Improving Your Work-Life Balance

Working in the accounting field is a demanding job. The hours are long, the deadlines are many, and constantly changing regulations mean the work just gets more complicated. In today’s hustle culture, most professionals are managing very long to-do lists, but if you don’t create a healthy balance between work and leisure, you’re likely to find extra helpings of stress on top of your already full plate.

It is crucial that professionals in the accounting field be aware of the challenges they face and take proactive steps to create harmony in their lives and work. Read on for helpful tips for creating a work-life balance that lets you thrive.

1. Develop Work-Life Synergy – Creating a healthy balance between your work responsibilities and the elements of your life outside of work is key to creating an enjoyable and sustainable lifestyle. Make sure that you are intentional about how you prioritize your career ambitions, your family and friends, your leisure time, and your spiritual life. Achieving work-life synergy means owning your work balance. This looks like reaching a place where you can grasp achievement at work while still devoting sufficient time to other aspects of your life.

2. Take Ownership of Your Workload– Maintaining a clear picture of your responsibilities and their timelines is a big part of creating a healthy lifestyle. Taking inventory of all your commitments is the first step in creating a life with more purposeful balance.  Click here for some helpful advice from Method on how to stay organized as an accounting professional.

3. Be Proactive– Professionals with a healthy work-life balance have this in common: they are proactive and realistic about managing their workload. Once you have developed a clear picture of your duties (see item #2 above), take the time to evaluate what you have on your plate. If it is too much, don’t try to handle it alone! Instead, reach out to your manager or team members to discuss what changes could be made in order to make things more manageable. Don’t wait until the last minute, scrambling to take care of too much responsibility; instead, be proactive and realistic about what is reasonable for one person to take on.

4. Take Care of Your Well-being– Failure to attend to your own well-being is so common in the working world it can sometimes feel mandatory, but you need to take care of yourself in order to meet your daily obligations. Prioritize your well-being by exercising regularly, eating a well-balanced diet, and getting enough sleep, but don’t just stop with the physical! Recharge regularly with acts of self-care. This can look different for each person: some enjoy spending quiet time alone reading or getting a massage, while others find socializing with friends or attending an exciting event fills their cup. The key is figuring out what activities get you back to feeling like you and building them into your schedule regularly. Click here for 50 potential self-care ideas (both mental and physical!) from Good Housekeeping. 

5. Make Your Own Schedule – When possible, try employing a flexible work schedule. Previously a rare option, flexible schedules are becoming more popular and more common. The ability to adapt in this area allows you to operate in the way that best fits your individual needs and preferences. If your workplace does not already offer flexible schedules, consider proposing the idea to your manager. Some studies reveal that this arrangement may benefit your employer as well!

Developing a healthy work-life balance is essential to finding success in your career. Creating a lifestyle that purposefully prioritizes all aspects of your health and happiness will help you achieve your goals while maintaining your personal peace.