Work vs Play: How to be productive in the summer!

Time to make the most of every sunny day we get – trips to the beach and picnics in the park, packing the sun cream and sunglasses everywhere you go!

 

But…

 

What happens when you have to balance a summer of work and fun at the same time?

 

Many people, including our LCVA family, are working from home throughout this summer. We know how hard this can be – when the weather is great and it feels like everyone else is out enjoying the sun, it’s hard to have the discipline to stay inside and work.

 

This blog is all about why working during the summer can be difficult, and how to overcome these challenges.

 

Let’s start with exploring why many people find it hard to be productive in the summer months, especially when working from home.

 

The most common reason why people struggle at work in general is due to mental blocks. A mental block is a barrier that stands in the way of your creativity, motivation, and productivity. They can prevent you from performing to the best of your ability at work, or even stop you from being able to carry out your tasks at all. Mental blocks are commonly caused by a lack of rest or sleep, cluttered or chaotic work environments, and overflowing workloads.

 

But why are these mental block so common in the summer? Well, mental blocks can also be caused by mental exhaustion and decision fatigue. This occurs when your brain has too many decisions and ideas to think about, and so it chooses to procrastinate rather than deal with them. Summer is such a busy time, where we not only have to consider workloads, but also plans with family and friends, holidays, and weekends away, and childcare. With so much going on, mental blocks are more common than ever!

 

Another cause of summer mental blocks is the desire to forget about work and make the most of the good weather! There’s no denying that it’s easy to feel like you’re missing out on a summer of fun when you’re sat at your desk day after day. Sacrificing an afternoon cleaning out your inbox for a trip to the park or missing out on tidying up your home workspace in favour of sunbathing can seem like a good idea at the time – but soon these moments add up and result in a workload that will have you working through a nice sunny weekend!

 

So, how can you create a good balance of work and play?

 

We’re going to focus on how you can stay productive over this summer. Productive is one of our favourite words here at LCVA. Many people think that working long hours and sacrificing plans with the people you love is the only way to complete your summer workload. But being productive means getting the most out of your time – effective and efficient is key. If you are productive with your time, you can complete your workload and have time left over to spend doing the things you love!

 

Let’s take a look at how to be productive over the coming summer.

 

First things first – embrace the power of setting specific and realistic goals.

 

Studies have shown that individuals who set clear and well-defined goals tend to perform better and stay motivated for longer. Breaking big daunting tasks into smaller and more manageable goals is a clear roadmap for success. For example, rather than writing “50-slide presentation on this year’s finances by August” on your to-do list, trying writing “3 slides on January’s finances by Friday”. That way, you’ve broken down a big task into little weekly chunks and before you know it, the big task has been completed!

 

Up next is time management methods!

 

Managing your time wisely is super important! Otherwise you’ll end up frantically typing away at your computer for hours in the evenings, trying to cram everything in. Working in small blocks of time with short breaks in between has been proven to be the best way. It capitalises on our brain’s ability to maintain focus for shorter durations and rewards us with a short five-minute break to reset the mind and return to work with fresh eyes. Research has found that this improves concentration, prevents burnout, and increases productivity. You could even use a timer to maintain this strategy – as long as you don’t end up counting down the seconds until you can make your next cup of tea!

 

Another great tip is to create a good working environment.

 

This is essential to productivity, as our environment strongly influences our behaviour. Make sure your workspace is organised and clean, and that you have everything you need. This can be your laptop, work phone, and notebook – but don’t underestimate the power of a water bottle and snacks! These will keep you hydrated and full of energy for the working day ahead. The next step is to remove distractions. Any books or magazines should be out of sight and out of mind, switch off the TV, and most importantly, set clear boundaries with those you live with. Make sure they know when you are working and don’t want to be disturbed! There’s nothing worse than losing your train of thought when you’re in the zone! These small changes will make a big difference in creating an environment that supports your focus and minimises the urge to procrastinate.

 

Next up is budgeting your time!

 

The previous two tips will already make sure that you are spending your time wisely, but you can never be too prepared with time budgeting. The key thing is to have your time budget reflect your work priorities. Take note of each task’s deadline and urgency level to help you pinpoint high-priority tasks you need to focus on. Then, set aside a block of time that matches each task’s duration – the more skill and effort requires, the more time you should allocate to that task. Track your time and more notes of how long you spend on each task, and as the weeks pass, you’ll have a solid understanding of how much to set aside for different tasks.

 

Another big tip is to manage your stress levels.

 

This is crucial for optimal productivity. We know that when workloads are overbearing and deadlines are looming, work can become extremely stressful and have negative impacts on mental health. In fact, numerous studies have shown that high anxiety and stress levels hinder our ability to concentrate and perform effectively. A great way to combat stress is to try out management techniques such as mindful meditation, deep breathing exercises, and physical activities – these techniques can help regulate your emotions and reduce anxiety. Nurturing a clam and focused mindset is the best way to create the mental space necessary for productivity to thrive.

 

And last but by no means least, practice self-compassion!

 

Self-compassion is a great thing to practice throughout all areas of your life, but it has been known to significantly improve motivation and productivity at work. When faced with setbacks or challenges, treat yourself with kindness and compassion rather than being overly critical. Making a mistake or having an unproductive day is all part of the learning process – you can’t grow or improve in your career without them!

 

The best way to be self-compassionate is to think of yourself as a friend or loved one. Would you criticise them for spending longer than usual on a particular task? Would you chastise them for taking a break when things get too overwhelming? Of course not! You would offer them encouragement and understanding! So next time you have a bit of a rubbish day at work, make sure to practice positive self-talk and remind yourself that everyone has an off day. You’ve got this!

 

So there you have it! We hope this blog has given you some tips for being productive over the summer, which will help free up some time for you to spend having fun with the people you love!

 

If you want to find out more about how to stay productive, or take advantage of the resources that we offer, our online store is the best place to look!

 

Our Project Plan can offer you the templates to make sure your work is organised, complete with weekly, monthly, and personal planners – the perfect purchase to make sure you achieve your summer work goals!

 

And our Summer Holiday Planner is the ultimate summer must-have for working parents who need to balance their workload and making sure they have a summer of fun ready for the kids!

 

Check out both of these products and much more here: https://www.thelcvastore.com