subject: Never Ending Summers [print this page] Good weather is the obvious factor that makes summer so great, but there is also the time off. While us working folk don't have the entire summer off, we tend to plan at least part of our vacation time in summer. Moreover, work flow tends to slow down during summer months, because while you might not be on holiday, a lot of other people are.
What happens then when you're well into September and the sun has decided to come out and beam again? When leaving work at 4:30 p.m. and taking your full hour lunch is frowned upon? How will you make sure to enjoy the good weather then?
A few suggestions are:
1. Coming to work early:
Coming to work early might not mean that you can leave early, but it certainly softens the blow for leaving as soon as you can (i.e. right on time). At 5:30 p.m. the sun is still out and terraces are filled with people who are enjoying after-work beverages.
2. Take shorter lunches a few times a week:
Check the weather forecast for the week, if Wednesday through Friday look nice, take short or no lunch time Monday and Tuesday. That way when you take your full hour during the second half of the week no one will raise eyebrows. In that time you can join colleagues on the green, go for a nice walk, get ice cream or lay under a tree and read your book.
3. Focus on outdoor housework:
Change of season generally inspires people to tidy up around the house. They go through their wardrobes, throw out the old and bring in the new. They clean out their kitchens and reorganise their shelves. Leave those jobs for when it's raining and instead spend your final days of summer tidying up outside. Cut down dying tree branches, collect leaves, clean out planter boxes and make sure all outdoor furniture and appliances are put into storage for the winter.
4. Organise some of your meetings outside:
Your boss, colleagues or clients might not go for it, but it's worth asking them whether they'd be up for having your meeting outside. You can go to a restaurant or caf with outdoor tables or stay right on your own property if you have outdoor space.
September generally means go-time at the office, lots of people coming back from summer holiday and lots to get done before Christmas. But sunshine is hard to resist, so use one of the suggestions above and incorporate it into your schedule.
