Summer is slow for many companies. As a lot of people take vacation during this time, new projects are unlikely to kick off and fewer orders may come in, leading to an overall slower pace. But a slow season can be the perfect opportunity for new beginnings. With a little planning, you can take advantage of your newfound free time to reorganize, refocus and innovate. This season could be the beginning of something powerful.
Declutter and Reorganize
You spring clean your house, so why not your office? Clutter is a collection of things stored in an untidy, unorganized way. According to Lifehacker, having clutter in your workspace can be distracting and lower your performance. In fact, 83 percent of people report feeling more productive in an organized space, according to the Huffington Post.
When you’re swamped, it can be easy to let disorganization creep in. You might have stacks of documents from finished projects lying around, a helter-skelter inventory or a disorderly desk. Now is the time to set up a system that will keep you organized even when things pick up again. Start keeping detailed to-do lists so you’ll be in the habit of using them by the time peak season arrives. Try ranking your tasks by priority, placing the most important in Category A, the next in Category B and so on.
Tip: Set up a meeting once per quarter to clean out your work area. Treating it like an important meeting will prevent it from falling to the side again.
Tackle New or On Hold Ideas
When the tyranny of the urgent hits, it can be easy to put off things that are important to you but don’t have concrete deadlines. Take on those projects now. For example, maybe you wanted to contribute a blog post to your company’s website but never had time to write the article. Now is a great time to get the ball rolling. Sit down and write out your thoughts and ideas. Pick one that seems promising and develop three main points you’d like to cover in your article. From there, it’s just a matter of fleshing out your ideas.
You can also use this time to take control of your development. Schedule time with your manager to go over feedback and your aspirations within the organization. If you aren’t sure what your aspirations are, ask for clarity about the paths available to you.
It’s also the perfect time to experiment with new ideas. Maybe you wanted to expand your company’s online presence by creating social media accounts on sites like Snapchat and Instagram. If your business has a retail space, test new event types that could attract customers. You could run an open mic night or art show. No matter where you work, this is the time to try those outside-the-box ideas.
Educate Yourself
Have you wanted to enhance your skills by going to a seminar or conference? During peak season, it can be tough to get away long enough to attend. But a slow season is the perfect time to learn new skills and keep up with what’s happening in your industry. Look up professional organizations in your area. Many host their yearly meeting in the summer. Visit iLearn and master a new skill. Pick up a trade publication and be inspired by the innovators in your field.
Strengthen Your Network
While you’re doing this, get educated about your coworkers, too. A network is a powerful tool for any professional. Connections can help you get jobs in your industry or help you gain buy-in for a project you’d like to undertake in your current role. If summer is a slow time for you, it likely is for your coworkers, too. Use the extra breathing room to forge that team feeling. Invite coworkers out to lunches or for coffee. If you’re nervous about making small talk, prepare a list of questions that can get the conversational ball rolling.
You can also schedule a group activity. This is a great way to show initiative and introduce some fun into the workplace. It can be daunting to make a decision, so send out a survey asking coworkers what kinds of things they’d be interested in doing. You’ll likely see some common ground for a fun group activity. For example, if members of your team like bowling, you can schedule a group trip the alley.
A slow season is the time to plan, create and reprioritize. Look back on what you’ve accomplished in the last year and consider whether you neglected anything because you were just too busy. Whatever you decide to do, don’t waste time. Now is the perfect opportunity to begin anew and make things even better going forward.