Working in accountancy is not easy and doesn’t always lend itself to an equal work-life blend. We know from our research that 36% of ICAEW members are currently unhappy with how they balance their work and home life. Striking this balance is tricky, especially with today’s 24/7, ‘always on’ culture.
Accountancy is a particularly competitive environment and one, which is accustomed to busy schedules and mounting workloads. This was supported in our research which found that over half (54%) of ICAEW members work late in the office on a weekly basis, and 22% do this every day. Workload pressures also resulted in 47% taking work home with them, with a quarter (25%) doing this every day.
From the findings above, it’s imperative for you to learn how to look after yourself whilst managing your day to day workload with a methodical approach. So, how does an accountant balance work and life? By learning to become more resilient and knowing to separate the two. Ultimately, it’s about being present during your down time, in order to make the most of it. This creates a clear boundary between your home and work life. Additionally, juggling tight deadlines and multiple clients are part of the job, so being able to keep a cool head and put absolute trust in your abilities and skillset will translate into your personal life too.
Utilise your time well and find time in your day to eat healthily, rehydrate and leave the office for fresh air. Exercise can be especially beneficial as it relieves tension, releasing feel-good endorphins and improving or stabilising your mood. Taking a rest to supercharge your afternoon can pay dividends too, but only if that’s acceptable at work! Working through your lunch is never the most effective option and is often counter-productive as you become fatigued the fewer breaks you have.
Establishing a good work-life blend means setting boundaries and sticking to them. No one can work long hours constantly, so if you want to climb to the top of the career ladder, listen to your body, take a rest and use your energy in concerted bursts of effort. Trying to integrate our work and personal life in a responsible and reasonable way will not only benefit ourselves but our loved ones and also our colleagues and the company we work for too.
For information and advice, visit Caba HERE or on Stand 591 at Accountex