10 top tips to help you plan for a productive summer
Whether you are going on holiday, working as normal or juggling work with children on school holidays, summertime can cause changes to your routine which can affect your time management and productivity.
Here are my ten top tips to help you plan for a productive summer, so you can work, rest and play.
1.Plan ahead
Identify when you are working and not working if you are taking annual leave or have childcare responsibilities.
Schedule in all of your appointments, meetings and to-dos and share them with colleagues and family members.
Create and schedule newsletters, blog posts, social media posts, podcasts, videos for while you are on annual leave and the busy build-up to it.
2.Review your to-do list
Take some time to refresh the tasks on your to-do lists(s).
Are they still relevant?
Can you tackle, delegate or remove any outstanding tasks?
This will help to define your priorities.
3.Prioritise your tasks
Prioritise tasks based on urgency (due date/time) and importance (linked to your goals).
4.Start the day with 1 high priority goal
Ask yourself ‘what is going to be the highlight of my day?’ and write it down.
Choose the most urgent thing especially if you are time-sensitive (what needs to be done) but also most satisfying (what you want to get done).
5.Practise time blocking
Time blocking is the practice of planning your day hour by hour, batching similar tasks together.
It’s like creating a specific to-do list but knowing what you’re going to do, when you’re going to do it and for how long.
6.Embrace your power hours
Knowing when you work best is one of the most effective ways to supercharge your productivity.
Use your peak times of productivity (based on your energy and attention levels) for your deep, focused work.
7.Carry out a digital detox
Go through your inbox, desktop, and folders and files on your computer. Delete or archive what you don’t need.
Where can you declutter to help you focus on what matters most?
8.Take meetings outside
Going outside for meetings (on the phone, virtual or in real life) not only provides fresh air but also a change of scenery, which can spark creativity, new ideas and new ways of looking at problems or challenges.
9.Schedule breaks
Breaks help to restore focus and motivation and boost creativity and productivity.
Aim to get away from your desk for a few minutes every hour.
Stand up and stretch, look outside the window, have a drink, grab a snack, play with a pet.
A walk or other forms of exercise during the working day can be re-energising and help to manage stress.
10.Keep cool and hydrated
People work best at a temperature between 16°C and 24°C, so open windows, use fans or air conditioning to help keep your working environment cool.
Drink plenty of water throughout the day to stay hydrated and productive.
Summer is a time to recharge, get some clarity and perspective on your work and have time for the things that matter most. I hope my 10 top tips will enable you to have a lovely and productive summer.
3 ways I can help you have a productive summer:
Create your summer action plan
I will help you create a list of actionable tasks to achieve your goals and create action and progress in your business.
Get your website summer-ready and working better for your business.
Buy your pack of productivity planners and Productivity Prompts to help you set your summer goals, plan your days and weeks and prioritise your time and tasks.
