SAC: How to stay productive during the summer?

As summer approaches, it becomes increasingly difficult to keep our minds off our upcoming vacation or to stay focused on our tasks for long periods of time when we are in the office.

But if we look for a flexible solution to the problem of how to work smart, not too hard, we will see that it is a matter of organization and a more Zen-like acceptance of the facts, rather than hard compromises, to succeed professionally even on hot days.

In a 2023 article on the subject, Tracy Power shares data from a study in the United States, according to which 42% of employees feel exhausted at work during the summer. A study by the American Psychological Association found that 24% of workers say that the positive effects of a vacation disappear immediately after returning to work, and another 40% say that the benefits last only a few days. Therefore, it is good to accept the fact that from June to September, especially for us Europeans, a collective slowdown is the norm. During this period, maintaining a balance between work and personal life is key to reducing stress.

At the corporate culture level, many companies are introducing summer or flexible working hours. The benefits of the hybrid mode are felt more on hot days, but perhaps the most valuable are the small productivity habits that can make us happier.

Here are some specific ideas:

- Work from early morning to early afternoon. If you are from the early riser club, this is the time when this habit will help you get more and better work done in a shorter time. Take advantage of the cool mornings for heavy tasks, for meetings until lunch, and in the afternoon, take up correspondence, planning, etc. Avoid important commitments during hot hours and do not make a decision under the influence of malaise due to the weather.
- If you work hybrid, choose Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday for your days in the office, when concentration and energy are higher. Schedule your work meetings, client engagements or trips at the beginning of the day. And since you are on the territory of Sofia Airport Center, take advantage of the opportunity to escape from the office to the Flex-R Lounge for a brainstorming meeting with a colleague, when you need to focus on a problem, or for your meeting with clients. Amidst the greenery in the perfectly air-conditioned room, you will feel much fresher and save time.
- Did you know that just 29 minutes spent outdoors can increase productivity by up to 45%, and a break - especially the time spent relaxing, communicating with colleagues or simply in silence, can save the project for which you are looking for a solution? In our park, a few minutes from the office, you have the opportunity to recharge. Walk barefoot on the grass, let the sun warm you, why not drink coffee on a blanket by the lake? Lunch break can easily turn into a lazy afternoon, but the bungalows outside offer you the opportunity to work in silence, outdoors.
- The solution to the problem of busy schedules is not more work, but more focused work. According to an American study, 67% of employees complain that they spend too much time in unproductive meetings, and for an average company with 100 employees, the cost of these is over $750,000. So optimize tasks technologically, delegate smartly and plan carefully. Ask yourself these questions on Monday: What is the purpose of this meeting? Do I need to be here? What am I contributing? Can I do something of greater value? Summer challenges us to think globally and consider how to save time through a routine that works for us. Take care of important tasks and save yourself the “paperwork”, for example.
- And since it is summer, no one feels like sitting in the office for a long time. Move around every 45 minutes, doing light stretches. Hydrate! Take advantage of the spinning classes in the complex, the street gym is open 24/7, play table tennis: you have no excuse to be inactive, because it's time for beach confidence! And movement and sports are part of the summer routine that keeps us focused.

Sofia Airport Center is a place where summer is green, sunny, but also hospitable. Business offices and shared workspace save from the heat, but the park lures for minutes of relaxation or work among greenery and coolness. A 2-in-1 offer for a summer in which you don't lose the feeling of happiness. Buy yourself an ice cream, work smart, enjoy the weather! Sofia Airport Center will take care of the rest.