Big four tips for eating healthy and gaining energy naturally

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  • #200268
    limetaf
    Member

    Hey guys. I worked my first busy season last year as an intern for a big four public accounting firm. The hours were really crazy. Talk about working from 8:30 am to pass 1am for consecutive days! At the end of the internship I gained 15 pounds. I also consumed so much coffee that at one point at the end of my internship, I thought I was about to go through a heart attack/ panick attack. For those of you that have years of experice working 90+ hour weeks, what tips would you guys suggest on how to eat healthy, and what other healthy alternatives can I implement during the next busy season to increase energy and focus other than binge drinking coffee? Happy busy season!

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  • #759052
    taxsage
    Member

    Im a tax accountant so I have a set location. Recently I go out and get two salads for the day. These salads are super nutritious unlike those ranch dressing iceberg lettuce salads you see around. These salads are so big I lierally cant finish them and I am a large guy. When it gets late and self restraint is low I go for my salads.

    #759053
    NotAnother74
    Member

    I used to be in public accounting. 4 years at a big four firm. My last Fall busy season I worked a 100+ hour week…billable. Worked a 24 hour day.

    I quit after. I didn't have time to take the CPA exam. Didn't have time to enjoy anything. Partners worked just as hard. So I took my experience to a small firm. Best decision I ever made. For my health, family and satisfaction with life.

    My firm used to try “work/life balance” but I knew they'd given up on doing that when they changed the phrase to “work/life fit”. As in, try to fit life in where possible.

    Don't get caught in the rat race. Yes there are times to work hard but in the down months tell them to take their charge hours and shove them up their tookus. Know when to work hard and when to recharge and enjoy yourself. Even when others are working all hours of the night around you. It's tempting to get caught up and fill in low points with more work rather then leaving your desk and going home. But you'll last longer, your work will be just as quality as those others who are burned out trying to be the top of the totem pole in charge hours and your family will appreciate it.

    Further, public accounting seems great as an intern. Lots of delusion in the big four. If you don't like the hours, figure it out early in your career and make the big four job work for you to get the job that fits your career and life balance best.

    Best of luck. Good luck staying healthy too. Tough when they shove cookies, candy and sandwiches down your throats.

    No matter what you eat, if all you do is sit behind a desk for 12+ hours a day with no exercise it'll take more than a few salads to control your weight and health.

    All of this to say that big four accounting experience is immensely helpful in your career. It is demanding and challenging. Took me 4 years to realize it wasn't for me long term. There is life beyond it. I couldn't have gotten where I am today without the big four. Congrats on interning.

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    #759054
    acamp
    Participant

    I buy healthy granola bars as a quick healthy breakfast. I pack four lunches each week (grill a few chicken breasts, chop up and include with either salad or precooked brown rice). I eat lunch as late as possible 2p-3p (without snacking; or very little snacking), so that I don't eat take out and eat dinner when I get home (9p-10p).

    Our team also takes daily walks most days (20-30min) and we all bought standing desk attachments (sitting is the new smoking?) from Amazon; and the work health subsidy paid for half of it.

    Also for coffee, I go from 1 a day normal to 2 a day at most. I try to have no consistent morning coffee routine (varying the time of day supposedly reduces dependence) which means I'll drink the first cup as early as 8am to as last as noon (just based on how I'm feeling). Also I gave myself a coffee cutoff time of 5pm or so (mostly to avoid a third coffee).

    Of course, if you are routinely working until 1am, you're team likely isn't accomplishing anything more than fatigue for the next day, so lets hope you don't end up on another one of those teams. Winterning is great, you make some money, but damn thats a lot of work to come back as a 1st year next year.

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    #759055
    Skynet
    Participant

    Tip: CPA Review books themselves are rich in fiber : )

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    #759056
    vegancpapr
    Participant

    1) Stay hydrated

    2) Cut the coffee

    3) Fruits are the best snacks

    4) The more carbs you consume, the better you can perform (rice,potato,pasta,etc)

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