Can accountants truly relax on holiday?

Can accountants truly relax on holiday?

Summer is the time for holidays and relaxation, but for accountants, it’s often just a different setting for checking emails and worrying about to-do lists. Have you mastered the art of unwinding on holiday or are you stuck in work mode?

It can be hard to switch off on holiday when you know there are clients to respond to, information to chase and deadlines that can’t wait. 

There seems to be a pressure to stay available and keep everything on track, despite sending those out-of-offices. This can make it difficult for accountants to disconnect and make the most of their time off.

AccountingWEB asked the Any Answers community how they dealt with going on holiday. They were asked whether they would “be reading a set of accounts by the pool or fully unwinding without an email being checked”.

So, can accountants truly relax on holiday?

Sun, sea and spam 

Most of the Any Answers community admitted to checking their emails daily to stay on top of things, showing that fully switching off is easier said than done.

Regular contributor Jason Croke shared that despite having his out-of-office on, he still checks his emails. “I do choose to check on my emails at least once a day but with no compulsion to respond.”

Working in VAT and customs, Croke said that it can be time-critical and therefore “if it’s all kicking off then I will get it sorted”. He continued, “The rest of the emails are the usual mix of spam and non-urgent queries from clients and partners. When I do get back to work, I am not coming back to a pile of issues and I can start my first day back knowing which emails to prioritise over others.”

Another member, Taxdigital, agreed that switching off is hard because of the need to stay updated. “If you’re part of the furniture and fittings (eg a partner in a small to medium-sized practice) the mobile is always on,” they said. 

Strategic planning

Other accountants noted that strategically planning their time off for less busy periods helps them enjoy their holiday and relax without worrying.

WhiteRose said, “I have to admit to never going on holiday between the end of a month and the 7th of the following month but when I’m away I try to switch off completely. Not always successful.”

Spilly replied saying, “I do the same. It’s not worth the hassle of trying to get stuff filed early – clients have to be pushed to get things ready as it is.”

Despite doing the same thing, regular commenter, I’msorryIhaven’taclue said that sometimes you can never get away from the clients. He said, “I always take the second and/or third week of the month. There's still the self-important, the narcissistic and the Billy-no-mates clients to deal with while away on hols. I had one a few years ago call me when I was in the departure lounge – would I have a word with his new bookkeeper before take-off?”

Completely switching off 

Fully unwinding and taking a break from work can therefore be difficult for accountants but having a well-deserved break and some time away can make a world of difference. 

AccountingWEB spoke with Sofia Thomas, partner of Juno Sports Tax, on the importance of completely switching off on holiday and the impact this has had. After starting to feel overwhelmed at work, Thomas took five days off to go to Spain and managed to avoid work entirely.

She said, “I told my clients I would be out of the office, I gave everyone two weeks’ notice and I put it on my footer as well. For active clients I set up a call a week before I went away and set up a call for my return so that they felt comfortable with my absence.

“There was no negative impact on my clients. Everyone was really easy about it and the time I spent with them before the trip put them at ease. When I came back I felt refreshed and re-motivated. The time away offered me a lot of perspective and the space to make some decisions I had been putting off,” Thomas continued. 

She said it was so important to have a proper break and the time away showed her that not everything was urgent, allowing her to have some breathing space. 

Thomas offered two pieces of advice that helped her step away from work: “Identify the biggest areas of concern – be that managers or certain clients – talk to them before you leave and set up time for a second chat on your return.

“If you are away and you don’t intend to reply to emails you don’t have to check them – the world will keep on turning. Or if that’s too much consider having an urgent line and telling clients if there is an emergency call don’t email. The likely result is that anything can wait.”

This article is sourced from the following link:

https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/practice/people/can-accountants-truly-relax-on-holiday