Mid-July tends to be the point in the summer where everyone starts wondering… where the heck is time going? Wasn’t it just Memorial Day?
Realizing that we’re about halfway through summer always comes as a surprise, somehow—no matter how many summers we’ve lived through.
It’s just that there’s so much to do in summer, between your business and your personal life. Noticing that it’s halfway gone might trigger some stress or panic because it feels like you’re running out of time. That pressure just makes it even more daunting to manage your time well.
Summer time management is its own kind of unique challenge.
A lot of factors converge to make focusing and productivity especially tough at this time of year. All those pre-existing time management and productivity problems you struggle with are still there. Taking vacations can actually feel like they add to your workload. The extra demands on your time and the pressure to have “the best summer ever!” can only compound any stress you have around your schedule.
And hey, maybe for you this really will be the best summer ever! Or, maybe not. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but you still deserve to enjoy what’s left of this summer—without letting any balls drop on the professional side. Growing your business, working at peak productivity, and soaking up summer fun with your favorite people? That’s absolutely doable.
Read on for some strategies to make the most of what’s left of summer, without sacrificing productivity at work!
With the summer halfway gone, there’s no time to waste. These are just a few simple actions you can take right now to make sure the next six weeks are full of moments and experiences to remember.
- Take a step back to assess your summer so far.
This is a time of year when we get so busy that everything can start blending together. It gets hard to actually remember everything that you’ve done and experienced so far this summer. Forcing yourself to stop and go back over the past six to eight weeks helps you do a frank assessment of how you’ve been using your time. Review your calendar, photos, texts, emails, journals, to jog your memory about how you’ve spent each week of the summer. What were the highlights? What do you want more time for in the back half of summer? Do you have regrets about any time management or scheduling decisions you’ve made?
- Identify the time wasters and productivity challenges that have popped up over the last six weeks.
Again, summer time management is its own beast, and every summer is different. So look at specifically what’s been distracting you or keeping you from achieving peak productivity at work so far this summer. Is anything interfering with your sleep schedule? Do you struggle to focus because your office is too warm? Are you spending way too much time scrolling social media to look at everyone else’s vacation photos? Notice the things that are pulling you away from your most important tasks. Becoming more aware of those time wasters helps you become more mindful about avoiding them or resolving them.
- Survey your network.
The people closest to you, at work and on the personal side, can be a great resource whenever you’re thinking about ways to maximize your time. They may have insights you don’t have. Ask your friends, family, and your team: What should we, collectively, prioritize before the end of summer? What do you want us to get done together before fall?
- Make time for fall and year-end planning.
It’s hard to fully relax and enjoy yourself when you know that you’re dropping balls at work. For entrepreneurs and other self-employed professionals, all the big-picture planning for your business falls to you. Carving out time to strategize about what’s coming up this fall and winter could help you be more present now. Let yourself fully enjoy and experience your summer without feeling guilty about neglecting your business; you’re on top of things.
Three Ideas for Making More Fun This Summer (Without Sacrificing Productivity)
- Cancel or turn down something you really don’t want to do. This might not apply to everyone! But if you’re someone who struggles to say no to requests or invitations (even when you know you don’t have the time or energy)? This summer, give yourself the gift of practicing the art of the graceful “no.” Taking something off your plate can be freeing! Choose something else that’s more personally fulfilling to allocate that time toward.
- Set a fun new summer goal. “Fun” and “new” are the operative words here! It can be small, it can be silly, and it’s just for you. “Eat ice cream every day.” “Ride my bike X miles before Labor Day.” “Listen to a new podcast every week.” It could be a joint goal made with your partner, your kids, or a friend. Whatever it is, choose something that will bring you joy.
- Take stock of the work tasks that feel the most fun to you. Obviously, you can’t avoid the less fun parts of your work entirely. But, noticing the things you enjoy the most is still useful. Keep those tasks in mind for moments when you’re especially overwhelmed or struggling to focus. Spending even 10 minutes on activities that you enjoy keeps you engaged in working productively through those stressful moments.
Need More Support to Take Control of Time Management Before Summer Ends?
There are a lot of reasons why smart, accomplishment professionals struggle to take control of their time and defeat their productivity challenges. Unlearning bad habits and adopting new time management strategies is hard when you’re not sure exactly what’s going wrong, or where to start to fix things.
Attorneys, my upcoming training is just for you. Join me on July 22nd at 12 pm ET for Unlocking Productivity for Attorneys: Seize Control of Your Day and Thrive. Click here for more information and to reserve your spot in this free training.
Be well,
Sarah
