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Tips and tricks to avoid the 'summertime slump' at work

Tips and tricks to avoid the 'summertime slump' at work

Campfires, sandy beaches, barbeques, lots of laughter and long summer nights. It’s the summer dream for many of us, but we’re often faced with a much less relaxing reality: staff meetings, deadlines and reports as we gaze over our cubical walls, wondering what’s happening in the outside world.

With moments like these, it’s easy to get distracted at work and lose focus on what’s happening in your office. We start to daydream about the nice weather and summer plans and forget all about that end-of-day deadline.

“We’re all still kids at heart, waiting for school to be out for summer. It doesn’t matter what our age is, there’s a part of us that imagines everyone else is having a picnic while we’re stuck at our desks,” says employment expert and CEO of The Bagg Group, Geoff Bagg. “On the bright side, we’re all feeling we’d rather be sailing so there’s a heightened sense of camaraderie that happens in the workplace during the summer months.”

Things can be even tougher for those that are self-employed. For independent business owners it's even more important to push yourself through the dreaded nine-to-five.

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“While I may not have a traditional manager, at the end of the day, I am still accountable to my clients and my bank account,” says Corinne Impey, Founder and Lead Consultant at Six Words Communication Co. “Like anyone else, if I don’t work, I don’t get paid. And the stakes are that much higher given that it’s my reputation and the health of my business on the line.”

So for those who are feeling a summer work slump is effecting daily performance, take note of these tips and tricks to help you gain your footing so you’re still up for that promotion or raise at the end of the year.

Failing to Plan, is Planning to Fail

Just because the weather is nice doesn’t mean that our calendars and schedule get washed away like footprints on a sandy beach. It’s important to keep your time scheduled in order to keep on track. Make it a habit to start each Monday morning with a list of all the items you need to accomplish by the end of the week.

It’s also important to keep in mind that many of your clients, partners and colleagues may take advantage of their summer holidays, so include that in your planning. Planning and being accountable for your work load will make you less likely to day dream about your weekend getaways or what bathing suit to pack for the beach.

“Setting goals you can actually accomplish is huge,” says Impey. “I try and set daily and weekly to-do lists to help me stay on track, but also feel the satisfaction of checking things off my lists as I go.”

Cheers to the freakin’ weekend

During the winter months it’s easy to get into the habit of spending your weekends curled up on the sofa surfing Netflix and ordering take-out. But in order to feel accomplished and like you’ve taken advantage of the summer weather, it’s important to plan fun-filled weekends with friends and family.

It can be the perfect time to plan a get-together with those you haven’t seen in a while, get outside chores and goals accomplished at home or even perfect your barbequing skills. Whatever you plan to do, making the most of your weekend will leave you feeling refreshed and ready to jump back into your work week on Monday morning.

It also allows you to create bonds with your colleagues and clients when you do return from an exciting weekend when you’re able to swap stories and tips about the best way to keep your patios mosquito-free or grill the perfect steak.

Fresh air creates fresh ideas

(Photo via Thinkstock)
(Photo via Thinkstock)

It’s easy to get into the habit of working through our breaks and lunches when we are striving to hit those end-of-day deadlines. But what a difference an hour can make if you take full advantage of it! Use your breaks and lunches to get outside and enjoy those hazy summer afternoons to feel restored.

“When you take a break, really take a break,” said Impey. “Like most people, I’m practically attached to my smart phone and spend a large portion of my day at my computer. For me, taking a break means totally disconnecting. Whether it’s taking 20 minutes to go for a walk or an hour to fit in a yoga class.”

Take advantage of the warm weather by bringing a picnic lunch to your local park. If you’ve forgotten to bring your lunch for the day it may be the perfect opportunity to hit up a local patio with your colleagues for lunch in the sunshine.Or, eat a quick bite at your desk and spend your lunch break going for a walk, either solo or with some work colleagues.

Do you need to have a meeting? Make it a walking meeting. Research shows that people focus more and brainstorm better when they are walking. Plan your one-on-one meetings with colleagues in the form of an outside walk to rejuvenate your work day and keep your work on track.

“We know from productivity studies that 15 to 20 minutes spent ‘outside the box’ outdoors is more revitalizing than a double-double,” says Bagg.

Ditch the all-black everything

Black tights, black heels, black blazer, black dress. Sounds pretty bland, right? During the winter we tend to lean towards neutral colours. Add some summer fun to your wardrobe to help you jump out of bed in the morning and feel excited to get ready for work.

Consider picking up a fun summer print, an embellished sandal, a colourful polo or a bright statement piece such as a belt or jewellery. For those that do work in a professional office setting where sandals and colour go against the company handbook, make sure to take cues from your boss, Bagg says. If he or she isn't sporting flip-flops and shorts, then neither should you. Surveys have shown that clothing judged as unprofessional can actually impact an employee's chance at a promotion. Stay within company guidelines by making smaller changes, like a bright new shade of lipstick or a breezy new cologne.

Reinvent your routines

If you take your local transit to work or always take the same routes, something as simple as altering your route or finding new ways to get to and from your destination can help keep things fresh in the summer. You may even be able to save some money for the summer and skip on buying a local transit pass if you decide to walk or bike to work instead.

Some companies allow their employees to work from home a few days out of the week during the summer or work on a summer schedule. If this is an option for you, mix it up! Try a new environment and see what kind of a difference a change in scenery can do to keep you on track and focused on your work load. Or perhaps you can take up your employer on their summer hour schedule and leave a bit earlier on a Friday. Either way, if you have these options available to you, make the most of them.

“The different work schedule is a break in routine that makes the summer months feel special, not like every other month. I encourage companies to adopt summer hours as a way to boost morale, energy and productivity. Summer hours send the message that employers care about their employees and want them to enjoy themselves,” added Bagg.

Take that vacation time

(Photo via Thinkstock)
(Photo via Thinkstock)

For many of us, what throws us off track during the summer months is our own daydreaming and thoughts of summer fun. Most of us are entitled to a few days away each year so what better time of year to use that banked holiday time? Don’t have a ton time to get away? Even just taking a half-day holiday on a Friday can make a huge difference. You can also expand your weekends by planning them around statutory holidays. This way you’re increasing your time off without making it feel like you’re missing out on important things at the office.

Don’t have the money to jump in a plane? Check your local news websites for local listings of what’s happening in the area. Take the time to check out your local park, museums, beaches and sporting events.

“An employee is not an island, they have friends and families and everyone needs stress-free time-off to bond with people in their lives and create memories that they can share. This is what quality of life looks like,” says Bagg. “The reason summer holidays are different than others is that weather allows us to have a great time and recharge even if we’re just hanging out in the backyard or going to a park. If you don’t have a holiday budget, you can still have a good time with your kids or friends just enjoying the city.”

Whether you are going away or staying close to home just taking a few days off to relax and enjoy the things around you will make you feel refueled and geared up to take on that next work project.