How to stay motivated during the summer slump

When the sun is shining and all you want to do is spend time outside instead of stuck in the office, bosses are being urged to do more to keep workers focussed through the holiday months. Productivity specialist Workfront has compiled its top five ways to stay motivated and power through the ‘summer slump’.

Communicate
Make sure you keep talking with your colleagues, seniors and juniors, as regular positive feedback can help boost concentration and motivation in the office when you’d much rather be outside. Workfront revealed that 37% of workers consider praise from a manager as a top motivator, so if you’re not hearing any feedback from your boss, try setting up a one-to-one meeting to find out their opinions.

Relax the hours
Flexible hours are ranked high among workers, especially in the summer. 52% of employees believe it can help them refocus and become a better worker. Talk to HR and see if it’s an option for your company, and if you’re the boss, taking flexible hours into account could lead to a more positive, healthier workplace.

Turn up the music
Four in five employees stay motivated through music, and even just having more relaxed Fridays with louder music can help generate excitement through the week. Employers can even use programs like Spotify to set up collaborative playlists that everyone can add their own music to, encouraging a positive atmosphere by giving everyone in the office the possibility of featuring their own songs.

Spruce up the office
Despite wanting to be outside, most employees are still their most productive in the office, and as the place that your employees will spend most of their time each week, it’s worth making it welcoming. A third of workers admitted they’re more comfortable working in an environment where they can see other employees and don’t feel shut in. Natural light and open spaces could be the key to preventing a dip in motivation.

Go outside
During the summer holidays, many parents just want the opportunity to spend more time with their children. Giving workers the option to spend some days out of the office to work from home helps employees save money on travel and babysitting, and helps keep workers energised and refreshed by changing up the week.

You can read the full report here. How do you stay motivated during the summer? Let us know on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn.