After a long and lazy summer, it can be tough to get back into the swing of things at your accounting job. Here are some tips to help you transition.
As the summer weather slows to a sad crawl and fades into a distant memory, the blissful months of long weekends, lax hours, and a generally casual work atmosphere are also drawing to a close. And while the change of seasons and the return to a more serious work environment that accompanies it are, for many Canadians at least, annual routines, that doesn’t make them any less difficult.
But don’t worry. To help you transition from summer to fall, we’ve assembled a few choice tips for accountants that will help you get back to the grind of non-summer workdays.
Set mini goals
As summer gives way to fall, and we recommit ourselves to our work, it’s easy to overreach (much like when we’re trying to start the New Year off on the right foot).
But be careful not to create unrealistic expectations for yourself, or to take an all-or-nothing approach. It’s a surefire way to set yourself up for failure. Rather than trying to go from zero to hero, establish a series of smaller, more manageable goals to realize over the coming weeks. That way, you can ease your way back into the intensity of work.
As the summer weather slows to a sad crawl and fades into a distant memory, the blissful months of long weekends, lax hours, and a generally casual work atmosphere are also drawing to a close.
Seek opportunities for professional development
It’s not officially the New Year (unless you’re a student, in which case you probably can’t wait to graduate and land that first accounting job). Still, for many people, September holds a certain feeling of newness – a chance to refresh and reboot with the advent of a new season.
Use that sense of starting over to your benefit. Rather than bemoaning the end of the summer, take advantage of September’s freshness to give your accounting career a shot in the arm. For example, enroll in a course that will facilitate professional development. Always been insecure about your Excel skills? Want to bone up on public speaking? Embrace the fall and sign up for a course while your brain is uncluttered from a summer of relaxation.
Avoid getting cooped up indoors
The return of chillier weather doesn’t need to be treated as a prison sentence. Force yourself to get outdoors occasionally and grab a breath of fresh air, even in the middle of your workday. Staying cooped up in your office all day long isn’t good for your well-being in the workplace; it will ultimately make you less productive and positive-minded.
Rather than bemoaning the end of the summer, take advantage of September’s freshness to give your career a shot in the arm.
Create a reward system
Don’t look at the end of summer as the end to any semblance of leisure or fun. Instead, compensate yourself for the return to a more serious work routine by creating a system of rewards to motivate you. Whether that’s planning a fall getaway weekend at a cottage or taking a break from the workday to have a coffee and a stroll with a fellow accountant or friend, you will ultimately be better motivated if you take (some) time out to treat yourself.
Sure, saying goodbye to the warm weather and long days can be a bit of a bummer. But there’s no reason you as an accountant can’t use the change of season to remotivate yourself and ensure that the rest of the year isn’t a productive and career-building one – no matter what the weather is like.
How do you cope with the change of seasons and work philosophies, from summer to fall? Share your tips in the comments!
Let us know what you think! At Clarity Recruitment, we’re always interested in hearing from accounting and finance professionals like yourselves, who are ready for new, exciting opportunities that can take their careers to the next level. And be sure to follow us on Twitter (@clarityrecruits) and connect with us on Facebook for more great tips and advice!
