Why you don't need to fear the summer slump.

Written by Courtney Henry 

My usual methods of getting sh*t done - my daily planner, deadlines, dedicated meeting-free days - weren’t working.

And, being the root-cause person I am, I wanted to know the reason behind my summer-induced slow down.

Interestingly enough, it took me a long time to find out why I was experiencing a summer slump.

Instead, I was bombarded with article after article on the “Top 5 Ways” to hack your productivity between now and Labor Day.

I guess, in retrospect, this isn’t actually all that surprising. Afterall, this “pushing through” mentality aligns with our society’s obsession with productivity, progress, and profit. In fact, it’s the very reason why such changes in our work patterns during the summer are labeled a “slump” rather than being acknowledged as part of a natural ebb and flow of work, life, and rest.

Determined, I delved deeper to understand the biology and neuroscience behind the mood and behavior changes during summer months —and discovered why it actually benefits us.

The reality of the summer slump

First, we must acknowledge the facts: productivity does decline during the summer months. Studies confirm this. For instance, Captivate Network found that employee productivity drops by 20% during the summer, with work turnaround time increasing by 13%. Similarly, a 2012 Harvard Business School study linked sunnier days to decreased worker efficiency and productivity.

Several factors may contribute to the summer slump:

☀️ Longer Days ☀️ 

• Longer days and fewer scheduled activities create the illusion of having more time. This often leads to procrastination on tasks and responsibilities.

👶 Increased Childcare Demands 👶

• Research shows that parents and caregivers face greater demands during the summer due to shorter or varying camp and daycare hours.

⏰ Disrupted Routines ⏰

• Summertime disrupts normal routines, affecting motivation and productivity. Consistent routines during the rest of the year enable “cognitive offloading,” where routine tasks require less thought, freeing up mental space for more significant issues. Disruptions force us to think harder about daily logistics and schedules. 

😵💫 Higher Stress Hormones 😵💫

• Research published in the Journal of Applied Physiology found stress hormones are higher in the summer than in winter. This might be because people try to balance more leisure activities with work demands, increasing their overall load.

 Why we actually need a summer slump

Understanding our biology and brain development reveals that lower levels of “productivity” in the summer is not only not a problem - it’s actually necessary for us to perform our best.

While our work output might be lower between Memorial Day and Labor Day, our bodies and brains are busy producing in different but equally important ways. In fact, research shows that summer is when the human brain is most active.

Brain scans of people who spend time outdoors show their prefrontal cortex has more gray matter and a stronger ability to think clearly and self-regulate. Longer days improve the mind's ability to focus, and warmer months increase neurological activity, heighten focus and attention, and improve memory.

You might be thinking “why, then, is it harder for me to focus on work during the summer?”

⚡️ News flash ⚡️ It’s not just the Instagram envy of watching your friends sip margaritas on the beach.

It’s because, biologically, our brains need a break.

Sustained periods of downtime are critical to helping our brains synthesize information, make important connections, and build resilience. Downtime replenishes the brain’s stores of attention and motivation, encourages productivity and creativity, and is essential for achieving our highest levels of performance. Similar to the concept of “wintering”, which is described by author Katherine May as “deeply unfashionable things: slowing down, resting, retreating,” our summer slump is something we need - physiologically - but that the majority of our work environments fail to accommodate.

Don’t believe me? Consider this:

In a four-year study, Leslie Perlow of Harvard Business School and her colleagues tracked the work habits of employees at the Boston Consulting Group. The study required employees to take regular time off, even when they believed they shouldn't.

Initially, there was resistance, as employees feared they would merely delay their work. However, over time, they grew to appreciate these breaks. The scheduled time off consistently revitalized their willingness and capacity to work, resulting in increased overall productivity.

After five months, those who embraced regular rest reported higher job satisfaction, a stronger vision of a long-term future with the company, better work-life balance, and greater pride in their accomplishments.

How to lean into your summer slowdown

Instead of giving you tips and tricks on how to push past your natural tendencies to slow down this summer, I want to give you some Success Solution-approved tips to help you maximize this season of rest and rejuvenation:

#1: Acknowledge and accept different output levels in summer

Recognize that June, July, and August will look different. Kids at home? Visitors? Evening activities? Big trips planned? Accept that this period will differ from other times of the year. Prioritize essential tasks and allow yourself grace for the rest. Taking time to get clear on your priorities (key word being “priorities”) helps reduce stress.

#2: Master a micro habit

In The Success Solution, we emphasize the importance - and power - of establishing small, bitesize habits that support your end goal. For example, want to move more throughout your day? Rather than setting up an elaborate workout plan, start by simply putting your sneakers on as soon as you get dressed for the day. This will naturally encourage you to be more active and make it easier to find 10-15 minutes in between meetings to get some steps in.

#3: Take a real vacation

Prioritize true, uninterrupted, disconnected time away from work. This is just as crucial as daily breaks. As multiple studies show, although taking actual vacation time may feel like it will put you “further behind”, it’s actually critical to helping you come back more focused, motivated, and productive.

Closing thoughts

At The Success Solution, we teach our clients how to achieve more success with less stress. A key factor in this is learning to work with your natural rhythms, rather than fighting against them. Pushing beyond your natural energy levels leads to diminishing returns, where stress increases as performance and productivity decrease. Instead, embracing and syncing with your natural rhythms can fuel your brain and body to perform optimally and in less time.

So, embrace the summer slump - get outdoors, rest, and play. This period of downtime isn't a setback; instead, it’s a crucial opportunity to recharge and enhance your overall work performance. By allowing yourself to slow down and rejuvenate, you'll return to your tasks with renewed focus, creativity, and productivity, ready to tackle challenges with a refreshed mind and body.