With vacations, warm-weather activities and a renewed sense of energy to occupy your mind, staying productive in the summer months can sometimes be a difficult task. But whether you’re an entrepreneur trying to grow your business or a busy professional trying to get through a project, finding ways to maintain focus is key to being able to do your best work.
Luckily, you don’t have to sacrifice your summer in order to stay productive. According to the members of Young Entrepreneur Council, it’s all about balance. Here, they discuss some of their best tips for how to find your focus and stay productive when the joys of summer are making you feel a bit distracted.
1. Include Summer Activities In Your Schedule
One tip I have for professionals who are trying to maintain their productivity during the summer is to try to incorporate summer-related activities into your schedule—such as outdoor exercise or socializing with friends and family—to make your workday more enjoyable and maintain a positive mindset. Additionally, you can establish a routine or schedule that balances work and leisure time. Setting specific times for work and breaks can create a sense of structure and reduce the temptation to procrastinate or get distracted by summer activities. – Anna Anisin, DataScience.Salon
2. Concentrate On Fewer, Higher-End Projects
During the summer months filled with nice days, less is more. I find it’s better to concentrate on fewer, higher-end projects rather than a lot of small projects that inevitably will take up more time and pay less. Psychologically, you feel better when you have one or two projects to work on because you can set your time for work and then enjoy the rest of your day. I can feel stressed when I know there are 12 different small projects to work on during the day and find myself fidgety to get done to get outside. Shifting from project to project wears on the mind because you must turn your thoughts in a different direction each time. You may still have some small projects that require work, so don’t lump them all into the same day. Split them up so they don’t feel so cumbersome. – Baruch Labunski, Rank Secure
3. Turn Fun Activities Into Rewards
It’s helpful to think of happy summer activities as rewards for doing specific tasks. This way, you can enjoy summer and all its fun even more because you’ve turned it into a treat for being productive. However, I do recommend taking time off and tuning out from time to time. It’s a psychological necessity to stop working sometimes. It gives your brain some much-needed rest and also allows the ideas you’ve been working on to process in the back of your head. You will find that you’ll have a brilliant idea or solution when you stop working on it relentlessly and allow your mind to process it while you do other fun and enjoyable things. – Syed Balkhi, WPBeginner
4. Listen To Your Distractions
If I find my mind wandering because the weather is so nice and I’d rather be out on a run, hike or mountain bike ride, I listen to that. Then, I find the time to reward myself with getting outside. I find that I’m more productive if I listen to what I need, especially when it comes to being outside and active. These two things are great for my mental and physical health, which truly help me serve my company better. – Jeff Cayley, Worldwide Cyclery
5. Stick To A Set Routine
With the summer months upon us, remaining productive and focused isn’t easy. While taking time to enjoy the season is important, it’s also essential to stay on track with your goals. One tip for professionals trying to maintain their productivity during these months is to keep a routine and stick with it. Try setting aside specific work times each day and ensure you stick with that schedule. This will help you stay focused and motivated even when the joys of summer distract you. Additionally, try taking breaks throughout the day. Getting some fresh air or going for a walk can help clear your mind and give you a new perspective on tasks that may have been feeling overwhelming. – Kristin Kimberly Marquet, Marquet Media, LLC
6. Shorten Your Workweek
One way to give yourself more time to enjoy the summer months is to switch to a four-day workweek. During winter, I typically work eight hours, five days a week. When the warm weather rolls around, I switch to four 10-hour days. This seemingly small change gives me an extra day each week to spend time outside. If you’re not sure if this strategy is right for you, try it on a short-term basis. If you enjoy the benefits, make the switch. – John Turner, SeedProd LLC
7. Embrace Timeboxing
Embracing timeboxing can help you stay productive amid the ever-present thoughts of leisure activities in the summer months. It’s an effective technique that helps you utilize your time efficiently and keep up with set deliverables by avoiding all distractions. Using this technique, you split your work schedule into different timeboxes containing tasks with clear deadlines. This makes your work time-bound and reduces the chances for you to be distracted. Plus, by practicing timeboxing, you’ll be able to utilize your time efficiently and you’ll have more time to spare for leisure activities. It’ll be a win-win for you. – Jared Atchison, WPForms
8. Plan Your Leave Ahead Of Time
Outline your recreational activities and vacations when you make your resolutions and plans at the beginning of each year. This means you will have exciting things to look forward to instead of suffering from the fear of missing out. Knowing you have these plans will help you concentrate on work. All of us need a hard-earned breather from our professional lives, and planning leaves ahead of time can help anyone stay focused and productive in the meantime. I have been diligently following this rule for as long as I can remember, and it keeps me at my productive best, no matter the time of year. If you’re unable to take time off work to indulge in fun summer activities, regularly take small breaks. Go for a short walk outside and grab an ice cream from the corner store. Even simple activities can lift your mood. – Bryce Welker, Crush The EA Exam
9. Work Outside As Much As Possible
I think professionals should make the best of summer and try to work outside, if possible. You could go to a cafe, work in the park or have a glass of iced tea by your side as you work. Summer naturally brings a sense of lightness and joy to the air, and I don’t think you need more motivation than that to do your work well. Instead, let the season inspire you by shaping your marketing campaigns or doing other activities for your business—like having a team outing. In this way, you can make summer months fun but also productive. – Blair Williams, MemberPress
