In our busy and fast-paced world, summer is often the time when children are out of school, people travel, weddings and graduations are held, and family reunions are held. It’s a time when the hectic pace of work slows down a bit, simply because people who normally drive take a break. This puts you in the driver’s seat! This gives you the opportunity to take advantage of downtime and better position yourself so you can play your best when the pace picks up in the fall.
To help you, I want to provide you with five strategies on how to make the most of this “season” when you or others (clients, coworkers, vendors, etc.) are absent so that you are prepared to “get paid” for the rest of the year!
1. Rest. The concept of periodicity means that you give your body time to rest, re-engage, and recharge (or train) so that you achieve the maximum energy and results you want during the periods that require you to push yourself the hardest. If it continues at 150 mph 24/7, it will run out. More importantly, you won’t get the results you want. Therefore, plan a time each summer for a period of rest. (For workaholics, resting means no voicemail, no email, no clients, no “work mode,” or initiatives that are not entirely pleasant.) Turn off work 100% while on vacation! ! If you do, your ability to burn out when you return will double.
2. Clean. The days before you go on vacation are a good time to make a plan of action when you return. Your departure date is a deadline that is not likely to move. Start by challenging yourself to sort your emails, do all the follow-ups, and close any open loops before you leave. As you do this, make a list for when you return of what you will do next. If you want to be more productive, schedule what you will do and when, so you can quickly resume your work habits when you return.
3. Schedule a “catch up” time. If you can, allow a “roll-in” plan that gives you personal time in the office to check email, mail, and other things that have accumulated during your absence. Often times, people return to a full schedule with no time to “readjust”, which is why they work during vacations. Resist the urge to work while you’re away. Instead, plan for the inevitable chaos that will ensue when you return – lock out part of the day when you first return to catch up.
4. Create a project plan. This season, if you are not traveling and are left at the office while others are away, you may find yourself in the “lulls of summer.” Before this slower season rolls around, have a plan for what you want to accomplish during downtime. This is your “off season”. Use this time to do the projects that are important, but not urgent – this is the time for projects that you never seem to get to, like updating your website, reading, taking personal development classes, etc. Know in advance how you will use this time so that you are prepared to dive into these projects once the slower season rolls around.
5. Take “time off” at home. Take a week off at home. Put aside all those long-term projects, housework, and yard work. Spend a full week clearing up all the tolerances that are keeping you frustrated and discouraged, like fixing the printer that always prints crooked, organizing your pots and pans, buying a calendar to organize your family, or moving the chair your finger hits. of the foot. every morning. Plan a week where your focus is on streamlining, simplifying and organizing your home and personal life so that for the rest of the year you can move on!
Remember to allow yourself a real break, clear clutter before you leave and have a plan for how you will handle the return, use the slower season productively at the office, and fix loose ends at home. When you are active and intentional during this slower season, employing the strategies we’ve discussed here today, you too will have a successful and winning year!
