5 ways to balance work and play this summer
We get it – you’re sat inside while the sun is shining outside, you hear laughter in the parks and see vacay content everytime you look down at your phone. Hot days, long nights… summer is a lively time that can make work feel like a slog. So how can you embrace it, without neglecting your to-do list or walking out on work at the first suggestion of a beach day? We have some tips to keep summertime productivity solid.
Plan your fun
We’d never suggest you forgo the fun altogether! One way to make working through summer bearable is to have the good things to look forward to. Book your holiday, plan the picnic in the park, log your intention to hit the beach on the weekend. So you know what you’re working towards. The anticipation of those things to come can be a great productivity boost for getting stuff done in the days leading up to them.
Put your apps on pause
Social media is a trap when you’re the one at work all day while seemingly every person you know is holidaying or galavanting in the sun. Stay away from the apps during work hours so you don’t get distracted by where you’d rather be. Instagram, Facebook and TikTok all have time limits you can set in your profile settings within each app.
Alternatively, there are other apps that can force this habit, and keep your focus where you want it. Such as Forest – open the app when it’s focus time and the longer you go without touching your phone, the bigger your tree (and, ultimately your forest) grows!
Keep your body clock on time
In summer, the daylight hours are longer. Brighter mornings are great for getting you up and motivated for the day ahead. And lighter evenings mean more time to get outside when your work day ends.
But it also means there’s more chance of disrupted sleep, or out-of-whack body clocks. Keep a regular and consistent sleep schedule to ensure you’re rested. And invest in a silk sleep mask to help block the summer light.
Find your summer schedule
Once you’ve got your sleep rhythm working well, try and plan the rest of your tasks to a summer schedule – tick off heftier tasks (such as going to the gym, cleaning your house or brainstorming big ideas) first thing before the heat kicks in. And leave easier tasks (such as emails and admin) for the heat of the day when energy is lower.
Take that vacation
And finally, be sure to find ways to rest and recharge. Take the vacation, and really switch off. Put Do Not Disturb on your work phone, emails and message platforms and resist being lured in to anything going on back home. You’ll be far more productive when you return that way. Pack a lightweight sleep mask so you can prioritise rest, and come back fully recharged.
