Accounting & Wellness.

Today’s world has become a breeding ground for stress, this affects all of us across the board but we’ll be focusing on dealing with stress as Accountants.

A recent study has listed Accounting as one of the top 10 most stressful professions in the world. That is quite a statistic but it’s not surprising considering that Accountants are primarily dealing with other people’s money, it is therefore the heartbeat of every business. Not to mention, the many deadlines and continuously changing tax laws which can be difficult to comprehend and implement at times, these affect businesses and individuals alike significantly. All of this may contribute to the increase of Accountants’ stress levels.

The dangers of continuous stress may lead to neglect of personal wellness and eventually, work-related burnout. This is a situation which is undesirable for both the Accountant and the employer equally.

There are however some practical ways Accountants can implement in their day-to day lives to improve the situation and prevent any negative outcome, they take a certain level of commitment but if attempted, can positively contribute to the improvement of the Accountants’ overall wellness and therefore, a healthier work–life balance.

There are however some practical ways Accountants can implement in their day-to day lives to improve th

1. Acknowledge that there us an issue: This is key as something that is not addressed will never be resolved. To do this, you must trust that you know your body and know yourself well enough to be able to identify any drastic changes which could be as a result of a heightened level of stress.
   
2. Time Management; This is an essential skill which will up your game in every aspect of your life. During work, set yourself realistic time limits for tasks and do not attempt everything at once, prioritise tasks in order of importance to avoid sudden urgency.
   
3. Regular breaks; It is important to plan breaks into your day, a rested brain will be more productive and efficient than an overworked brain.
4. Eat healthily; meals are an important part of nourishing your body and healthy meals and snacks will go further than quick caffeine boosts which are short-lived and add to stress levels.
   
5. Exercise; Pick up an exercise which you enjoy, not everyone is built for the gym, but there are so many other options to choose from that can equally benefit you, brisk walking counts as well.
   
6. Know when to stop; There’s a reason why we usually say ‘9-5’ when referring to our jobs. This is because the evenings should be about other parts of your life, create a rule in your mind to avoid engaging in work related tasks after the official work day ends. This way you will even be more refreshed the next day to tackle anything thrown your way.
   
7. Ask for help; We do not work alone in a jungle, we are surrounded by colleagues across the hierarchy, make use of them and approach them when needed, the more you ponder on issues that you cannot solve alone, the more stress you will feel and the less productive you will be.
   
8. Use your leave; Leave should not be considered optional, it should be compulsory as it provides Accountants time to breathe and reset. This will enhance your wellness and therefore your productivity when you resume work.
   
9. Nature walks; These have a direct impact on reducing stress levels, they also contribute to an overall sense of relaxation and increased feeling of happiness.
   
10. Prayer; This isn’t for everyone but prayer will significantly improve many aspects of your life by providing unmatched spirituality that will enable you to appreciate the existence of a Creator who is in charge leading to a reduction in your personal stress levels
    

To conclude, once you eliminate stress from your daily life, you will find that you are overall a happier, more efficient, more relaxed and pleasant Accountant. Of course, let’s be honest, you cannot eliminate stress from your life completely however, you can train yourself to handle it better once you are generally more refreshed by implementing the above steps. Consistent habits however small, eventually become a lifestyle, so don’t shy away from starting small.

By ACCA Razan Al-Mahdi.