This is a summer like no other, to put it mildly. The entire world is emerging from being shut in and shut down since March – and this makes everyone even more antsy than normal to break out the shorts, sandals, and sunscreen and get outside. Read that: get away from work for a while!
And even while you’re at work, chances are your mind is elsewhere … as you gaze out the window at the sunshine and visualize taking a leisurely bike ride or walking the beach with sand between your toes …
You may be back on-site at your job or still working remotely. Either way, summer is summer. How do you stay motivated and productive with Mother Nature luring you away? Here are some tips:
Clarify Goals to Ward Off Procrastination
If you hear one more word about goals and objectives, you are going to head to the beach, right? But the reason they’re emphasized so much is that they are important, even if you are counting down the hours till that long summer weekend.
- Practice good project management. This means setting clear goals (what you want to accomplish) and reasonable, achievable objectives. (Objectives define what’s important about how you go about achieving your goals.) Otherwise, it’s way too easy to procrastinate or work only on your favorite, easiest, or least boring tasks.
Avoid Overload
You may be packing a lot of work into a finite amount of time to take some time off. Be cautious and sensible about this: you won’t be able to focus if you’re overloaded properly. Spreading yourself too thin is a recipe for failure.
- Take care of scheduling your projects. Talk to your manager and your team to spread the burden in a way that will be successful.
Schedule Your Daydreams
Don’t deprive yourself of those warm summer thoughts. Instead, indulge in them – do it on your own, prescheduled time.
- Block out 10- or 15-minutes during lunch, plan a summer getaway, browse Airbnbs, or shop online for a new pair of Ray-Bans. Then, when your time is up, that’s it. Turn it off and go back to work with a renewed flourish … and maybe just a little grin when the image of those sweet new shades crosses your mind.
Stay Hydrated
Drinking plenty of water is good advice all year long, but it’s easier to become dehydrated during the summer months. Even mild dehydration can wreak havoc on your mood, energy level, and productivity. So, keep a full water bottle handy and sip from it continuously throughout the day.
Make Your Time Off Count
When your day off or vacation rolls around, enjoy it to the max. For you, this may mean doing nothing more than lounging in a hammock with a good book or planning a full schedule of long-anticipated activities. Treat yourself to whatever will help you return to work feeling rested, relaxed, and ready to hit the ground running.
Find your next opportunity with Search Wizards
As you grow as a recruiter, Search Wizards can help with everything from time and project management to finding the hottest opportunities out there – no seasonal pun intended – if your summer dreams include moving up the career ladder. Contact us today to chat, brainstorm, or learn more about what we can do for you.
