Summertime!!!! Long, warm days at the beach or pool are beckoning during that time of year.

In the summer, it can be challenging for many professionals to stay focused at work or finish assignments on time even if you are at the comfort of your workspace. Many of your co-workers might take Paid time off (PTO) to travel or spend the summer holiday with their family, so your inbox might just include more out-of-office (OOO) auto-responses than actual emails.

In actuality, 5.4 million employees take vacations and leave work on average in June, July, and August. However, research indicates that summertime affects productivity even for individuals who are employed, with worker productivity declining by up to 0.83% for every degree Celsius that the outside temperature rises.

How can you make the most of your summer break if you are unable to take a summer vacation?

Let’s examine the top ten suggestions for a successful summer vacation this year, which will enable you to maximize your (relatively) free time in order to acquire new abilities, get ahead, maintain motivation, and feel rejuvenated.

Top 10 Tips To Have a Productive Summer At Work

The following are the best strategies for boosting focus, attentiveness, and output at work in the summer:

1. Set clear goals and priorities

Large tasks can appear difficult during the summer since there are a lot of distractions and personnel on summer holiday. Setting specific goals is crucial for this reason.

Setting and achieving goals helps you finish tasks one step at a time. Establishing objectives enables you to divide a big endeavor into smaller, more doable pieces.  

Use the SMART goals system to maximize productivity in the summer:

• Specific: Give a detailed description of your objectives.
• Measurable: Modify the metrics used to gauge target progress.
• Achievable: Establish realistic objectives that you can accomplish in a certain amount of time.
• Relevant: Make sure your objectives lineup with long-term aims.
• Time-bound: Establish a reasonable completion date for your objectives.

When creating goals, keep in mind to rank the tasks inside a project or under each goal based on their urgency and significance. For instance, prioritize finishing a very urgent activity before moving on to comparatively less urgent ones.

In the end, establishing precise priorities and goals aids in completing tasks, which raises productivity.

2. Create a schedule 

One of the best ways to have a productive summer break is to make and follow a timetable. A timetable gives you structure and direction by acting as a road map for your day, week, and even month. You act proactively when you know exactly what has to be done at a given time.

You can plan activities like attending summer classes, going to the library, and brushing up on that new ability to help you progress your career if the summer is a slow period at work.

The secret to creating a successful summer plan is to think about what you want to get done throughout the summer and factor in time for relaxation and renewal.

Think about when you are most productive, such as in the morning, afternoon, evening, or night. Once you’ve determined when you’re most productive, plan the majority of your key chores for these times.

You can plan your personal activities or projects for the other hours. Spending time with loved ones, learning a new language, or taking up a new pastime are a few examples.

Making a timetable helps you stay productive, prevent burnout, and maintain a healthy work-life balance. 

3. Practice self-care

Summertime can have an impact on your energy levels, concentration, and general wellbeing, so taking care of yourself is essential. Taking care of yourself over the summer helps you stay healthier, have more energy, and be more productive. 

Practicing self-care involves:

• Exercising regularly: Establish a daily exercise regimen that consists of at least 20 minutes of swimming, running, or other physical activity. This keeps you moving and enhances your physical health.
• Eating nutritious food: To maintain your health, eat a diet rich in fresh fruits, vegetables, and lean protein. Steer clear of processed foods that are heavy in fat and sugar. Eating healthily can help prevent cravings and maintain your energy levels.
• Getting a good night’s sleep: Try to get between seven and eight hours of sleep each night. A restful night’s sleep revitalizes your body and enhances your cognitive abilities.
• Staying hydrated: Throughout the day, make sure to stay hydrated. The hot summer months cause us to lose a lot of moisture. Drinking enough water helps you stay hydrated, avoid headaches, and maintain the ideal temperature of your body.
• Taking breaks: Throughout the day, take breaks at regular times. Taking breaks allows you to focus better and be more productive when you return to work after a much-needed break.
• Indulging in ‘me time’: To reduce stress, unwind, and enhance your mental health, set aside some free time to engage in fun activities.

4. Minimize distractions

Are individuals constantly sharing photos from their summer trip on social media? Do you consequently find it difficult to concentrate at work?

In the summer, social media can become an even greater distraction. It distracts you, disrupts the flow of your job, and reduces your output.

To reduce distractions, install concentrate apps or put your social media notifications on quiet. After finishing, schedule a specific time to check your social media accounts after work. 

Aside from social media, a crowded workstation can also serve as a distraction. Decluttering your workstation can help you make the most of your summer vacation. Examine your workspace, keep items that are valuable, and get rid of those that aren’t needed. 

You can stay organized, focus on the task at hand, and continue to be productive during the summer by minimizing distractions in this way.

5. Practice mindfulness and stress management

Maintaining your health and productivity during the summer and the rest of the year requires engaging in mindfulness and stress management practices. Exercises that promote mindfulness can help people focus better, make better decisions, be more creative, and ultimately be more productive at work.

Choose a comfortable sitting position and concentrate on the here and now to engage in mindfulness. Make the most of the wonderful summer weather by thinking about taking your mindfulness practice outside (just remember to wear sunscreen!).

Bring your thoughts back to the present moment gently if they arise when your thoughts stray. Regular practice enables you to become more aware of your thoughts and emotions, achieve inner peace, and give your full attention to the here and now.

By assisting you in recognizing stressors and triggers, mindfulness also serves as a stress-reduction strategy. Apart from mindfulness, stress-reduction methods include:

• Deep breathing: To have a relaxing influence on your body and reduce tension, take a deep breath through your nose, hold it for a few seconds, and then release it through your mouth.
• Visualization: Consider a positive memory from your history, such as a celebration or happy occasion, a successful endeavor, or the liberating freedom of a school break. You can bring back the wonderful feelings that go along with that experience and lessen your current tension by imagining it.

6. Use time management techniques

You could find yourself putting things off or struggling with restlessness and distraction over the summer. That makes complete sense. But you need to organize your time well if you want to make sure you have enough time to enjoy the summer.

Feeling as though even routine work duties take longer than normal during the summer is the last thing you want. It’s crucial to change your inner monologue and use empowering expressions like “I choose to” to avoid this. For instance, “I decided to finish writing this blog post by 5 p.m. today so I can play catch with my dog in the park for the remainder of the day.”

Try out these time management techniques to help you get there: 

• Eat the frog technique: Start your workday by tackling the most difficult or disagreeable chores. After completing those, you have the rest of the day to devote to enjoyable activities.
• Time blocking method: Break up your day into time blocks and give each block a specific assignment to complete. This will enable you to work deeply and successfully finish crucial and urgent jobs.
• Pomodoro technique: Choose one task, give it your full attention for twenty-five minutes, and then take a five-minute break. After doing this four times, take a lengthier rest period of twenty to thirty minutes. You may avoid procrastinating and complete concentrated work without getting fatigued by using this productivity tip.

To maintain your productivity, boost your efficiency, and improve your work output, use these time management strategies. The finest aspect? You’ll have more time to engage in enjoyable summertime activities.

7. Take work outside the office

Significant productivity losses can result from poor indoor environmental quality, per a study. Therefore, aim to acquire as much natural light and decent air quality as you can while working to create a healthy environment and increase productivity.

This entails, if at all feasible, keeping your windows open and perhaps adding some indoor plants to your workspace. In the workplace, plants can help remove carbon dioxide from the air, making it safe to breathe. Good air quality increases health, improves work performance, and lowers stress and ailments like colds and coughs. 

If at all feasible, work outdoors of the office during the summer, as this is the ideal time of year to acquire your recommended daily intake of vitamin D. Hold meetings in an open area with plants and enough light outside the office. Additionally, anytime your staff members take a break, encourage them to walk outside. But again, don’t forget to wear sunscreen and a hat! Safety is the top priority.

8. Allow flexible work options

Giving your employees flexible work options, like summer Fridays, working from home, a 9/80 schedule, and more, can help them fight off the summertime productivity slump.

Half-day Fridays, or “summer Fridays,” allow workers to take Friday afternoons off from work. Four-day workweeks, in which employees take full Fridays off each week and enjoy a longer weekend, have also proven successful for some firms. 

According to studies, four-day workweeks have been shown to improve employee satisfaction, mental health, and productivity. The productivity of their businesses increased slightly for 34% of leaders and significantly for another 15%.

9. Host team bonding activities

It’s a terrific idea to have summer workshops, team-building exercises, and even business gatherings outside of the office because most people enjoy being outside in the summer.

To foster a spirit of adventure and healthy competition among team members, plan enjoyable events like volleyball matches, hikes, summer barbecues, volunteer excursions to community service organizations, and other enjoyable activities. These activities will also give your staff the ideal opportunity to spend quality time together outside, fostering a sense of job satisfaction and enhancing general wellbeing. 

Team-building exercises foster unity and improve relationships within the team. Even in the summer, workers are more likely to put in more effort and be more productive when they feel supported, connected, and know they can count on one another.

10. Celebrate progress and other achievements

Acknowledge, value, and celebrate the diligent labor and commitment your employees have made to the business. The additional motivation boost would be beneficial for team members who are not taking a summer holiday!

Establish a rotating recognition board that highlights one employee’s accomplishments and progress each week to accomplish this successfully. You may also consider holding mini parties every few weeks to commemorate your team’s work-related milestones, such as sealing a sale or completing a significant project.

Your employees’ morale will rise as a result of these acts, which will make them feel appreciated and respected. They will inspire them to put in more effort and instill a feeling of contentment and optimism. This may assist accelerate your company’s productivity during the summer. 

Conclusion

Although summer can be a season full of distractions, you can stay focused, productive, and even thrive during this time if you use the correct tactics. Making the most of the sunny days and striking a healthy work-life balance may be accomplished by having clear goals, taking care of yourself, and managing your time well. Making minor adjustments, like practicing mindfulness, working in flexible settings, or commemorating team accomplishments, can have a big impact on wellbeing and productivity.

At BHIVE Workspace, we understand the importance of providing an environment that fosters productivity and collaboration, even during the summer months. Our thoughtfully designed coworking spaces are perfect for professionals seeking a balance between focus and flexibility. With ample natural light, community activities, and inspiring workspaces, BHIVE empowers you to stay on top of your game all year round.

So, take charge of your summer, and make it both productive and enjoyable with BHIVE Workspace by your side!

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