Every year, we count down the days until summer is over. We anticipate afternoons spent lounging by the beach, reading that book we’ve been meaning to get around to, participating in an internship (or summer job), and finally, being able to sleep in. In reality, many catch the “summer blues” and allow relaxation they feel during the summer to become monotonous. Quickly, all the excitement, plans for productivity, and personal goals go out the window. Summer has flown by and old routines have once again become the norm. By about halfway through summer, summer laziness is in full-force. Many feel tired, lethargic, and unmotivated. They avoid doing anything productive, and procrastinate the things that they want to accomplish. There is a trapped feeling that accompanies this laziness, but understanding how to overcome it is empowering.
1. Exercise
Anyone who has seen Legally Blonde will know that exercise gives you endorphines. When an individual exercises, his or her body releases chemicals. These endorphins interact with the receptors in the brain and reduce pain perception. These endorphines also trigger feelings of euphoria and happiness. That feeling, known as a "runner's high," can encourage a positive and energized outlook on life. Exercise has a twofold effect on laziness. First, it takes relatively minimal effort to start. There isn’t much to figure out other than the once big decision to get the body moving. Exercise helps to break through barriers and encourage feelings of motivation. Individuals are more willing to think about complicated things, such as working on a previously daunting or insurmountable project. Grab a friend and go for a run. Having others encourage us always makes the task seem more fun. After working out, we tend to feel re-energized and ready to take on the tasks ahead.
2. Focus on one thing at a time
We often create our big summer to-do list with all the things we’d like to achieve. Focusing on two or three things on the list at a time will ensure productivity without being overwhelming. These goals should be specific and attainable. For example, a goal like “find an internship” might feel very overwhelming, but “apply for one internship a day” is more specific and attainable. Motivation is much clearer when success is promising. When fulfillment of my goal seems right around the corner, I feel a liberating rush of energy and I am excited to achieve bigger goals. Setting two or three achievable goals at a time will foster inspiration and motivation.
3. Allow time for relaxation and fun
Sound ironic? However, it works. Laziness stems from avoiding a task or feeling that it is too difficult to accomplish. By relaxing and doing the things we enjoy, we allow ourselves to feel satisfied, and can reflect on our goals and feel inspired. Inspiration allows us to be more willing to take on bigger tasks and achieve bigger goals. For example, a goal might be “clean my apartment”. This might feel overwhelming, but play some music and start to dance, and then cleaning starts to feel like a game. And besides, summer is the time for relaxation and that shouldn’t be ignored. Need to polish your resume? Do it out by the pool! When we mix things we enjoy with tasks we are avoiding, those tasks seem more gratifying.
4. Get organized
Physical surroundings have a significant impact on how one feels. Clutter creates a sense of chaos and adds to an already giant to-do list. Once the environment is organized, individuals may feel motivated to get organized and tackle tasks in other areas of their life.
5. Monitor internal dialogue
The way we speak to ourselves has a significant impact on how we feel. It is important to emphasize the impact of our thoughts on our emotions. If we want to feel ecstatic, all we need to do is adopt a point of view creating that emotion. Creating a specific state of mind through posture, breathing, and content of our internal dialogue can enable us to have the outlook we want. On average, individuals have over 50,000 thoughts a day. Even if only 10 percent of them are negative, that equates to a total of 5,000 negative thoughts a day. This helped me to understand why I might struggle to feel motivated. Instead of thinking about how much I don’t want to accomplish something or how daunting the task is, I focus on setting goals to complete the task and the feeling of accomplishment I’ll have when I’m done. Every time I have a negative thought like, “today is going to be a long day of monotonous tasks,” I immediately recognize and challenge negative thinking by countering it. I will smile and think something like, “I have so much to be grateful for and I am going to make sure that today is enjoyable!” Just thinking that way makes me feel excited, improves my posture, and gives me a big boost of energy.
Being aware of and monitoring one’s internal dialogue is so important, and will have a significant impact on one’s feelings of laziness and our ability to overcome it.
Summertime provides a unique opportunity for productivity that we don’t see in the midst of classes, exams, and meetings during the fall and spring semesters. Find a happy medium between productivity and relaxation, and take advantage of this free time by making an effort to stay productive and motivated throughout the summer months.
