Momentum Monday started with the idea that momentum, the forward movement that fuels our daily productivity, starts on Monday. If you have a successful Monday, it sets an important tone for the entire week. This is the reason why every Monday featured a post about productivity that would help you get your week started off with a bang.
That being said, there is an important shift that happens in the summer when kids are out of school and work takes a backseat to family time. Slowing down into summer mode is arguably as important as all the other momentum building you do throughout the year. Push yourself 365 days a year and you are definitely building toward burnout!
Slowing Down Into Summer Mode:
Give Yourself Permission to Do Less — Don’t get stuck in the frenetic pace that makes you feel like every minute of every day has to be productive. The summertime is about slowing down and spending idle time doing nothing. Use that time to let your creative energy recharge.
Shift Into a Sumer Routine — Set a summer schedule that works for you and your family. Maybe it’s getting up early to work for an hour or two and then playing hooky for the rest of the day or maybe it’s taking an entire month off before you start into your fall prep. It’s up to you, but if you don’t decide, you will end up defaulting into a jumble of both that is neither productive nor restful.
Manage Expectations — Let clients and colleagues know that you will be less available over the summer. If your business is one that requires still being available, give them official office hours when you can be reached and let them know the rest of the time that they can reach you by email.
Schedule Tech-Free Time — Sign off of technology altogether for a day, a week or even a month if you can manage it. Remember those days when we were just unavailable because we weren’t sitting next to our landline? We still managed to survive without the constant connectivity and we can do so again.
Find Different Sources of Inspiration — Instead of reading business books on the beach or tuning into your favorite motivational podcast while walking through the woods, make it your goal to find different (less obvious) sources of inspiration. You never know where your next big idea will come from so take this opportunity to expand your focus (or at least enjoy being a little less business focused).
Happy Summer everyone! If you need me, I’ll be relaxing at the beach!
