In wintertime, I have no problem wrapping myself up in hoodies and scarves and typing away for hours. I’m crazy productive when I can’t go outside but as soon as that snow melts and I can walk barefoot again, staring at my computer screen becomes an almost insurmountable task.
Fact: It’s much, much easier to stay focused when the weather is bad.
I’m going to blame a school system that conditioned us all to three months off every summer for the fact that I can’t get shit done as soon as the sun comes out. It was hard enough to slough through the workday when I had an office, but now that I work from home the amount of willpower it takes to stay at my computer instead of sitting in the sun and reading is almost as high as when I quit smoking.
Okay, so I’m being a little hyperbolic…
But, really guys, finding the strength to focus on your computer when summer’s siren call starts tempting is no easy feat. Here are some tips on how to get through the warm months without losing your job.
1. Set a strict schedule.
I’ve talked before about how important is it to keep to a schedule when you work from home, but that importance is doubled in the summertime. Set yourself clear working hours that take into account some time to exercise and build the habit of staying on track for at least three weeks.
Because three weeks is how long it takes for a habit to form, you can start being more lenient with yourself after that point and…
2. Be flexible.
Working from home is like working out: you know you have to do it but you don’t necessarily want to. While keeping a schedule is essential, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take advantage of the fact that you are, more or less, your own boss. If it’s a particularly beautiful day and you haven’t had a day off in two weeks, take the afternoon and go swimming. If your friends are doing a weekend camping trip, allow yourself that time off.
These breaks will keep you from going totally insane or falling into a depression. The key to making them work, however, is making up the time that you miss. Once you have the habit built of working a specific number of hours per day, you can move those hours around as long as you work them later. Think of it like a time bank: when you don’t work one day, you have to pay it back the next.
3. Maximize daylight hours.
Summer is a great time to start practicing getting up early. If you can train your body to rise with the sun instead of with an alarm clock, you not only have more time to work but also more time to enjoy the day.
Getting the most out of the sun is something that is going to be specific to each individual. While I personally find that working in the early morning and taking the afternoon off works best for me, other people may prefer to be out and about during the day and working into the night. Do a little self-reflection about your most productive hours and what you want to get out of the summer to determine which will work best for you.
4. Iced coffee.
I think this one is pretty self explanatory.
Photo Credits
Michael Quinn via Unsplash | Cas Cornelissen via Unsplash
