Relax, take it easy auditors - how to enjoy the festive season

Relax, take it easy auditors - how to enjoy the festive season

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From Boney M to Mariah Carey, you are greeted by the joyful sounds of various Christmas carols as you walk into any shopping centre. 'Tis the season!

With each store you pass, you are greeted with all the colours representing the start of the festive seasons.

If you're an auditor/ accountant like myself, you don't see the start of Christmas but merely the end of the busy season and not having to burn the midnight oil for a few weeks.

Ask any accountant what's their favourite time of the year, and they will always tell you December to January unless you work for a company with a December year-end then - so sorry for you.

Why, may you ask? Well, it's when the crazy world of audits finally starts to slow down. Clients are closing up shop, and no one wants an auditor asking lots of questions, making them do more work.

As a result, we have a lot more time on our hands. What do we do with all this free time?

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I know it's a strange concept for many auditors. It's the perfect time to wind down after the year's craziness. Here are some more tips on how to spend all that extra time on your hands:

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1. Reconnect with family and friends. When we are caught up in the busy season, we often need more time to catch up with old friends and friends. We are guilty of opening a WhatsApp message and replying to it in our head, but we forget to text the person.

I know I am guilty of it.

Take the time to call up an old college buddy and go for a cup of coffee. It will do you a world of good. Plus, it's a good networking opportunity if you want to think of it that way. Even though we have all this time on our hands, our business mind doesn't just disappear.

2. Go on vacation. Take a vacation. Travel with friends and family or travel alone. Take a drive to the beach. There is a new adventure around every corner.

There is nothing like the sand and the sea to recharge the soul.

3. Take a mental break from work. Let your mind drift from worrisome thoughts related to your clients and engagements.

We check our emails even when we are on leave. If you're a workaholic and can't help yourself, allocate a specific time in the day to check emails. This will allow you to enjoy your time with the family and kids and not be on your phone while waiting for that email to come.

4. Build in some unplanned time. This is an excellent time to indulge in mindless rituals, like wandering through your favourite mall, binge-watching movies or television shows, reading, or pursuing other activities that give your brain a chance to recover.

5. Nurture your brain and body. After the busy season ends, include some activities to feed your brain and care for your body, like a nice massage. Tackle that novel you have been waiting months to read. I have 20 to-read books on my shelf that are waiting for me.

6. Pick up a new hobby. Find something to do that you have always wanted to try, such as gardening or painting.

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But most of all, take the time to celebrate and take a moment to recognise your hard work over the past few months.

You have made it!

When you thought that you would break and couldn't make it anymore, you survived it all.

It only made you stronger.

To all my trainees at Accensis, well done on making it through the year. Enjoy your wind-down time. You all have worked hard throughout the year and deserve it.

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