Summer should be fun, at least some of the time. Long weekends, warm summer nights, ripe summer produce… there should be tons of moments worth savoring in the months ahead.
Even if you:
- Don’t really love summer
- Are overwhelmed with work
- Are caring for an aging parent
- Feel stressed about money, or health concerns, or a family member who’s struggling.
- Know that summer is the busiest time of year for your business, and you’re bracing for a lot of 60-hour work weeks.
We all only get so many summers. You want to make the most of this season, both personally and professionally. Good time management is a huge part of creating that balance. Having an overall plan for how you’re going to use and prioritize your time this summer lets you enjoy whatever the season brings. You can laser-focus and be productive while you’re working, and be fully present when you’re in personal time instead of stressing about work.
Ready to get into a summertime time management mindset? I’ve compiled a list of 7 general rules for creating a productive and joyful summer. Here they are, in no particular order:
#1: Go into Summer Being Clear About Your Peak Priorities.
Forget what other people are doing. What’s most important to YOU, going into this summer? Getting crystal clear about that early into the season helps you approach time management in a way that’s actually going to support your ability to work on those big priorities.
Ask yourself:
- What are the big goals you want to move the needle on before the end of summer?
- Who do you want to spend your time with?
- What do you want to achieve for your business?
- Are there specific activities you want carve out time for?
If you’re someone who likes making lists, think about creating a summer bucket list. Get all the things you really, really want to do at work and in your personal life down on paper so you don’t lose track of those must-do activities.
#2: Keep a “Resource Maximization” Mindset.
You can’t do it all, have time for it all, and afford it all in summertime. Your time, money, and energy are all limited resources. In this differently busy time of year, you get to be extra protective of those resources. Instead of dwelling on the vacations you can’t afford and all the social stuff you don’t have time for, ask yourself if you’re maximizing the money and free time you do have.
#3: Adjust Your Routines for Summer Productivity and Peak Time Management.
There are a lot of reasons why your daily schedule and routines might shift during the summer months. For parents, kids being out of school is a big one. Hot weather and long days of sunshine might alter your sleep and exercise routines. Preparing for long weekends and vacations might require you to build some extra time into the workdays before those breaks. Summer also brings new distractions and opportunities that can feed procrastination. The “quick” break you take to go grab an iced coffee at your favorite shop, or jump in the pool, can turn into an hour-long break that you didn’t plan for.
Everyone’s wired differently, so how you adjust your routines for summer is personal. Maybe it’s shifting your workday to start earlier so you can take those lazy hour-long breaks you crave. Maybe you outsource some household tasks to paid help so you can create some more free time for yourself.
#4: Give Yourself Permission to do “Nothing.”
Doing “nothing” might literally mean lying around on a chaise lounge for hours and watching the clouds move. Doodling in a sketchbook. Making up silly songs with the little kids in your life. Wandering around the grocery store with no particular objective.
Doing “nothing” really just means spending your time on activities that aren’t objectively productive. You’re just being a human being, enjoying your life, and not doing anything that needs to be checked off a to-do list. You’re allowed to take that time and enjoy it. I actually believe that many of the “doing nothing” activities ARE productive because they allow you to refuel, recharge, and be present. Sometimes my clients find that those are the MOST productive activities because they often lead to states that allow the creative juices to flow.
#5: Get the Big Rocks in Place on Your Summer Calendar.
Good time management in summer is largely about flexibility. It’s a time of year when people’s schedules are constantly shifting so it can be hard to nail down plans. You may also want to keep yourself open for spontaneous fun. Scheduling every work day down to the minute is too restrictive for a lot of folks in summer. Get the appointments, deadlines, trips, scheduled meetings, and other scheduled stuff into your calendar. For the rest of your schedule, keep things as loose as possible. Every day you can prioritize your time depending on what’s most important to you that day.
#6: Expect to Navigate Uncertainty, Unease, Anxiety, and Other Unpleasant Feelings.
We all know that summertime isn’t all beach days and barbecues. Things are tense, stressful, and uncertain for a lot of us these days. If you move into summer expecting it to be The Best, Most Fun Summer of All Time, you might be setting yourself up for disappointment. Acknowledging that stress and hard times are also going to be part of your summer, and that you’re going to have some bad days, helps you create reasonable expectations.
#7: Create Time to Think About Growth and the Future.
Summer doesn’t last forever. Build time into your calendar to plan for fall and beyond. Maybe it’s 30 minutes you set aside every Sunday, or a bigger block of time that you schedule for every month. Use this time to strategize about growing your business and setting yourself up for a highly productive and lucrative year-end.
Need more support with time management and productivity for summer?
I’m here to help you maximize your resources and create plans that help you manage your time, so you can move your business forward and enjoy your life on the personal side.
Starting June 16th (it’s not too late to join!) and August 18th, join me for Time Matters Boot Camp 90-Day Program. Ready to take control of your time in a way that’s sustainable long-term, and actually works for your brain, your business, and your life?
Click here for more information and to register: https://www.truefocuscoaching.com/tmbc/.
Be well,
Sarah
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