on a unicycle.

No wonder it feels awful.

The Davinia Method: No Shouting. No Shame. Just Progress.

I’ve never been a fan of the “no pain, no gain” brigade. I never shouted in cycling classes, and I’m not going to scream at you through your laptop:

“DO YOUR TAX RETURN!!! PUSH HARDER!!! FINISH ITTTTTTTTT!!!”

That’s not me. Absolutely not.

And this is not CrossFit for your finances.

My approach is - and always has been - grounded in:

• Small actions

• Low-pressure beginnings

• Building confidence slowly

• Kind encouragement

• Motivation that actually works

Most people don’t need shouting at. They need a reassuring whisper:

“You’ve got this.”

“Let’s make it easy.” 

“One tiny step is enough for today.”

I got far better results whispering in people’s ears when they were on a bike than others got yelling in faces.

You don’t need financial punishments or pressure.

You need a system that supports you, not scares you.

So How Do You Get “Sweaty, Smiley, Satisfied” About Your Tax Return?

Mainly by not doing the whole damn thing at once!

But in more detail…

You get there by:

1. Lowering the bar.

Aim for: “Open my bookkeeping software” not “Do everything perfectly in one sitting.”

2. Making it a habit, not a crisis.

A weekly or monthly 10-minute check-in is as transformative as regular training. (Check out my Financial Ritual Course if you need help with check-ins)

3. Using tools that make it easy, not painful.

Software shouldn’t feel like punishment, it should make your life easier.If yours does feel like punishment, we need to talk.

4. Knowing what motivates you.

Do you like accountability? Deadlines? Rewards? A friendly nudge? Someone checking in on you? A clear plan? A playlist?

(Yes, you can do bookkeeping to a playlist - highly recommend.)

5. Getting support before you panic.

Just like a well-designed class structure, support matters before the meltdown, not after.

If You Want Support Getting It Done (Without the January Trauma)

I’ve got two things that might help you avoid the “sick-on-the-handlebars” version of doing your self-assessment:

🟣 1. “New Year, Clear Numbers” — the Financial Goals Planning Workshop

29th December on Zoom

A friendly, practical workshop designed to help you set goals, get clarity, and start 2026 in control - not apologising to your tax return.

(AKA: motivation-building, but without the yelling.)

Find out more and sign-up here: https://subscribepage.io/aeArn9

🟣 2. My Supported Self-Assessment Offer

This is for you if you want to:

• do your own return

• BUT need accountability

• PLUS structure

• PLUS guidance

• AND a clear deadline you actually stick to

Think of it like a calm, supportive spin class for your tax return.

You turn up.

I guide you.

You finish feeling “sweaty, smiley, satisfied” - and not in tears on 31st January.

This is no longer available for the 24/25 tax year (i.e. towards the 31 Jan 26 deadline) - but you can secure an earlybird space for 25/26 - join the waitlist here: https://subscribepage.io/81hv0Q 

Your Turn: What’s the Hardest Bit for You?

Tell me - seriously:

• Confidence?

• Understanding?

• Motivation?

• Feeling overwhelmed?

• Not knowing where to start?

• A lifetime of financial shame and avoidance?

Reply or message me. I honestly love to hear from you.

I can help you untangle it and find your “just turn up” moment — no shouting required.

Because if there’s one thing my cycling coach years taught me, it’s this:

You are always capable of more than you think - you just need someone to make the first step feel possible.