Sunny and bright, the sky stretches out wide and blue. The air is hot. The days are empty. The holidays are here. But you’re in there, lounging on your bed, screen-time up, scrolling away. No motivation. No plans. You’ve hit the summer slump…
Ah, the summer holidays: warm weather and a much-needed break from college. But are these going to be your best months? With this shift in routine, we may go through a summer-slump, or a sudden drop in motivation and productivity combined with feelings of fatigue.
Why do we get summer slump?
A whole range of reasons explain the summer-slump. Sure, hotter weather is nice but, my gosh, isn’t it draining? Sometimes it can feel too warm to be productive. It can particularly affect us at work. Research shows workplace productivity can drop by 20% during summer. This can be not only due to the heat, but we may feel like we’re missing out on the nice weather, by being indoors and too busy to enjoy it.
Also, when at college, you’re usually surrounded by people every day. So, when we go without that during the summer, we may experience anxiety and loneliness.
Additionally, a lot of us may struggle to sleep. The longer days can disrupt our bedtime routine, which throws off our internal clock (or circadian rhythm). This is because, when it’s dark, our brain produces melatonin which helps us sleep.
Consequently, this lack of motivation (and tiredness) can lead us to lounging about and avoiding productive activities, and more scrolling on our phone, binge watching TV, and so on. In turn, we may also struggle to get out of bed and neglect self-care and other responsibilities or hobbies.
Slump or SAD?
If you are feeling a constant low during the summer period, it could also be a sign of seasonal affective disorder (SAD). While it is less common than SAD during Winter/Fall, it can have serious effects on your physical and mental health, including:
- Poor sleep
- Anxiety
- Fatigue
- Irritability
So how do we beat the slump and actually have the sunny and serene summer we deserve?
Get up! Get busy!
Stop me when you’ve heard these before: “I’m going to do it today,” or “Just five more minutes, then I’ll do it”. These are typical things we tell ourselves to encourage productivity. But does it work? Rarely.
Staying motivated is hard and it’s not a promised thing; but you can do some things to help.
Everyone loves a list. They help you focus on your targets and hold you accountable. It doesn’t have to be very big, just figure out what you need to do. Figure out your priorities and put it at the top of your list. If nothing else gets done today, make sure whatever is at the top does.
Break down bigger tasks. If, for example, you’re going to clean out your closet, it might seem like one little task, but there are so many things involved in the actual project. Break it down to smaller chunks, such as making a pile of clothes that don’t fit and those you want to donate.
Find your groove.
You have ups and downs all day indicating when you’re most energized and when you’re at your most tired. If you listen to your body, you can plan what you’re going to do and when.
When you’re feeling the most motivated, you can do more demanding projects (schoolwork, chores, etc.), then at your most stimulated, opt for easier activities, a leisurely read or colouring (which, by the way, isn’t just for kids!).
You can use your motivational highs and lows to create a stable and structured routine. It will save you time and energy trying to make decisions and create plans, because you’ll just know when you should work and when you should rest.
Put the phone down!
Stop. Endlessly. Scrolling! Not only because you wasted time — time could’ve been spent being productive — but it can be a complete drain. Increased screen time can majorly affect your mood, causing an increase in anxiety, irritability, and impacting your sleep.
It’s tempting to waste away on your phone, and don’t get me wrong, we all do it, but there are so many other fulfilling activities we can do.
Try to avoid checking your phone as soon as you wake up — it’s not the best start to your day. Instead, go for a walk and take a drink (maybe a coffee or smoothie). Now’s the best time to get out with the nice weather. Maybe you can read a few pages, or journal. Writing down your thoughts and feelings can be so cathartic.
You can avoid the morning-scroll urge by placing your phone away from your bed, so you can’t roll over and pick it up.
Setting screen-time limits can also be a useful reminder for you to put your phone down. It will make you think not only about how much time you spend on your phone, but what you are actually using it for. What’s a priority and what’s wasteful scrolling?
College who?
I know you don’t want to think about it. The “It” being “going back to school”. During summer, we either ignore or dread it.
And you’re right, we shouldn’t spend our holidays thinking about uni or college, but this is the best time to start getting prepared. Trust me, this is going to set you up for a great start to your year.
Look at your classes and assess what resources you need; if you’ve got any reading, do it. A few pages every week is so small, but it will help so much and save you some stress at the start of the year. Maybe this time, you won’t be behind.
Flourish with friends
Now is the time to spend time with your friends and talk about stuff aside from college. I know it can be hard to arrange things; people are either at work or busy. But you don’t have to plan something big to have fun. Small activities can be just as fulfilling and meaningful. Cheap and simple activities can include:
- Crafts: Scrapbooking with photos and old magazines or making key rings, maybe even jewellery.
- Movie night: All you need is to decide on a movie and bring some snacks.
- Hot girl walk: Need I say more? Go on a walk, get an iced drink- wear your sunglasses!
Catching Zzzs like it’s a sport
Adults are recommended to get seven or more hours of sleep per night. But let’s be realistic, that’s not always possible. It takes a bit of effort to get a good sleep schedule and a rested night. Luckily, there are tips and tricks so, hopefully you can wake up fresh and ready to have your next best day.
Understand when you’re tired! If you’re experiencing sluggishness and/or struggling to concentrate at night, it’s usually a sign you’re ready to sleep. DON’T. IGNORE. IT. Your bed is telling you to rest, listen!
Avoid exposure to blue-light (TV, phones and laptops) around bed time. This doesn’t mean you should avoid your phone or watching a show/film at all, just put a time limit on your usage. Instead you can opt for other more calming activities before bed, such as:
- Journalling
- Reading
- Meditation
Whatever you’re doing this summer, you should be enjoying the sun, the bright blue sky, and the warmer weather. Whether it’s getting to stuff you don’t usually have the time for, hanging out with people you miss, or finding a new hobby, it should be a time of fun and relaxation.
