As an accountant you tend to do your work in the same way, all day. Sitting and working at your desk or on a conference table at a meeting. It’s the same during all those hours you spend studying for the CPA exam. It’s how you spent so much of college. Come to think of it, we spend an incredible chunk of our lives this way. So, it makes sense to do it in the healthiest way possible. Here are some of the trouble spots and how they can be handled better.
Make Your Move
In order to keep from sitting too much it’s a good idea, not surprisingly, to get up and move around throughout the day. It not only gives you energy and helps circulation it also helps refresh your mind and focus. For instance, the Pomodoro Technique has 25 minute bursts of work followed by five minute breaks.
Another way to refresh your mind is to change your environment during the day. Take your laptop and go work on one of the couches in your office or in a conference room. Obviously lunch is a great time to take a break and you shouldn’t squander it. Escape your cubicle and eat somewhere else. Do it with others as it’ll be more stimulating for your mind.
Posture
Obvious but important. You can get back and neck pain from bending over your computer. Also, slumping down in your chair can actually make you feel slow and lazy.
Check Your Air Condition
We don’t mean your air conditioner, we’re talking about the quality of your air and ventilation. There are some nasty substances in carpet, furniture and paint that can cause occupational allergies or exacerbate the ones you may have already. This type of thing can be tough to combat as the factors are mostly out of your control, but you can open windows if possible, or get an air purifier for your desk.
Hydrate
We’ve been hearing about the benefits of drinking an adequate amount of water for a long time. It helps you with work too. That mid-afternoon slow-down we all get might be due to dehydration. Pace yourself and try drinking a glass (say, 8 oz.) every hour or so.
Eyestrain
We all spend too much time looking at computer (or phone or tablet) screens. You can get headaches and increased sensitivity to light among other things. Keep your monitor about an arm’s length away from your eyes. Also, use the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes look at something at least 20 feet in front of you for 20 seconds.
The good news is that none of these suggestions are difficult. So give them a try. Start incorporating these things consistently into your day and you might be surprised how much better you feel overall over time.
