I wake up. The blanket has been kicked out of bed long ago.
It’s hot. I am sweaty. Despite the aircon running all night. The heat wave is here.
I am not complaining. Coming from Germany sunny days are scarce. I don’t want to anger the weather fairy…
Korea on the other hand is hot and humid during summer.
Is the heat getting to you in your country? What’s your temperature? Does the heat make you less productive?
Today we’ll take a look at how to stay productive in hot weather, organized and fresh during the summer despite the heat and the constant urge to take a shower. Here is what works for me.
Let’s jump right in:
A Summer Morning Routine To Stay Productive
Are you feeling sluggish, tired, and unmotivated? Does heat make you less productive?
Let me assure you it’s normal:
According to a study by researchers at the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab in 2006 “performance increases with temperatures up to 21-22 °C, and decreases with a temperature above 23-24 °C (73.4°F-75.2°F). The highest productivity is at a temperature of around 22 °C (71.6°F) ”
Well let’s take a look what we can do during summer days to stay productive despite the heat:
1. Get up early. When the heat is still bearable.
I personally like to get up early to work on tasks during summer. Usually before 8 a.m. the temperature is still bearable. Try to get up as early as you are comfortable with and start fast. Make those morning hours count. Open all the windows before the sun gets too strong. Let some fresh air in and shut the curtains before the sun comes. Work out and do all the taxing tasks in the morning.
2. Take a cold shower to wake up.
Start your day with a cold shower to clear your mind. You’ll instantly feel refreshed and awake. You can also just splash your face with cold water if you are dreading a full-body shower.
3. Make a bun
Tie up your hair to reduce the heat. I almost always have my hair in a bun during summer. I can’t even imagine how a dog might feel with all its fur. A bun and wide, flowy clothes. Also don’t forget applying your sunscreen *Reminder to Myself.
4. Drink a cup of water (or 2)
Right after getting up drink a cup of water or 2. Like I said we sweat a lot during night. Replenish your water tanks right after getting up. Here are some summer health tips by Dr. Mike. At 3:15 he’ll talk about hydration. 😉 Drink water throughout the day.
5. Eat small snacks and salads instead of big meals.
Digestion needs energy. If your energy is already low because of the heat try simple foods during the day. Plus cooking makes you even more sweaty…
6. Don’t go full aircon
Turn on the aircon too high and you might get sick during summer. So stay a bit below the outside temperature and don’t try to turn your apartment into a mini fridge. The good point is that if the weather is consistently warm you’ll actually adapt. Your body will get better at handling the heat according to an article by Katherine Ellen Foley as you get used to the heat “our hearts start to pump blood more efficiently to the rest of our bodies.”
Look at how 11 Successful Women start their Morning Routines
7. Work in a cold place during the summer heat
I think most of Europe still doesn’t use ACs. So if your home gets too hot. Work in the basement or go to a coffee shop that has an AC. Shopping malls usually have fans and airconditioners too. Set up a small water fountain in your home. It’ll not only cool down your place the sound of the water will also increase your productivity.
8. Wet Towels
This trick might help you when it’s hot and dry. Use a cold wet towel and put it across your shoulders or arms to cool down. I used to live in a top-floor apartment. During the worst heat waves, I used cold towels to cool me down. Especially when you try to fall asleep they can help.
9. Splash your wrists with cold water during the day
Need to cool down during the day. Put your arms under medium cold water. Or get a cold footbath.
Need a little Self-Care during Summer? Start a Self-Care Morning Routine.
10. Try doing a Siesta
You know how people in the Mediterranean region take breaks during the afternoon when the heat is the most unbearable. Unless you have an aircon keeping productive during that time will be hard. A nap can help you reduce your body temperature and you’ll feel a lot better after taking a rest.
Do you remember Thursday afternoons in school? You hear the cicadas chirping. The smell of sweaty teenagers and way too much deodorant. The rustling of paper and the scratching of pens. It’s finally quiet in the classroom because no one has the energy to chatter.
The teacher comes in. He’s in a good mood. (Bet the teachers had air conditioning in their room. German schools generally had no aircon. I think they still don’t have.).
“Pop up quiz guys, put your notes away. This will be a fun one.”
Jisung Park, assistant professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, writes that “taking an exam on a 90◦F day leads to a 10.9 percent lower likelihood of passing a particular subject (e.g. Algebra), which in turn affects the probability of graduation.” compared to a low heat day.
11. Make it a habit to tidy up
For me in order to stay productive my room has to be organized. Plus I do not want my place to be a mess cause I am slacking off in the heat. Make it a habit to clean, organize and declutter after waking up and before going to bed. 5 Minutes a day can make a giant difference. Try it out. Set a timer and see how much you can do with 5 minutes.
12. Read, read read
Reading doesn’t take a lot of energy. So the summer is perfect to get in the habit of reading. What is the best summer routine for you? You can also turn writing into your new daily routine.
13. Time for fun activities in the afternoon
- Swim at the pool, a lake or the ocean
- Meet friends at coffee shops
- Make Ice Cream
14. Wrap your day up by making a schedule for the next day
To Schedule, the next day helps you plan out what you want to accomplish the next day. It’s a great tool to improve your productivity. You can use your Calendar, To-Do Lists, or Journal. Check out our Productivity System here.
End your Day with the best relaxing Self-Care Night Routine.
Here are productive things to do over the summer at home:
- Learn a New Language
- Take up Yoga/ Photography/ Dancing/ Pottery etc. Classes
- Volunteer
- Start a Side Hustle
- Take an Online Class
- Plan your Ideal Life
- Declutter your Home, Photos
- Declutter your Laptop, Mail, or Smartphone
- Message Friends, you haven’t heard of in a While
- Organize your Finances
- Upcycle Old Furniture
- Plant a Herb Garden
- Start a Workout Routine
- Start writing a Book
- Plan your Next Trip
And this is what your Productive Daily Summer Routine could look like:
Morning Summer Routine - Bedtime Routine
6:00 a.m. – Wake Up
6:05 a.m. – Drink a Cup of Water
6:10 a.m. – Get Dressed, Bathroom Stuff
6:25 a.m. – Generously apply Sunscreen
6:30 a.m. – Make your Bed & Open all Windows
6:35 a.m. – Take a short Walk or Workout
7:00 a.m. – Eat a small Snack, Breakfast
7:15 a.m. – Work on a personal Goal
(Learn a Language, Work on a Side Hustle, Learn a New Skill)
11:00 a.m.- Prepare a light Lunch
12:00 p.m.- Eat Lunch
12:30 p.m.- Do the Dishes
13:00 p.m.- Do Something Fun
(e.g. Drawing, Crafting, Surfing)
18:00 p.m.- Eat Dinner
18:30 p.m.- Work on Personal Goals
20:30 p.m.- Do a quick Clean of your Apartment/ Room
21:00 p.m.- Read a Book, Watch Documentaries, Schedule your next Day
22:00 p.m.- Go to Bed
What do you think about this morning routine list? What does your summer morning routine 2022 look like? Last but not least check out this awesome infographic on productivity during summer by grasshopper. You can also pin the Summer Routine for later 🙂
Wrapping it up:
In order to have a productive summer despite the heat wave, it helps to have a summer routine.
Here are some posts you might want to read:
- Here is our Ultimate Post on Goal Setting
- Need some Focus Tips Cause you are Overwhelmed?
- If you don’t know how to prioritize your tasks check the 80/20 Rule.
- Are you lacking motivation? Here are Extrinsic and Intrinsic Motivators you wish you’d tried sooner.
- Struggling with Self-Discipline? Check out our tips.
- Here are some tips if you are a Procrastinator and need a little push.
