8 Things to Accomplish During Your Companys Summer Slowdown

8 Things to Accomplish During Your Companys Summer Slowdown After months of navigating the hard slog, it can be tempting to kick back and coast when your workload wanes during the inevitable summer slowdown.Taking steps to avoid burnout is all well and good, but is doing the bare minimum really the best use of your time in this quiet season?The truth is, these slow weeks virtually free of meetings and deadlinespresent a great opportunity to better yourself, your skill set, and your department. Our recommendation Make this time count. Aim to accomplish something meaningful before you get too busy again.bedrngnis sure where to start? Try doing these eight things1.OrganizeYour Professional SpaceIs your computers desktop cluttered with files? Is your physical desktop groaning under the weight of paperwork? A slow period at work is a good time to change all that.Get organized Tackle those unread emails, sort and systematize your inbox,and clean out your dr awers. Reconfigure your workspace digital and physical to makeit more functional. This will make getting things done and tracking down resources easier once work picks back up. Plus, once youve put your immediate environment in order, your mental space will feel a lot less chaotic, too.2. Review Your Progress and Set New GoalsWhile you have some time to spare, thinkabout your professional journey. How far have you come, and how far do you still have to go to meet the goals youve set for yourself, whether in this current job or in your broader career? With no urgent tasks breathing down your neck, you should have room to evaluate your career map and ensure its still leading where you want it to lead.Take note (literally) of what youve accomplished to date, and while youre at it, use this information toupdate your resume and LinkedIn profile to more accurately reflect your current situation. This way, youll be ready if new opportunities arise. You can also capitalize onthe summer sl owdown by reviewing your objectives for the coming months, mapping out how you will reach them, and rahmen new intentions.3. Return to Old Projects That Have Been on the Back BurnerWe allhave that one big task weve been meaning to get to for months or even years, be it a passion project or a long-term assignment that never quite made it to the top of the to-do list. Slow days are your chance totackle the work thats been on the back burner for too long. If youre not going to prioritize it now, will you ever prioritize it?4. Learn, Read, ResearchNow that you have a little more time to breathe, why not shift your focus from everyday work to professional growth? Take an online course to sharpen your skills or acquire new competencies. Research the state of your field or industry to better understand where its headed and how you can prepare. Read relevant websites and trade publications and listen to insightful podcasts to keep up with the latest news and trends.5. Automate Tedious Proce ssesWhen yourefighting against a relentless tide of work, theres no time to stop, reflect, and determine whether you are really approaching your duties in the smartest, most efficient way possible. In the summer slowdown,on the other hand, you have ample opportunity to think about the big picture. Pinpoint tasks that can be automated and processes that can be streamlined, and look into tools that can help you maintain higher productivity with less effort all year long.6. Reconnect WithYourColleaguesYour network is one of your most valuable professional assets, but connections between people whither with time unless you actively cultivate them.Use your newfound free time to check in with past coworkers, superiors, and clients. Message them on LinkedIn, shoot them an email, or invite them to coffee. While youre at it, work on strengthening your ties with current colleagues, too. Initiate conversations in the office, volunteer to help people with difficult tasks, and organize group lu nches or after-work get-togethers.Buildingrelationships with your coworkers will pay off now and in the long run.7. Pick Up Some Secondary WorkHave you been itching to explore a business idea for some time? A side hustle is a great way to diversify your income stream orbreak into a new industry, but building a successful one takes some effort. Get your gig going now while you have the drive, the energy, and the extra hours.8. Unwind and RechargeMaking the seasonal slump countalso means prioritizing relaxation. Once fall arrives and your work picks back up, youll have a hard time keeping up if you didnt use the summer months to recuperate.Spend quality time with family and friends,pick up a new hobby, exercise more, and take moments just for yourself. Focus on refilling your cup, and youll have more to give when office life returns to its pre-summer pace.LiveCareer has tools that help job seekers build targeted resumes and cover letters, including a freeresume builderand extensive co llection ofcover letter examples.

5 signs your TV binge-watching habit is out of control

5 signs your TV binge-watching habit is out of control5 signs your TV binge-watching habit is out of controlBinge-watching TVis pretty much the best thing ever. You find ashowyou love, and you fall down the rabbit hole, enjoying it for hours upon hours, until youve finished the series and are ready to find your next obsession. Streaming platforms have offered us a safe haven away from thestresses of daily life- a place where we can easily cuddle up anywhere, anytime and indulge in some good, mindless fun.But, like any good thing, binge-watchingcango too far. Any time we have the word binge in a sentence, we should pause, whether were talking pizza, new shoes, wine, or TV, cautions clinical psychologist andInnovation360clinical directorDr. Kevin Gilliland. Like all the things in that sentence, there is nothing wrong with watching TV but all things in moderation Gilliland has identified five symptoms that your TV habit has spiraled just a little out of control, so you can be on the lo okout for these signs in your own life. If they sound familiar, it may be time to start a self-imposed break from your current streaming addiction.1. Youre not sleeping as much as you need toSome of your best bingeing happens in the hours between when you get home from work and when you go to bed, and those sessions have been extending longer and longer into the evening. You get so caught up in your current show that you often find yourself pushing back your usual bedtime to allow for a few more eps, or even falling asleep on the couch and dragging yourself to bed well after midnight. And you wonder why youre exhausted during the day If you feel unusually tired, its worth examining the kinds of hours youve been keeping and evaluating whether or not your new TV obsession is responsible.2. Your diet has changedYoure so eager to start watching your show when you get home that you cant bring yourself to cook. Instead, you place an buchen for take-out or settle for a dinners worth of sna cks. This is totally fine occasionally - life is more fun when you can have snacks for dinner sometimes - but if its becoming a habit, you may need to ask yourself if television bingeing is to blame. A drastic change to your routines is an indication that there may be a bit of an issue at hand.3. Youre less active than usual.When you compare your activity level to a year ago, how has it changed? Gilliland asks. Has your time gone to your TV? Our bodies are meant to move. No ones suggesting that you run eight miles on a daily basis, but if youre regularly forgoing former physical activity to make time to burn through another show on Netflix or Hulu, things may have gone too far. (If youre looking for motivation to get to the gym this winter, only watching your fave when youre on your cardio machine of choice can be a great reason to drag yourself out the door.)4. Youre reluctant to make other plansYoure making excuses to skip happy hour with your coworkers, pass on weekly brunch, l eave friends birthday parties early all because you cant wait to get back to your couch and remote. Not a good sign When we start to choose TV over doing things with friends, it can end with us feeling isolated and disconnected, Gilliland tells us. Thats bad for humans.5. Youre avoiding peopleYour BFF has already finished the series youre bingeing, and youre so fixated on avoiding spoilers that you find yourself chatting with them less than usual. Youre also constantly craving the quiet of your own apartment and your own TV. Everyone needs - and is entitled to - their alone time, but if youre actively choosing to be alone more than would typically be comfortable for you, it might be time for you to go cold turkey on streaming until the balance is back to normal.This article was originally published on Brit + Co.