Once again we find ourselves gifted with summertime. Summer for most of us comes with a certain, almost tangible, sense of leisure, possibility and freedom. Perhaps this commonality of feeling we hold dates back to our childhood experiences of cyclic breaks from school routines.
The American author, Sarah Dessen in a quote from her book, “Along for the Ride” captures summer’s mood quite well:
"In the summer, the days were long,
stretching into each other.
Out of school, everything was on pause
and yet happening at the same time,
this collection of weeks when anything was possible."
Hopefully, you will have an opportunity to build into these summer months, if not days of vacation at least moments to break away from your routine. An internet search provided some ways one could intentionally accomplish switching gears even while remaining on the job.
Here are some routine changing suggestions offered by freelance writer, Matt Duczeminski, “Ten Ways To Enjoy Summer Even When You’re In The Office”.
- Make a summer playlist
- Pack summer foods for lunch
- Redecorate your desktop or workspace [with a summer theme]
- Take advantage of casual Fridays
- Drink fruit infused water
- [If you are able] come in early and get your work done
- Switch up your commute route
- Leave work at work
Kaitlyn Russel in her internet article, “15 ways to enjoy summer when you are stuck at work”, adds two ideas of her own to the list by suggesting enjoying ice cream cones /sandwiches or popsicles during a weekly Frozen Treat Happy Hour or enjoying the outdoors to eat, walk or read at lunchtime.
Perhaps another way you might switch things up this summer is powering down your devices at a set time each day and taking a break. Emails and Facebook messages will be there when you power up again.
The csj blog team are following our own advice... we are breaking our website routine and won’t be following our usual posting schedule in the coming days. Look for our next new post in early August.
Enjoy summer!
"Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer's day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time."
John Lubbock, The Use of Life