With the passing of the 4th of July, it’s safe to say summer is more than here. Between full vacation calendars, packed weekends, and trying to stay cool amidst the heat, many of us are experiencing mental distractions and hot weather slumps that feel difficult to overcome. With employees and coworkers generally checked out as they patiently wait to embark on their Italian summer, you may be feeling like you have to fight extra hard to get anything done. While we’re firm believers in rest, spending the summer months in a foggy haze does your professional endeavors a huge disservice. If you’re like us, you’re interested in optimizing your workweek, no matter what season it is. Below we’ve compiled a list of tactics to help you get back on top of the workplace focus you need to tackle your goals this summer.
1. The Highlight Reel isn’t Real
Half the battle is thinking we’re missing out on something during the summer. Everyone is posting their highlight reel whether abroad or over the weekend and that nagging sensation that we’re not participating in the fun can show up in our output. Here’s your official invitation to disengage from the mental game. Remember, the grass always seems greener on the other side. While your Instagram or Facebook feed may be suggesting you’re wasting your summer working, we invite you to reground in gratitude for the current moment and keep in mind that swanky vacations can cost exorbitant amounts of money, your precious time, and in some cases, you may need a period of recovery from your actual vacation! While we love time off and often encourage our people to rejuvenate, it doesn’t necessarily mean you have to go far or spend resources to enjoy yourself, the weather, and take advantage of the season.
If you’re finding yourself in need of mental rest and feel frustrated about the grandiose narrative surrounding summertime, look for opportunities right in your backyard! Summer is the season for neighborhood cook-outs and summer music series. If you’re looking for already planned events, remember that Common Desk has weekly happy hours and activities across our locations which are the perfect way to network with professionals in your city and enjoy a respite throughout the summer months. Stop by for a tour or day pass to learn more about our weekly events calendar. As you navigate balancing your work schedule with seasonal enjoyment, consider staycations in your area and give yourself permission to detach from comparing yourself with your peers.
2. Start Your Day with Sunshine
Studies show that beginning the day with the sun will set you up for success. Fortunately for us, there’s no shortage of sunshine in the majority of our Common Desk markets. Now, before you dismiss this suggestion, consider that most of us work behind closed doors, bombarded by blue light and can easily get distracted with thoughts of deliciously sunny days spent at the golf course or in the pool. Frankly, it feels almost criminal to work on days flooded with that perfect golden light. Here’s where morning sunshine can set you ahead of the rest. Our biology is built on a circadian rhythm and that rhythm keeps its beat based on, you guessed it, light.
Your body is most responsive to light three times a day. The morning, evening, and during sleep. If the workday during the summer has been a struggle for you, consider drinking your morning cup of joe outside, with your head tipped toward the sun. Morning sunshine helps you wake up, improves the quality of your sleep, helps to keep you content, and decreases stress levels. Simply put, we’re chemical beings, and light assists in regulating the melatonin, cortisol, and serotonin cocktail that can make or break our day in and out of the office. To learn more about the benefits of morning light, visit this article by a Common Desk fav, Oura Ring. Bonus tip: Get outside on your lunch break. Another hit of sunshine never hurt nobody.
3. Juggling Rubber Balls vs Glass Balls
When you’re fighting for focus, staying organized is crucial. There’s nothing worse than getting stuck in your mental slurry because your projects and priorities are scattered. When your mind would rather contemplate your summer tan, it’s a good idea to discern what is and isn’t pressing. Here’s a helpful mental image for determining how to complete to-do’s without getting overwhelmed. Picture this: Your role’s responsibilities are separated into glass and rubber balls and you have to juggle them throughout your workday and week. How do you decide which ones stay in the air and which can drop? After all, there’s no way you can keep everything in rotation long-term. Whichever tasks won’t shatter can be let loose to revisit another day. No matter your profession, there’s guaranteed to be some tasks more time-sensitive than others and during the summer, when focus feels hard to nail down, opt for staying organized and remember that it’s not possible to do everything right now. The things you can complete at a more leisurely pace will free up time and mental weight to enjoy the season. When in doubt, write it down and remember to ask yourself, “Is this a glass or rubber ball?”
4. Switch up Your Workspace
Workspace restlessness is no joke. Whether your role requires you to be fixed in one place or you can literally travel the world, sometimes a change of scenery does the trick to kick us back into productivity. At Common Desk, we have the advantage of being in the business of interesting, beautiful, and dynamic workspaces. Our bread and butter is cultivating locations with diverse memberships that give professionals of all kinds the freedom to work how they prefer. This summer, a workspace revamp may be what you need to dive back into the flow of things. Common Desk’s locations prioritize big windows, natural light, and engaging interior design. From Houston to Salt Lake City, we’re adamant about crafting places that inspire the mind and help you focus.
This summer, join us for a seasonal switch-up of the four walls you know. Since travel is on your mind, consider visiting one of our locations in a city near you! Remember, if you’re already a member, Common Desk keeps an open network. Is your home location in Addison, Texas? Pop over to Mckinney Square and enjoy a more quaint, homey pace that the bustling Galleria area can’t provide. Currently, we’re running our annual Summer Thursdays promotion, which is $10 bucks off a coworking day pass. That’s midafternoon snack money back in your pocket! With a new location open in Salt Lake City and money off a day pass across all our spaces, give your summer routine the shot of inspiration to zero back in on what’s important so you don’t get behind.
In Conclusion
We think you should enjoy your summer. In fact, we’d have it no other way. However, the workweek rages on and many of us don’t have the luxury of vacationing the way popular culture insists on. That doesn’t have to stop you from crushing your workplace routine and soaking up much-needed sunshine at the same time. Like most things in life, balance is the best approach to staying successful and we hope these tips will bring more joy into your work-life balance this season. Join us for a tour of our coworking spaces, hit us up for the perfect summer happy hour in a location near you, and don’t hesitate to share your tips and tricks for staying productive in the thick of the summer months.
