Much like the holidays, the summer is a wonderful time of year filled with vacations, family outings and a host of outdoor activities that make it special. While most think of summer as an occasion to catch your second wind, it can also seem unproductive. However, it’s a great time to reflect on what you have accomplished so far this year.
It’s not uncommon to wonder what happened to the enthusiasm you had at the beginning of the year in relation to your new goals and find yourself still hoping to accomplish them.
The good news is that it’s not too late! You can make your summer more productive by implementing a few steps and breaking through some of the myths that go along with this time of year.
94501602Don’t buy into the myth that no one is hiring during the summer and that everyone is on vacation. This type of thinking keeps a lot of people waiting for the summer to end before taking action in moving their career forward. Not everyone is taking a vacation and hiring takes place all year long even during the hottest months.
The truth is networking reaches one of the highest points during the summer due to all the outdoor activities and gatherings. Review your core connections and make a mental note of how many times you have met with them so far during the year. If you find that procrastination is in full swing, make a plan to connect with them this week.
Here are some other steps to take that will make your summer more productive:
Reading a good book can do wonders for your creative side and provide a dose of encouragement for your career.
Spend time gearing up for the fall by registering ahead of time for training classes or webinars to gain new insight and knowledge on a topic of interest.
One way to help you move forward with your goals is to de-clutter your work area. It’s difficult to think new and improved when you staring at piles of paper or to do lists of projects.
Give yourself a mid-year performance review by identifying your accomplishments and contributions made so far this year and document the results. Not only will this make you feel more productive, it will keep you ahead of the game when new opportunities arise where you need to talk about your value.
How are you making your summer productive?
