4 Ways to Maintain Productivity this Summer
The weather gets warm and our minds and bodies are ready to relax and enjoy fun times and the outdoors. So naturally, productivity drops by 20% in the summer. Click to learn 4 Ways to Maintain Productivity this Summer in your business.
Summer summer summer time...time to sit back and unwind.
The weather gets warm and our minds and bodies are ready to relax and enjoy fun times and the outdoors. So naturally, productivity drops by 20% in the summer. Depending on how you’ve strategized your business and what systems you have in place, you don’t have time to lose any percentage in productivity.
Here are 4 ways to maintain productivity this summer:
1. Take a vacation day every week
Summer is for fun times, being social, and enjoying the life you are building. Everyday if you ask me, but primarily vacations. Average day...you’re working, the sun is shining and your mind is thinking about everything BUT work. Spare me, I love work, and I can work all day every day.
No you want fun and sun.
So to ramp up your productivity, schedule one vacation day. Yes, schedule it, so that you really take it. Now if your current work week is 4 days, then you are going down to 3.
Schedule this day during the week, so you will treat it as a vacation day and not just a weekend day with everyone else. You may be thinking that reducing days will harm your productivity. However, its the exact opposite, you will PUSH to get more done in less time. You want this vacay day!
2. Digital detox
Being online ALL the time is draining. You’re connected to your computer, tablet and phone. You are always available. If your mind is constantly processing notifications and alerts, it can’t run efficiently. I love apple as they have really revolutionized technology products, but if I open every app or program and add multiple images and songs...if my device isn’t FULL. It will run soooooooo slow. Your mind is no different.
Pick one day out the week, a weekend day or the weekend works too, to completely detox from digital. So that’s no internet, social media, email, or Netflix. Okay, well maybe Netflix, but on the TV. The computer or phone is tricky and the other apps may draw you in. After the detox, you return refreshed and ready to tackle all the missed notifications and emails. You’re no longer subconsciously thinking about those menial tasks.
3. Get enough sleep
With the sun setting later, it just persuades us to stay up later. In order to maximize your productivity, you need a minimum of 8 hours of sleep every night. Now you determine how those 8 hours play out. 5 am may be optimal for that #girlboss on Instagram, but your productivity optimal time may not be until 11 am.
4. Remix routines
All the tasks and routines that you have during the rest of the year, may not work in the summer. You want to learn to adjust your business and routines, so that they make sense to your life.
Writing blogs and producing tons of free content may be a big part of your business model during the fall and winter months. And that’s amazing, because your target audience is there to sup it up like warm soup on a winter day. It hits the spot and they want more. The weather warms up and soup and chili just aren’t main courses anymore. Your ideal consumer is out enjoying herself. So you may reduce the content that you are producing.
Don’t worry about anyone forgetting about you, you aren’t putting up the gone for the summer sign. You are shifting to working smarter vs. harder.
Bring out relevant post from your archives and cycle those into your social media scheduler. Play with Snapchat or Facebook Live and talk with your peeps.
REMIX what you normally do.
You may want to work outside on days it’s nice or take walking meetings [wear headphones and use a tool like Uberconference to record the meeting]. Send the recording to your assistant, if there’s anything she needs to take action on.
Working for yourself and working online can be difficult at times, but you’re the BOSS! You call the shots and you are able to strategize to make sure you get everything done and still have time for the sun!
xo,
Kimber
Systems Sunday: How to use Google Chrome Extensions
Google Chrome Extensions will change your internet experience...let me show you how. Along with my favorite extensions.
Systems Sunday, I'm sharing with you systems and tools I'm using to automate my biz and (or) my life.
Gigi better known as Google is my best friend which means of course I use Google Chrome as my browser.
The best thing about chrome is extensions. That and Facebook power editor, but we'll talk Facebook ads soon.
Per Gigi extensions simply put are :
- Extra features and functionality that you can easily add to Google Chrome. By using extensions, you can customize Google Chrome with features you like, while keeping your browser free of things that you don't use.
Some of the extensions I have:
What are your favorite extensions?
Meet Sunrise Calendar App
I introduce to you, Sunrise. Say hello to a gorgeous calendar app. Sunrise doesn't discriminate, it is here for all platforms. #allplatformsmatter It's truly the calendar of all calendars. Let me show you it's newest feature and how it's going to change how you work and play.
UPDATE: SUNRISE WAS BOUGHT OUT & DISCONTINUED
A few months ago I started using Sunrise. It's a very pretty calendar app created for Google Calendar and iCloud users. Sunrise is for iOS, Android, and you can access it via the computer. Sunrise doesn't discriminate, it is here for all platforms. #allplatformsmatter
Sunrise is the calendar of all calendars. Serious innovation.
Sunrise features over 25,000 interesting calendars. Never miss an episode of Scandal or Game of Thrones.
Oh yeah!
TV networks have calendars to add the show times to your calendar in addition to following your favorite sports, with the scores updated in real time.
Sunrise connects with the following applications:
- Evernote
- Asana
- Trello
- Eventbrite
- TripIt
- Google Tasks
- Producteev
- Basecamp
- GitHub
- Meetup
- Songkick
- Foursquare
Microsoft recently purchased Sunrise App and is already making changes. All for the better. I got an email last week that made me fall in looooooove with Sunrise. The app has an add on: Meet. It's an amazing quick scheduler.
Another scheduler?
Yes, I know, I know, but this rocks and integrates with your already streamlined life. No more emailing (or texting) back and forth to schedule one on one meetings, consults, bestie dates and coffee meet ups.
As quick as you can access your favorite emoji, you can schedule with Meet in Sunrise.
The other party doesn’t have to sign up for anything or even have Sunrise. They click the link and pick a time that works for them and BOOM! they are scheduled. You get notified once they confirm.
Watch the videos below:
How to use Sunrise with Meet on desktop:
How to use Sunrise with Meet on iOs mobile:
Finding ways to save time and schedule things are two important factors in streamlining. Are you ready to automate your business? Think of the extra time automation will give you for leisure lunch dates, shopping for dresses, and early morning runs or naps (I promise I won't tell).
Systems vs. Tools
Every business needs systems and tools. With the new year, I see so many business owners throwing out the word systems but when I look closer they are only talking about tools.
Tools and systems are not synonymous.
Tools + productivity hack + strategy x repetition= system
Tools help to carry out systems and enhance a system in automating your business.
My favorite tools this week are asana and streak. The systems behind them are a bit strategic.
For example I use Asana to manage:
TDL
CRM
Podcast pitches
Project manager
So many things [working on a guide to share all the goodness]
In order to create a system look at what you do over and over. Make note of the steps that are needed and those that aren't. Assess where you can shave time, automate, and or outsource. Write it down and follow those steps from here on out. That is a system.
Here's an example of my Podcast system:
Research potential guest
Interact with potential guest casually and genuine
Send potential guest an email informing of the podcasts mission and invite them to be a guest.
Once the guest accepts the invitation, send guest an email explaining recording process and a link to podcast scheduler. [The scheduler is linked to my main calendars]
The scheduler sends the guest reminders before the interview date. If needed they are able to cancel and reschedule through the scheduler.
Edit the podcast
Record Intro
Upload Intro
Type up show notes [I use a template]
Create bit.ly links for the download url and show notes
Edit image [I use a template]
Create blog post for podcast show notes
The day before the podcast goes live I email the guest with the show notes, an image to share on their social media if they choose, pre written tweets about the show, and the download link.
This system is composed of a few moving parts and tools, but it's fool proof. There's a checklist to make sure everything gets done and in order.
The templates make it so I can easily pick up where I left off and not have to wonder if XYZ was completed. No time is wasted trying to figure out where to start, because I know it's done if the task below it is completed. The checklist also makes it possible to pass it off to my assistant if I don't have time to finish some tasks and the deadline is nearing. She knows exactly where to start and what to do.
Systems automate your business. Automation leads to more time which is freedom.