Memorial Day has come and gone marking the unofficial start to summer. Did you know productivity can fall during the months of June, July and August by 20% and distractions can increase by 45%?
Here are a few reasons why it’s so hard to work during the summer:
Soaring Temperatures
Heat makes it hard to concentrate. It makes you feel lethargic. But then you get inside and the AC is blasting which according to this Cornell study can also cause you to make more errors.
Academic Conditioning
Remember when we got out of school during these months? We could just wake up, watch cartoons, ride a bike to a friend’s house and play all day. Now our summer vacation may not even last a week.
Fewer Staff
During summer, you and your staff are rotating through days off making it harder to complete projects.
Family Distractions
If you have kids that are now out of school, finding (and affording) child care may be difficult for you. Or if you work from home, you may have more interruptions to your work day.
FOMO
That “Fear of Missing Out” can be powerful! It’s beautiful outside. Maybe your partner is taking the kids to a park for the day. Or your friends are all at the beach. It’s easier (and more fun) to spend the day thinking about what you would rather be doing than working.
So how can you make it through these lazy hazy days?
I assume you can’t just close up shop for the summer, so try these tips to help you in the office:
- Go in earlier, but leave earlier.
- Make a fun summery drink like fruit-infused water.
- Create a summer playlist.
- Add something bright to your office or desk.
- Have an ice-cream break.
- Get a plant.
- Eat outside or grab lunch with friends.
