How to Make the Most of the Least Productive Season
Jennifer talks about the patterns of productivity and work habits during the summer months in the US. She highlights that summer, along with other periods like the time between Thanksgiving and New Year's, is a productivity lull for many office professionals. The author suggests that this is a time when many employees are less motivated to work and may be taking time off or working remotely from vacation destinations. The article also mentions that remote work has blurred the boundaries between work and personal life, leading to a feeling of working all the time.
Jennifer states that the most productive time of the year is September to November. This shorter window of time before the end of the year can be motivating for employees to achieve their goals. Jennifer suggests ways to support a mutual unplugging during the summer months, such as using out-of-office notes, implementing summer Fridays or no-meeting Wednesdays, and considering giving everyone a week off.
The article also discusses the concept of "workcations" and advises against working from vacation destinations due to time zone and connectivity issues. It suggests getting creative with flexibility by offering sabbaticals or alternating years of longer vacations. The importance of taking time to acclimate to being off and resisting the urge to constantly be productive is emphasized. The article concludes by encouraging direct and actionable communication over email to avoid wasted effort and preserve time.
In summary, the article highlights the productivity lull during the summer months and suggests ways to support a mutual unplugging and maintain work-life balance. It emphasizes the importance of taking breaks and being direct in communication to optimize productivity and preserve time.
“Our most productive time of the year is September to November,” says author and speaker Jennifer Moss, an expert on healthy workplace cultures who wrote The Burnout Epidemic: The Rise of Chronic Stress And How We Can Fix It. “September kicks off the start of the end, which means we have less time to hit our goals. This shorter window of time to hit year-end metrics can be motivating for employees.”