Summer Productivity
Episode #319 | Art by Lee White
Do you feel a shift in the summer? Sam Cotterill, Jake Parker, and Anthony Wheeler explore reframes on productivity and how to nurture your creative spirit during this fun and chaotic time of year.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Different seasons support different types of productivity. Input time is necessary to support output time.
Not every start needs a finish. Be your own R&D department and decide which ideas should be realized and which should be shelved.
Your experiments are never wasted. Sometimes unpursued ideas resurface in new contexts later.
Quit doomscrolling and start Pinterest boarding.
Relationships are the whole point. Don’t let productivity prevent you from connecting with the people you love.
SUMMARY
Does summer throw off your regular routine?
With the warm weather and school break come a more relaxed schedule and shifting levels of productivity. For some, it’s a welcome relief from the typical grind, while for others, it feels like a slow descent into chaos.
We’ve discovered a few secrets to the season that have shifted our mindsets around summer productivity. For starters, it helps to set realistic expectations. If your kids are home, vacations are scheduled, or you’re distracted by the allure of sunshine and fresh air, it can be harder to focus on work. Remember this: to create good output, you need good input. For us, summer is input time. We take trips, go on walks, and prioritize filling our inspiration files. This is just as valuable as time spent churning out art; we’re stocking up on experiences that will feed our imaginations from fall to next spring. Embracing this observational stage helps us avoid the guilt of working less for a time while maxing out on the pleasure of experiencing life.
If your kids are home during these months, it’s especially important to enjoy time with them, rather than grinding non-stop. Remember, all creativity and productivity exist to serve relationships. If your relationships fall behind your work, you’re missing the point.
That said, sometimes there are bills to pay and deadlines to meet. If you must maintain your productivity but struggle to stay on task in the summer, consider your routine. What do you do during the rest of the year that you don’t in the summer? Maybe you keep a bedtime, eat a certain breakfast, or work during particular hours. Where possible, consider bringing back one or two of those habits into your summer routine and see if you notice improved focus and stability.
Life is a constant shifting of creative seasons, from restful to productive. Stop fighting the cycles and start enjoying the benefits.