Take a Break

In Finance & Accounting we’ve either experienced working late nights or logging on at weekends in order to meet that important deadline. After all we’re a support service to our businesses, organisations and entrepreneurs so if it’s not a reporting or budget cycle, it could be that request just in for the analysis on the numbers that they needed yesterday to make some important decision. So some of us have got into the habit of not taking breaks, working off the seemingly logical premise that if we work through lunch, or work a little bit longer into the evenings then we convince ourselves it’s the right thing to do. It becomes the culture or the way we do things in finance. It’s the way I was introduced to our profession.

However, are we at our best when we do this? Is it sustainable to continuously work without breaks? Is it possible to work at 100% capacity 100% of the time, and what happens when we don’t? I don’t believe we were designed to sit in meetings or at our desks all day. So when I started to question the conventional wisdom I found my productivity improved. When I took breaks such as going for a walk, taking a personal call, having a proper lunch, or making dinner with my family my results improved. 

What do you think? Do we take enough breaks already in finance & accounting or not? Should we be taking more or even less? What works for you?

#sitn #takeabreak #Accounting #finance