Optimizing Productivity for Summer Success!
With long days, warm weather, and plans with friends and family, summer can be the highlight of our year, but also a challenge for workplace productivity. Its a struggle to sit behind your desk and focus when there's so much to embrace elsewhere! What's more, heat and humidity can quickly drive us to distraction.
However, with the right workplace strategies and some motivation tactics that work for you, you can make the most of your workplace productivity and ensure you're able to fully enjoy the sunshine, stress-free, when the work day's over. Let's explore some of our top tips for summer success from FlexiSpot.
Reset your Work Environment for Summer Productivity
Ensure your work environment, whether home office or shared office space, is primed for summer productivity. First things first, monitor temperature control - bring in some fans or other air conditioning, and open windows strategically during cooler or shady periods of the day for the best airflow.
Natural light and ventilation can also help boost mood and energy levels, whilst rearranging your workspace to work in the best areas of natural light can improve concentration and help you feel like you're not missing the sunshine!
Hydrate and Nourish Yourself Properly
Hydration is important all year round, but we need more water in the hot summer months. Make sure you're staying hydrated throughout the day - starting the day with an herbal tea and keeping a water bottle to hand make this an easy habit!
Healthy eating, with plenty of light, nutritious meals and plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, can help keep your energy up with none of the post-lunch slump. Cucumbers, watermelons, and oranges are also high in water content, so a great hydration boost too.
Incorporate Breaks
In the heat, it's harder to focus and keep productivity levels high. Taking regular breaks throughout your work day can help you refresh and stay energized. Aim for a 5-minute break every 30 to 45 minutes to keep you feeling relaxed and focused on your to-do list.
Keep Active!
Whilst the hot weather can feel overwhelming, finding a way to keep active and get some exercise in is a great step to improving your work productivity and achieving your summer success! A mid-morning walk, a lunchtime jog, or an evening yoga session or team sports match can be the boost you need to lift your energy and feel revitalized in the summer months - whilst making the most of the outdoors!
Spending time outdoors, even for a short while, can invigorate the mind and body and shake away any workplace stressors or mental blocks. Any kind of physical activity outdoors can prime you for better clarity and focus throughout your working week.
Make Time for Mental Wellbeing
Whilst priming your workspace and routine for the best productivity within the working day, it's also crucial to be nurturing your mental well-being in all other areas of your life. A gentle work-life balance over the summer months can boost enthusiasm for all areas of your life as you allow yourself time to enjoy and share the season, instead of keeping yourself stuck behind your desk.
Nurturing your mental health and well-being can also help prevent workplace burnout and greater mental health challenges. Further well-being tips, like incorporating mindfulness or meditation practices, can be another great step. Just 5 to 10 minutes a day of meditation or journaling can help us feel more present less stressed and more capable of tackling challenges as we approach the demands of the week.
Reward Yourself!
Let's also not forget the childhood thrill or a well-done sticker or activity as a reward for hard work! Finding ways to reward ourselves can go a long way in maintaining a positive attitude and drive for productivity, throughout your work week. Whether that's plans to meet friends after you finish a report, or a longer lunch after you tackle those last few items on the to-do list, clever hacks to reward yourself for your work can boost productivity and have you thriving.
Productivity Hacks for Your Ultimate Summer Success Story
From gorgeous weather to exciting plans elsewhere, staying focused on our work can be a struggle in the summer months, especially when we're bound to a desk. However, some handy hacks can go a long way in encouraging our productivity; from the right working environment to physical health tips and clever rewards and incentives, there's plenty to help you thrive this summer.
Balancing work and well-being, recognizing your achievements, and taking time to plan and enjoy the season, can all help us achieve our ultimate summer success story.
