How to Get Healthy During Busy Season

Yes, you read that right. I’m going to get healthy during busy season this year. Many people in public accounting might be confused by this statement because they know how the story goes. Fast-paced deadlines and complex transactions leads to long hours in the audit room and high stress levels. Combine that with ordering in dinners, bulk snack runs, a few happy hours to boost the team’s morale, and you’ve got the typical auditor lifestyle this time of year. I don’t have to be a health expert to know that this doesn’t seem like a lifestyle that can be maintained for months on end. That’s why this year I’m going to break the busy season stereotype and get healthy.

Over a year ago, I relocated to Los Angeles with my firm and found myself fully embracing the health-centered way of living that defines Southern California. Lunches with colleagues were spent discussing various well-being topics. We shared recipes for healthy meals, our workout routines, or inspiring TED talks we had heard. With busy season right around the corner we knew it would be difficult to maintain our active lifestyles so we brainstormed ways we could prevent our health from suffering.

We came up with a list of things we could do on a daily basis to help us maintain our overall well-being  while holding each other accountable. These daily rituals incorporated physical and mental health topics as well as positivity and sustainability. One particular TED talk we discussed while coming up with this list was “The Secret of Better Work” by Shawn Actor. He describes how employees actually perform better when in positive work environments which we aimed to create for our team. Our goal with this challenge was not only focused on individual fitness, but also shifting the atmosphere in the office. It would give our team something to talk about other than a standard “how late were you here last night?” when you saw someone in the morning. Here are the 10 things we came up with:

1. I drank 64 oz of water today
2. I slept for 7+ hours last night
3. I wrote down 3 things I'm grateful for today
4. I gave 3 people sincere compliments today
5. I brought fruits/veggies as a snack or ordered as a side with dinner
6. I utilized the standing desk/treadmill desk or sat on the exercise ball for 30 min
7. I exercised for 45 min today
8. I didn't use any disposable cups/plates/utensils today
9. I ate a healthy meal today
10. I went the day without eating sugar

The following 10 weeks known as the dreaded busy season were anything but easy. There were late nights, lots of dinners, and some weekend work. It was a difficult to keep well-being as a priority but I was determined to accomplish our individual and team goals. On a daily basis our challenge came up in conversation around the audit room. We tracked our tasks on a Google sheet which was an entertaining way to keep eachother accountable since we could all see what every person had completed each day. The competition was also a common ground for our team. From the college interns to the senior partners on the job, this was the one thing that everyone on our team could participate in together.  

On a personal level, this challenge provided perspective on both physical and mental wellbeing. When deadlines were approaching and work was piling up, what were the first things that I compromised? Did my snack and sugar intake increase when I was stressed? Could I notice a difference in my days when I practiced daily gratitude and complimented others? As I wrote in another article “Why I Almost Quit My Job in Public Accounting,” I experienced a life-changing back injury immediately following that busy season. I was so frustrated that I was experiencing this excruciating pain because I thought I had practiced such healthy habits. Where did I go wrong?

For a while I blamed my injury mostly on the stresses of my job and thought it was a sign to leave the firm. As I began to change my outlook, I focused on what I could learn from this injury rather than playing the victim. I talked to my manager about what I was going through and how I had to put my health as my main priority for the time being. Fortunately, I’m at a firm that allowed me to work remotely often and rearrange my schedule to accommodate doctor appointments and physical therapy multiple times a week. I felt supported by my team and empowered by the changes I was making in my life.

As I began to build up my strength and adjust my daily habits, I discovered the fundamental importance of maintaining a balanced lifestyle. Over the following months, I pursued a volunteer opportunity through my firm to spend two months working with a local non-profit organization. I was following something I was passionate about and creating a life that I enjoyed living. Later that year, I attended my firm’s leadership development experience for newly promoted senior associates. It was here that I was introduced to the Energy Project, a group that partners with organizations to create workplaces that are healthier, happier, and sustainably higher performing.

One of the first things we had to do was complete an “energy audit.” Your score placed you into a bucket related to your overall sense of energy based on physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual dimensions. While most new senior associates in the session commented on their scores falling into the “burned out” bucket, my score indicated that I was “moderately energized.” I realized that my injury had allowed me to become more aware of managing my energy levels to ensure I was performing at my best. The rituals I had implemented during my recovery became part of my everyday routine after the endless therapy appointments eventually faded out of my schedule.

As another busy season kicks off I’m more aware of how daily choices and energy levels play a direct role in my performance at work. I know the importance of putting my health as a main priority and effectively managing what I spend my time, thoughts and energy on throughout the day. I’m also changing my point of view this year. I’m not approaching the next 10 weeks thinking “how can I make sure my health doesn’t suffer?” but rather “in what ways can I improve my health?”.

Thanks for reading! Do you participate in any type of wellness challenge or incorporate healthy rituals into your daily routine? I’d love to hear, please share your thoughts in the comments!