Getting the Least out of Summer

Summer is now in full swing.  Graduation parties.  BBQs.  Weddings.   Vacations.   And wondering whether all your spring ambitions will become summer realities.   More free time but also less.  At the beginning of the summer I get excited about all the books I will read.  At the end of the summer I get excited for all the books I will read…next summer, because I didn't get to read them this year.  I never seem to have as much free time as I anticipate. 

Part of the difficulty is the time we do have is less structured during the summer.  Families don’t have the school routine and many of us have work schedules that are a bit different during the summer compared with the rest of the year.  This summer I am trying to keep three things in mind: priorities, structure and what I like to call being ok with not solving each of the world’s problems simultaneously. 

Prioritizing helps me recognize that I actually don’t have an infinite amount of time or energy to accomplish goals.  Prioritizing helps me identify what I truly value.  Structure is important because it helps keep my mind and body in a rhythm.   I like rhythm.  Even one or two consistent events per week can make a big difference.  Finally it is important for me to find time to be unproductive.  With technology constantly at my finger-tips the best way for me to be unproductive is to get away from my phone and computer.  Ironically, I find that the more consistent I am about being unproductive the more productive I become during the times dedicated to work.  As we approach the midway point of summer I encourage you to join me in prioritizing, structuring and making time to be unproductive.  My goal for this summer is to get less out of it, and be ok with that.