4 Ways to Stay Productive this Summer

Summers can be tough: The busy season is behind you, and the workload has lightened. To make matters worse, the sun is shining and the pace of everything seems to be slowing down. It’s easy to get distracted. To help you stay focused, commit to writing a daily to-do list. Organizing the work that needs to get done, and displaying it in a highly visible area, can help reel in your thoughts when they start to wander. Make sure to populate your list with accomplishable tasks only. Getting too ambitious might result in an intimidating accumulation of unchecked boxes — and that could be demoralizing. Be realistic about what you can accomplish in a day and prioritize those tasks.

Clear your desk to clear your mind

While the rest of the world was spring cleaning, you were swimming in a sea of paperwork. Now that the season’s changed and the dust has settled, devote some of your time to decluttering your workspace for an easy boost to your mood. It’s hard to think clearly when superfluous items abound, so rid your office of unnecessary papers, books or knickknacks — and tidy up whatever’s left behind.

Scientific studies have shown that cluttered environments can impair focus and limit the brain’s capacity to process information. Free up some headspace this summer and you’ll have an easier time keeping the ideas flowing.

Eliminate online distractions

The Internet has curiously made workplaces both more and less productive. Digital tools have made it easier to accomplish a variety of business tasks, but they’re also the culprit behind a majority of today’s distractions. In fact, a study by Salary.com found that 41 percent of respondents visit Facebook and 37 percent visit LinkedIn during the workday.

With less work on your plate, the allure of these social platforms is even more powerful, so if you want to stay focused, you need to unplug. Close your email tab and set your phone to “do not disturb” when you have assignments that require complete attention. If the distractions are too great, why not cede control to a productivity app? Software like Freedom or Anti-Social can improve your focus by freezing your internet access and locking you out of social media — at least until your work’s done.

Prioritize professional growth

With less work to do for others, you’ll have more time to spend on yourself. Consider the summer as an opportunity to invest in your own professional development. Branch out and network within your own office. Ask to attend meetings you otherwise wouldn’t have the time to attend, and make new acquaintances at all levels of the organization. Ask questions and see what you can learn from fellow colleagues with more experience or different areas of expertise.

If you’re looking for a change of scenery, roll networking and vacation time into one and attend conferences or other industry events. Engaging regularly with fellow accounting professionals will keep you at the top of your game and give you new ideas to ponder going forward.

It may require a little change of habit, but incorporating these tips into your regular down-season routine will do wonders for your productivity — and keep the summer slump away.

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With more than 20 years in the staffing industry, Jodi Chavez is president of Randstad Professionals and Live Sciences, where she oversees the field organization and provides direction for Randstad’s life sciences, finance and accounting, human resources, sales and marketing and legal staffing capabilities. Throughout her career, Jodi’s entrepreneurial drive and strong business acumen have led to increased revenues, gross profit growth and improved ROI. Along with a proven track record of building high-performing teams, she brings a wealth of knowledge in strategic planning and execution, mergers and acquisitions, brand strategy, social media and multi-generational leadership.