How To Get Out of That Summer Funk

The topic of today’s article is a bit ironic, because I am completely in a summer funk.  I find I’m having a hard time getting things done, both on and offline.  In a few weeks I’ll be moving to Maryland for grad school, so I think my mind is on its own little vacation.  If you’re feeling the same way, here are a few tactics I’m trying to use in order to escape from summertime daydreams.

First of all, whether you can eliminate distractions or not, it’s good to recognize them. Distractions keep us sane, but too many can dramatically reduce your productivity. Summer can be a strange season.  People are taking vacations and disrupting the natural order of your workplace.  Try to take time to reorganize and make sure nothing has been buried under a pile on your desk.

If you’re lucky and actually OFF for summer, don’t let down your defenses.  Sitting in your room all day playing WoW will not only make you pale, but also diminish your good working habits.  Find little tasks to accomplish each day, so that even if you do begin to grow moss, you can’t say your entire days are entirely wasted.

If you are going to have a distraction, make it a big one.  Going on a vacation can be an excellent opportunity to recharge, but make sure you totally unplug.  Being plugged-in isn’t a bad thing by any means, but, like a Ni-Cd battery, letting go of everything and allowing yourself to recharge fully will leave you pumped up and ready to go on that first Monday back at work.

Remember, summer should be a time to relax.  Even if you have work, the weather is reason enough to break up your normal routine a bit.  Find a happy median between productivity and recreation and I bet you’ll enjoy your summer even more!

["Summer Sunflowers" image by Hamad Darwish]

Jimmy Rogers is a freelance blogger and, in his spare time, a graduate microbiology student. He enjoys tech, science, and the occasional bit of magic.
Visit Jimmy at his blog or follow him on Twitter!