Nocturnal by necessity

[chadlonetree]

I haven't posted anything non-tax related, so this is a first. What time have you guys been going to bed the last two weeks? I have been stopping about 4 am. I learned that if I work hard from 10pm-4am, just one night is like working Monday-Friday 9-5 (I guess that is what most normal people do right?) for a whole week. No constant phone calls, meetings, appointments, interruptions!!! Work while everyone sleeps, then catch some ZZZZ's when everyone is trying to bug me at 8am. It has more than doubled my productivity and is the only way I can finish the season getting everyone filed by the deadline they all seem to freak out about.

Just needed a little break.

[Julie]

I would be doing that if the new clients weren't insisting on 10am appointments. If I can get 'em to come in AFTER noon, I happily work well past midnight.

I haven't posted anything non-tax related, so this is a first. What time have you guys been going to bed the last two weeks? I have been stopping about 4 am. I learned that if I work hard from 10pm-4am, just one night is like working Monday-Friday 9-5 (I guess that is what most normal people do right?) for a whole week. No constant phone calls, meetings, appointments, interruptions!!! Work while everyone sleeps, then catch some ZZZZ's when everyone is trying to bug me at 8am. It has more than doubled my productivity and is the only way I can finish the season getting everyone filed by the deadline they all seem to freak out about.

Just needed a little break.

[Yardley CPA]

Tax prep is my "part-time" job as I work full-time during the day in the accounting (non-tax) profession. During tax season, I leave my day job and usually get home around 5 or so. I start taxes at about 6 and work until about 11:00 each night and most of weekend days.

[jklcpa]

My cutoff's been around 1 or 2 am, but then I have to read for relaxation to fall asleep. Sometimes sleep doesn't come until about 3, so I've been on about 4-5 hrs sleep for the past couple of weeks. I don't see anyone before 10am, and all I can say is that's it's a good thing that my computer doesn't have that camera/video thing on it. Lots of work done in sweat pants & t-shirt when there's no appts before lunch!

[chadlonetree]

My cutoff's been around 1 or 2 am, but then I have to read for relaxation to fall asleep. Sometimes sleep doesn't come until about 3, so I've been on about 4-5 hrs sleep for the past couple of weeks. I don't see anyone before 10am, and all I can say is that's it's a good thing that my computer doesn't have that camera/video thing on it. Lots of work done in sweat pants & t-shirt when there's no appts before lunch!

Somehow I don't think I could charge the same fee's if the client knew that their tax return was being prepared in my underwear.

[bstaxes]

My clients don't call me until after 10 am, if they want a sensible answer. Also my office phone only rings in the office and I can't hear it in the bedroom and I don't give out my house phone. Getting to bed before 1am is like going on vacation. I have always been a night person and don't function in the morning. Some of my clients call me at 10pm or 11 pm, yes at night because they are also up.

[Lion EA]

4 a.m. is getting more common than I wish. But, as I get older, I do collapse sooner. I've told my clients they can call between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.; although, those who know me well know the p.m. time is for my husband's benefit -- the teacher who gets up early. With my home office phone only in my office, colleagues who know me call me later knowing I'm sitting here working. I've been trying to get up at 8 a.m., in office reading email and returning calls at 9 a.m., and really available by 10 a.m., but I probably won't get up until 9 a.m. tomorrow morning to make up for 7 a.m. this morning with an assistant arriving (still training her in hopes of a better season next year) and a client picking up. I function OK if I'm in bed around 1 p.m., but less sleep has my eyes dry and burning and me very, very cranky. This was easier when I was with a company and we kept each other awake and on topic during those late nights. When I'm by myself and my husband's asleep, I really want to stop working -- and too often do! I hope to manage my time better next season.

[chadw]

4 a.m. is getting more common than I wish. But, as I get older, I do collapse sooner. I've told my clients they can call between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.; although, those who know me well know the p.m. time is for my husband's benefit -- the teacher who gets up early. With my home office phone only in my office, colleagues who know me call me later knowing I'm sitting here working. I've been trying to get up at 8 a.m., in office reading email and returning calls at 9 a.m., and really available by 10 p.m., but I probably won't get up until 9 a.m. tomorrow morning to make up for 7 a.m. this morning with an assistant arriving (still training her) and a client picking up. I function OK if I'm in bed around 1 p.m., but less sleep has my eyes dry and burning and me very, very cranky.

My cut-off time is usually around midnight. Saturdays are usually later since I can sort of sleep in on Sunday. Although with 3 little ones, sleeping in isn't what it used to be.

[Bart]

I haven't posted anything non-tax related, so this is a first. What time have you guys been going to bed the last two weeks? I have been stopping about 4 am. I learned that if I work hard from 10pm-4am, just one night is like working Monday-Friday 9-5 (I guess that is what most normal people do right?) for a whole week. No constant phone calls, meetings, appointments, interruptions!!! Work while everyone sleeps, then catch some ZZZZ's when everyone is trying to bug me at 8am. It has more than doubled my productivity and is the only way I can finish the season getting everyone filed by the deadline they all seem to freak out about.

Just needed a little break.

I do it the other way around. I get up at 3 or 4 am and get to work early before everyone wakes up to bother me.

[Ray in Ohio]

I was worried that I was the only one that gets up at 3 or 4 AM. The last while I usually work till 9 or 10 PM then get up at 3 or 4. I am a much better thinker in the morning than late at night.

(hey, who's this stranger in bed with me?) (oh, it's my wife, Hi Hun, good night) ZZZZZZZZ

[Janitor Bob]

I haven't posted anything non-tax related, so this is a first. What time have you guys been going to bed the last two weeks? I have been stopping about 4 am. I learned that if I work hard from 10pm-4am, just one night is like working Monday-Friday 9-5 (I guess that is what most normal people do right?) for a whole week. No constant phone calls, meetings, appointments, interruptions!!! Work while everyone sleeps, then catch some ZZZZ's when everyone is trying to bug me at 8am. It has more than doubled my productivity and is the only way I can finish the season getting everyone filed by the deadline they all seem to freak out about.

Just needed a little break.

I work as an accountant (tax and cost) during the day for my employer...get home around 5:30...feed my daughter and work on taxes until around 2:00am...then get up at 7:00am to start again....I am so "fried" right now that I can barely dress myself.

After tomorrow....check late night TV commercials for the newest "Accountants Gone Wild" episode...I may be on it....there are several large strong margaritas with my name on it!