Conquering the summer slump

The irony of summer productivity is palpable. Despite longer days and the promise of increased energy from vitamin D exposure, workplace performance often plummets when temperatures rise. In the US, around 36% of workers report being less productive during summer months, whilst 34% admit to slacking off when their boss takes summer holiday [1]. The same is true all around the globe. This phenomenon, known as the “summer slump,” presents a significant challenge for organisations seeking to maintain momentum during the warmer months.

Yet the conventional wisdom that summer necessarily means decreased productivity deserves scrutiny. Research reveals that summer is actually when the human brain is most active, with brain scans showing that people who spend time outdoors have more grey matter in their prefrontal cortex and stronger abilities to think clearly and self-regulate [2]. The challenge, therefore, isn’t inherent to the season but rather how we adapt our working practices to harness summer’s unique advantages whilst mitigating its distractions.

The summer paradox

The summer slump isn’t merely about warm weather creating lethargy. Patrick Porter, founder of BrainTap, explains that “the warmer months can have both positive and negative effects on brain health. On one hand, longer daylight hours can improve mood and cognitive function. More exposure to sunlight means more vitamin D, which has been linked to memory improvement and mood enhancement. On the other hand, heat and humidity can lead to dehydration, which can negatively impact cognitive functions and productivity” [3].

This duality creates what might be called the summer paradox. Whilst our brains are primed for peak performance, external factors conspire to undermine our efforts. The solution lies not in fighting summer’s natural rhythms but in adapting our strategies to work with them.

The traditional approach of maintaining rigid working patterns throughout summer often proves counterproductive. When deal flow slows and key stakeholders disappear on holiday, maintaining standard productivity expectations can lead to frustration and burnout rather than meaningful progress. As Chris Myers observes in Forbes: “Each year around this time motivation lags, deal flow slows, and tempers flare. I think it has to do with the fact that teams often find themselves halfway through the year, but not necessarily halfway to their annual goals” [4].

Seasonal planning

Forward-thinking leaders recognise that summer’s unique characteristics can be leveraged strategically. Rather than viewing the season as an obstacle, they see it as an opportunity for different types of work that might be impossible during busier periods. Cal Newport’s concept of “deep work” becomes particularly relevant during summer months when inbound communications decrease dramatically [5]. With professionals typically sending and receiving an average of 122 emails per day, the reduction in message volume during holiday periods creates unprecedented opportunities for focused, meaningful work.

Dorie Clark, a Columbia Business School professor and author of The Long Game, advocates embracing this natural breathing space: “When everyone else is on vacation, the level of inbound messages drops dramatically. That gives you more freedom to schedule uninterrupted blocks of time to tackle important projects you’ve been putting off, but which could significantly benefit your career” [6]. This perspective reframes the summer slump from a productivity problem into a strategic opportunity.

The key is recognising that different seasons call for different types of work. Summer’s relaxed pace makes it ideal for tasks that require sustained concentration but aren’t urgent such as strategic planning, skill development, relationship building, and creative problem-solving. These activities often get squeezed out during busy periods but can provide significant long-term value when pursued during summer’s natural lulls.

Practical strategies

Successful summer productivity requires a fundamental shift in approach. Avery Morgan, productivity expert and chief communications officer at EduBirdie, emphasises the importance of adapting schedules to seasonal realities: “If the sun is sapping your productivity, adapt your schedule to give yourself more time to tackle tasks in the morning or later in the evening when the sun gives it a rest. You can then reward yourself with a dip in the pool, a refreshing siesta or a spot of lunch with loved ones in the afternoon” [7].

This seasonal adaptation extends beyond daily scheduling to encompass broader working patterns. The concept of “workations” gains particular relevance, as Morgan notes: “With a laptop and a reliable mobile connection, you no longer have to choose between work and play. Set up your office on the beachfront, email from the top of a mountain, and use your lunch break to explore the sights. A workation can spark creativity, improve your efficiency and stop the workday from feeling so mundane” [8].

Physical environment plays a crucial role in summer productivity. The simple act of taking a workspace outdoors can provide significant benefits. Morgan recommends: “Take your workspace outside, settle down under a shady tree or enjoy lunch on a terrace with a view. And don’t spend your weekends cramped up inside. Escape the city, pursue hobbies and enjoy nature while the sun’s shining” [9]. This aligns with research showing that replacing screen time with occasional “green time” in nature is essential for brain health, making people more energetic, resilient, and ultimately more productive.

Hydration emerges as a critical but often overlooked factor in summer productivity. Porter consistently recommends “drinking half your body’s weight in ounces of water” [10]. Dehydration can significantly impact cognitive functions, making adequate fluid intake essential for maintaining performance during warmer months. Morgan suggests making hydration more appealing by adding “a dash of lemon or mint to make it more refreshing, so you’re more likely to drink it” [11].

Managing energy and expectations

Summer productivity requires careful energy management rather than simply maintaining standard working hours. Forbes contributor Andrew Fennell suggests that “it’s a good idea to tackle your biggest or most important task earlier in the day. The cooler temperatures and early start will allow you to feel more motivated before your brain starts to wander and dream about getting out in the garden for the afternoon” [12].

This approach acknowledges summer’s natural rhythms rather than fighting them. By front-loading challenging work during cooler morning hours, professionals can align their energy levels with task demands whilst still enjoying summer’s pleasures during warmer parts of the day.

Setting realistic expectations becomes crucial during summer months. Fennell emphasises the importance of managing expectations: “If you accept that the summer is often a slower time of year and that it’s not possible to always work at 1000%, then you can start each day on the right foot and you won’t be left feeling frustrated and disappointed with yourself” [13]. This doesn’t mean lowering standards but rather adjusting them to seasonal realities.

The goal-setting process requires particular attention during summer. Rather than abandoning objectives entirely, successful professionals break larger goals into smaller, manageable tasks that can be accomplished despite seasonal distractions. Fennell recommends: “While you might wish to set larger goals, it’s also important that you break these down into smaller actions. These tasks will make up the basis of your day-to-day activities” [14].

The social side

Summer’s social dimension offers unique opportunities for professional development. The season’s emphasis on outdoor activities and gatherings creates natural networking opportunities that might not exist during other times of year. Porter notes that “socialization is important” and recommends pairing “up team members for peer coaching sessions, where each person discusses their struggles and their partner suggests potential solutions” [15].

The increased social interaction inherent in summer can be strategically leveraged for professional growth. Dana Goren, Head of HR at Hibob, suggests that summer’s slower pace creates opportunities to “connect with your managers and peers about your performance. Learn more about how they perceive your strengths and the areas where you have the most opportunity for growth” [16].

This social aspect extends to team dynamics. The summer period provides ideal conditions for team-building activities that might be difficult to schedule during busier periods. As one Forbes Human Resources Council member notes: “The warm weather makes summer a great time to organize team-building events, volunteer opportunities or company offsites and retreats. All of these can be great for engagement and bring the team closer together to enhance communication” [17].

Post-holiday blues

The challenge of returning from summer holidays requires specific attention. Research shows that instead of feeling recharged and refreshed upon returning to work after a break, many people feel drained and struggle to regain their drive [18]. Ayelet Fishbach, professor at the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business, explains: “There are several contributing factors. For one, travel itself can be exhausting. Second, if your vacation wasn’t all that restorative, you may feel like you never truly had a break” [19].

The key to successful reintegration lies in strategic planning rather than attempting to immediately return to pre-holiday intensity. Tessa West, professor of psychology at NYU, advises: “Leave extra time for your commute to reduce traffic-induced anxiety, and be strategic about when you schedule meetings with certain colleagues who raise your blood pressure” [20]. The initial adjustment period requires particular patience, with gradual reintegration proving more effective than attempting immediate full engagement.

Journalist and content strategist Rebecca Knight emphasises starting with manageable tasks: “Resist the urge to jolt yourself out of vacation mode by tackling the biggest, most annoying item on your to-do list upon your return. Instead, she recommends starting slow and small and doing the easiest tasks first — those you know you can complete quickly and confidently” [21]. This approach allows for momentum building whilst avoiding the overwhelming feeling that can derail post-holiday productivity.

Conquering the summer slump

Successfully navigating the summer slump requires viewing it as part of a broader annual rhythm rather than a temporary inconvenience. Just as businesses have seasonal cycles, individual productivity naturally fluctuates throughout the year. The challenge lies in aligning work patterns with these natural rhythms rather than fighting them.

Porter emphasises the importance of year-round brain fitness: “Just as physical fitness is important for the body’s strength and resilience, brain fitness is critical for cognitive health. It’s important year-round because our brains are always changing, constantly creating new connections and pathways” [22]. This perspective suggests that summer’s different pace shouldn’t be seen as a deviation from productivity but rather as a necessary component of sustainable high performance.

The evidence suggests that organisations and individuals who successfully adapt to summer’s unique characteristics often emerge stronger in autumn. By using summer’s natural advantages, such as reduced interruptions, increased social opportunities, and enhanced creativity from outdoor exposure, professionals can lay groundwork for enhanced performance when business activity intensifies.

The summer slump, therefore, represents not a problem to be solved but a seasonal reality to be strategically leveraged. By adapting working patterns to summer’s natural rhythms, maintaining realistic expectations, and using the season’s unique advantages for deep work and relationship building, professionals can transform what many see as a productivity challenge into a strategic advantage. The key lies not in maintaining winter’s intensity during summer’s warmth but in recognising that different seasons call for different approaches to achieving peak performance.