The days are longer, the weather is warmer, and the beaches are open. No one seems to answer the phone on Fridays and you find yourself staring out the window dreaming of the weekend. It might be time to think about implementing a summer schedule.
It’s that time of year when productivity can slip at work. The first official day of summer is June 20th – by now colleagues are talking about vacation time and ways to spend more time with family.
In 2015, 55% of employees said that flexibility is important for job satisfaction. Whether you’re employed or you own your own business, the idea has you left wondering, “How do I remain effective during shorter work weeks?”
A 2017 study done by Ohio State University found that employees productivity slips after 2.5 hours of work. And other research has proved that summer hours increase productivity.
So, if you’re ready to adopt a summer schedule this year here are a few different types of summer schedules to consider:
6 Types of Summer Schedules to Consider
The all-in, half-day on Friday
This option allows for a typical full work week – you just close up earlier on Friday to get an early jump on the weekend. Make sure your customers and colleagues are aware of your schedule.
Early out on Friday afternoons
A couple of hours of extra free time is better than nothing. If you can’t afford to take the entire Friday afternoon off, move your closing time up by 2-3 hours.
Shorter hours on any chosen day of the week
Maybe a shorter Friday doesn’t work. If so, choose any day of the week that works for your schedule and leave the office earlier than usual.
Alternating Friday afternoons off
If every Friday is too much, alternate your shorter weeks. Again, something is better than nothing.
Compress 40-hours into four days
If your workload won’t allow a shorter work week, consider compressing your normal schedule into four days of work.
Work from home Fridays
Technically it’s not a day off, but working from home on Friday can provide more flexibility for you and your family. It will at least remove your commute time.
Now that you have your summer schedule figured out, let’s go over a few ways to ensure you remain productive this summer. Here are three ways to implement summer hours into your schedule.
3 Ways to Implement a Summer Schedule
Find a schedule that works
As we’ve already seen, a reduced summer schedule can take many forms. But first, you need to choose a schedule that works for you, your family, and your company. Consider everyone’s schedule before moving forward with your summer hours.
Communicate your schedule with everyone you work with
Once you’ve established your summer schedule, it’s important that you communicate it with everyone. Be sure to identify your schedule in your shared calendars at work and inform your customers. Communicate the logistics of how things are to be handled while you’re away during these hours. Your email autoresponder should also be updated to reflect these changes.
Be willing to adjust the schedule
When implementing your new hours, things can happen that will force you to change the schedule. Especially at first, be willing to monitor and adjust the schedule as needed.
Details of your work may change throughout the summer that demand your presence during previously blocked off personal hours. Be willing to adapt so that your schedule continues to suit the needs of those around you.
Summary
A reduced summer schedule is a great way to combat decreased summer productivity. This might be exactly what you need to motivate yourself to remain focussed and accomplish more during the week. Choose one of the six different summer schedules previously listed and then make sure that it works for yourself and everyone around you.
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