How to Stay Productive this Summer!

Hi guys! Hello Summer, bye bye will to do anything, right? Wrong! I know the heat can be debilitating and make us want to lay in the ac and binge watch anything really, but it doesn't have to be that way. I am laying out some tips to help keep you focused, on task AND still enjoy yourself. Ready? Here we go:

1) Get an Early Start

Don't SNOOZE! This can be tough, or can it? The sun rises a lot earlier and I find its much easier to get out of bed when the sun is bright, the birds are chirping and the days are warmer. It's also a lot easier to get dressed no longer having to worry about layers and layers of clothes, coats, boots, gloves and hats etc. It's a dress, a pair of sandals and you are out the door. Amen!

2) Plan Your Day

When you are a parent with a full time job, a moonlighting gig (AKA this blog) and a full social schedule, feeling overwhelmed can become the norm. The truth is it doesn't have to be that way. I plan EVERYTHING! Seriously, EVERYTHING. And I make sure to keep order in each part of my life so that one doesn't bleed into another. For example, at work I have a lot thrown at me at any given time and not all need to be done immediately but some do. Prioritization is key and one way to keep things in priority order is creating lists! I am a visual person so seeing, in black and white, what I need to do and when helps me conquer the work day. The best part of a list? Scratching off an item you've just completed, seriously.

In terms of parenting, the truth is I have two teen boys, so they aren't as demanding of my time as they were when I was carting them around for baseball, football practice, play dates and summer camp. My oldest is working as a lifeguard this summer and starting to have more of a social life that doesn't include his parents. I check in to see what his day is looking like. Sometimes he knows what he is doing for the whole week with minimal tweaks, its rare but it happens.😀 My youngest is spending the summer at Fordham University in their STEM program starting July 5th. It's full time Monday-Friday for the month of July and first week in August, so that's exciting.

My husband and I keep seperate calendars but we synch them at least once a week with parenting, professional, and social obligations. And let us not forget downtime when we can spend quality time together. There is always time for that!

Blogging calendar, this one we are trying to get into a groove. It's tough when our weekends are booked or washed out to get a shoot done. When we do shoot, we plan for 2-3 outfits and that helps keep us from shooting two or three times a week because it just wouldn't be possible. We don't have that luxury or energy!

3) Take Time Off!

I work in higher ed, so it's go, go, go during the fall and spring semesters but in the summer not so much. Sure there are things to do to prep for the upcoming fall semester and the new freshman class but with proper time budgeting I can do all my to-do's AND take some much needed time away. I very rarely take any vacation time during the fall and spring so I have accumulated a lot of annual leave. I am experimenting this year and working 8-1, Monday-Thursday (we have Fridays off in the summer) and charging my time instead of taking full days off. Taking full days can be hard to recover from and just ruin my groove. Instead, if it works for your particular industry, working half days and charging the time can make your workday more productive and impactful. For me it has helped to keep me on track at work AND allowed for some play time in the city. Its a win, win. Now I am available to the office on my cell, but I work with a good group of people who can figure things out until I am back in the office 8am the next day.

4) Stay Hydrated

Ok, this seems a little common sense but nothing kills productivity and the drive to get stuff done than dehydration! It's true and sometimes we neglect that very basic need to hydrated leading to lethargy and worse a stint in the ER. So remain hydrated at all times, I sleep with a glass of water on my nightstand and it is the first thing I reach for in the morning when I wake (ok, sometimes the first thing I reach for is my cellphone, lol) but seriously get that water in you! To stay hydrated during the day, I keep a water bottle in my office. Whatever it takes, do it! Not only is it great for energy, its great for your skin, hair...everything. Water is life.

That's all I got! What are some tips you can share about staying productive this summer? Share below.

About this romper, I snagged this beauty from Necessary Clothing and I LOVE it! Word to the wise, rompers/jumpsuits can be dressed up or down but one thing you can never play with is the fit. Fit is key with anything but especially with a one-piece. I don't like tight clothing in general but certainly not in my jumpsuit. I went a size up and got a large and it fit like a glove (only a little looser, lol). I just like room to breathe and in the summer no one wants clothes that stick, that aint cute! See links to this jumper and few Ive got my eye on below.