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Summer has officially arrived, complete with packed vacation schedules, overly air-conditioned offices, and—if you’re lucky—summer Fridays.
It may be inevitable to fall into a slump at work during the summer. But this season can also be a great time to focus on goals, specifically those that will bring you personal satisfaction and/or help with career development.
“People tend to lose motivation and energy during this time of year,” trainer Katie Sandler told writer Stephanie Voza a few years ago. “A lot of times, it’s because they don’t take enough time for themselves.”
If you want to combat this feeling, there are a number of things you can do. You can prioritize using all your power outlets, something Americans are notoriously bad at. Or take advantage of your more flexible schedule to enroll in a class that interests you or that might help you think differently about your job.
“This time of year is a great opportunity to brush up on a skill or learn a new one,” Sandler says. “Having a training under your belt can spark new ways of thinking that inspire you to become more involved in the workplace. People always leave retreats saying they can’t wait to come back because they feel renewed.
Personally, I’m prioritizing reading this summer. A knowledgeable world for a long time Fast company Contributor Art Markman has a great article this week covering the many benefits of reading for pleasure.
Whatever you do this season, make sure you set aside some time to do something fulfilling. Creating a bucket list or set of goals can help make the season as special as it was when you were younger. “Summer was the time to explore new video games and challenge myself to defeat bosses,” Nicholas Cole wrote. “[It] This was my time to get better at playing hockey or recording songs in my bedroom closet. Summer has always been a time to accept a new challenge, and then push myself to overcome that challenge in a condensed period of time.
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