Beating The Summer Slump

I’ve noticed that in the many conversations that I’ve had with colleagues (most recently at a speaking event), my employees, and coaching clients (1-2-1, group, and parent) over the last month there is a common theme of “the summer slump”.

One of my employees piped up and told me that research supports this - she’s a psychology student in a graduate program, and loves this kind of thing. Research has shown that in the summer months, people are more likely to experience “vegetative” depressive symptoms - things like insomnia, a decrease in appetite, and anhedonia, or the loss of joy or pleasure in typical activities. Experts have yet to pin down a specific cause (though some point to longer days, increased heat and humidity, and the disruption of people’s typical schedules) - but thinking about what I’ve noticed in my work over the years, I have developed a bit of my own theory.

I think “the summer slump” is another form of burnout. No matter what profession you’re in, it’s likely that year-round you hear people bemoaning the colder months, wishing for summer to come, and chatting about the things they’ll do when summer finally arrives.

Then summer arrives - and many people do NONE of what they’ve dreamed of. Instead, they put more pressure on themselves; there’s so much free time in the summer, shouldn’t I use it perfectly? I need to maximize my time! I should be getting enjoyment out of everything! This is the time of the year that I’m supposed to feel free!

That pressure builds and builds and builds - and before you know it, summer is gone and most of it has been spent grinding away or forcefully enjoying things. The fall work calendar rolls back in, and instead of feeling refreshed and renewed, you’re downtrodden and wondering where summer has gone.

I believe that we need to take back our summers - exercise the power that is within us and enjoy the moment. Focus on slowing down and taking everything in, rather than maximizing the days and getting a little bit of everything. It really is the old cliche, quality over quantity!

If you can identify with any of what I’ve shared above, please reach out to me for a free consultation - coaching has been shown to improve people’s time management skills, life satisfaction, and ability to be mindful, which influences enjoyment of the present moment. There’s nothing to lose - 20 minutes of your time, to unlock summer after summer’s worth of enjoyment.

Perhaps this doesn’t sound like you - but it reminds you of your workplace, school, or home. In that case, reach out to me about a speaking event or workshop; I’ll work tirelessly with you to motivate whoever you’d like and ensure that it’s research-backed and ready to light a fire under everyone's feet.