At this time of year, getting through your to-do list at work can seem to take forever. Even if you love your job, the summer months can drastically impact productivity and leave you questioning where the last three months have gone. If you work in the UK, the recent heatwave may have left you feeling sluggish (with new studies showing the negative effects that poorly air-conditioned spaces can have on productivity and motivation). It’s referred to as the summer slump – and if you’re experiencing it, you’re not alone.
A Harvard Business School study showed that employees tended to be more productive during poor weather conditions, because it ‘reduced the potential for cognitive distractions.’ This led to increased focus and attention on the task at hand, enabling them to be more productive. A further study found that workers were more productive during the Autumn, with the highest percentage of tasks being completed in October.
Feeling your productivity wane during summer can be demoralising and exhausting. It could happen for a number of different reasons; perhaps you’ve got a lot on your plate, working on projects while your colleagues are on summer break. Maybe you’restruggling in the heat, and finding it tough to concentrate on tasks in a hot office. Whatever it comes down to, many others experience the same dip in productivity during this period.
Give yourself a break
Researchers say the Autumnal productivity boost could be explained by the previous season. As many employees take holidays over summer, it’s likely that the subsequent increase in output is due to employees feeling reenergised following a period of rest. It makes sense; additional research has shown that holidays or vacations can significantly influence employee stress-levels and overall health and wellbeing, as well as influencing retention and productivity.
So if you’re feeling this way, give yourself a break! This lull in productivity won’t last forever – and rather than thinking of it as a negative side effect of the season, you could reclaim it as a positive opportunity. September onwards is often an incredibly busy time, with everyone returning from their holidays and beginning to make plans for the end of the year (not to mention planning for the next). So, why not use this down-time to think ahead – and spread some positivity in your workplace? We’ve listed a few ideas below to help you get started:
Reflect on the year so far
The end of the summer season is a great time to reflect on what’s happened this year, up until this point – what’s worked well, and what have you learnt? As a result, will your plans for the final few months of the year change – and how will this affect your plans for next year? Make a note of the things you want to push for in the coming months; maybe a ‘big’ decision is still hanging in the air, or perhaps you’ve tried a new way of doing things that’s made all the difference on a certain project.
If you’re reviewing your employee engagement activities, start with our free system integrity tool. It’ll help you to review your employee life-cycle and overall employee experience, to design an employee experience which will support employee engagement – rather than sabotage it. Download your copy here!
Say thank you
Research shows that thanking others (and being thanked) can have powerful psychological and physiological effects. A simple ‘thank you’ can boost self-worth, encourage collaboration, and relieve stress. When you’re reflecting on the year so far, remember to thank people who have helped along the way. You could also pass-on any positive feedback you hear about a colleague (whether it’s from a client, or another co-worker). In doing so, you could encourage others to adopt this approach – and you might make someone’s day.
Make time for personal development
When you know you’ve got a busy period coming up soon, finding time to focus on your own development might feel like an indulgence. Personal development is neverunnecessary or unimportant – after all, if you don’t make time to learn something new, how can you be expected to develop and improve as part of a team? This recent report from the CIPD shows how learning interventions can positively influence performance and productivity. ‘Top deck’ learning organisations (those which have, on average, increased performance by 24%) found that learning innovations led to a 59%increase in productivity – and 48%of participants in this quartile helped to develop the learning culture within their organisation.
You might have had a particular course in mind for a while, and perhaps you’ve been putting it off – or maybe you’re keen to develop a new skill, but you’re not sure where to start. If you’re pushed for time (or budget), we recently listed 10 free online courses to help you boost your skills at work. Take a look at the list and sign up here!
What affects your productivity? What measures do you take if you’re feeling unmotivated? We’d love to hear your thoughts – let us know via Twitter, or in the comments section below.
Liked this article? Why not try…
The UK heatwave: 5 things employees could request from their leaders in the heat
