Avoid the Post-Summer Productivity Slump with These Tips

I hope you’re enjoying the last few weeks of summer, soaking up that final dose of Vitamin D and squeezing in a few more family barbecues and get-togethers with friends. 

Soon, it will all be a warm memory, and your focus will shift to the fall quarter and upcoming deadlines. The days grow shorter, and life becomes more hectic with the kids back in school and Saturday soccer games. 

So, how can you maintain peak performance into the fall? If you’re a regular reader of my newsletter, you’ll know that I’m a big believer in energy management. 

Let’s look at some standard energy zappers and the solutions to overcome them. 

Unclear priorities 

Your OOO reminder has ended. Your inbox is overflowing, your voicemail is full, and a colleague has already pinged you on Teams looking for an update. You feel overwhelmed.

If you’ve gone from lazy mornings with a cappuccino and a round of Wordle to suddenly having 57 things on your plate, the key is to identify your top priorities. Once you’ve set your priorities, start each day with a short plan to tackle the most critical items. Then repeat daily! 

Meetings, meetings, and more meetings

You are tanned and refreshed. Now, make sure you remain the latter by only attending necessary meetings. If you are chairing the meeting, make sure it’s focused and purposeful, there’s an agenda, actionable steps, assigned tasks and deadlines. 

These types of meetings are energized. Other types, the ones with no outcomes or results are draining. Be diligent when auditing your schedule to determine if you really need to be in the meeting.

Constant Interruptions  

Once, the biggest productivity busters were unplanned colleague pop-ins. Now, in addition to those, you’re also getting pinged on Teams, Slack, texts, and more. This nonstop stream creates a stop-start cycle that makes it hard to focus on meaningful work.

The solution? Protect your focus time. Block it in your calendar, set your device to Do Not Disturb, and let teammates know you’re unavailable. If you’re in an office, angle your desk away from doorways or windows to avoid accidental eye contact that invites a drop-in. This isn’t about being unavailable, it’s about carving out space for deep focus to get critical work done.

Gossipy, passive-aggressive colleagues

Toxic co-workers can sap the energy and enthusiasm of everyone around them.

If your manager isn’t taking action to correct this culture-crushing behaviour, you can still play a role. Avoid fanning the gossip flames and instead spend time with the more positive, supportive people in your workplace. 

It’s your choice whether you join in the gossip or disengage from it. You can also respectfully call it out by saying things like: “That doesn’t sound like teamwork to me.” 

A positive workplace is energizing. 

Supportive, positive relationships are based on recognition, respect, gratitude, and constructive feedback. 

Unresolved conflict 

Research has shown that unresolved conflict is one of the leading causes of lost productivity in the workplace. 

Most people dislike conflict, but it’s a reality in most companies.

Conflict consumes mental and emotional energy. Even if you’re not directly addressing it, avoiding it can be just as exhausting. 

The fix is a timely resolution. Ask yourself: What is the conflict?  How can it be addressed? 

Even small steps, such as scheduling time to talk with the person involved or discussing the situation with your manager, move things closer to resolution. 

Stay focused on the facts and aim for win–win solutions. 

Email overload 

Your inbox is full and more messages keep coming in. The more messages that pile up unanswered, the more mental energy you waste.

Try minimizing what lands in your inbox. Maybe you don’t need to be copied on every message, or perhaps there’s a team chat you can step away from. 

Archive and delete older messages where possible. Instead of constantly checking your inbox, schedule set times during the day to read and respond to emails. Turn off or at least adjust notifications that pull your attention away from focused work. 

Cluttered workspace 

The old saying ‘A cluttered workspace creates a cluttered mind’ is still true today, but the clutter has changed. Instead of stacks of files all over your desk, it’s more likely to be digital clutter, like  27 tabs open on your computer.  

Either way, clutter can increase stress and decrease efficiency.  

It’s a great habit to tidy up your workspace, at home or in the office, and minimize ruthlessly.  

That will help ease your mental load and make it easier to focus and find what you need! 

Bonus points: Add a plant or personal decorations to boost calmness and make it feel like your space.  

Lack of daylight or fresh air 

If you’re in a stale, artificial office environment working under fluorescent lights and staring at a computer screen all day, make sure you get a dose of natural light and fresh air regularly throughout the day.   

If you can’t set up your space near a window for natural light that can also be opened for fresh air, consider going out for walks and taking breaks. Or work for an hour or two at a coffee shop with good light and vibes. 

Uncomfortable furniture and poor ergonomics 

Office workers need a comfortable ergonomic setup: a good chair, a screen at eye level, and a mouse and keyboard in a straight line with your forearms.  

It used to be that a paid ergonomic expert was needed to come into the office to ensure a proper ergonomic workstation setup. And while it is still a preferable method, there are tons of resources available on the subject online to help.  

Your body needs to be in a neutral, comfortable position to reduce strain and prevent injury over time and to keep you from becoming mentally fatigued.