If you live in a northern area like I do, the sun is coming up around six a.m. and it isn’t fully dark until ten p.m.
That’s a lot of light to work with.
Summer is often a time of schedule changes, opportunities, and fun activities. All that can throw your routine for a loop.
My advice… let it.
It’s okay to adjust your regular routine to better fit with the season you’re in.
Changing things up can give you a new burst of creativity, head off burn out, and offer you a true appreciation for the writer’s life.
Some ideas to have more fun during the coming summer months, without sacrificing your productivity or missing deadlines…
Try a Four-Day Work Week
During the summer, it’s not unusual for client work to slow down a little bit, only to ramp back up come September. The reason being that, for your clients, often their sales slow down a bit in the summer because their customers are out having fun and are spending less time in their email and on social media.
Rather than worrying about the slow down (if you’re experiencing one), take advantage of it and try out a four-day work week for the summer.
Imagine how many adventures you can pack in (or how much you can get done on your own projects) when you have three-day weekends back to back to back.
Set a Summer Goal
And I’m not talking about a work goal… I’m talking about a fun summer goal.
For example, my goal is to go out on 12 hikes between now and the end of September.
I love hiking, exploring new places, and getting away from the city bustle. In reinvigorates me and that breathes new life into my business.
But your goal doesn’t have to match my goal, obviously.
Maybe you want to attend six local festivals this summer… or join a recreational sports league… or visit every ice cream shop in your town.
Adding in a little extra fun during the summer can create lasting memories and it can put you in a better frame of mind to finish out your year on a high note.
Take a Morning Off
One day a week this summer, I’m planning to start my morning by hiking up Table Rock — a local, popular hike with incredible views… and no, this doesn’t count toward my 12-hike goal.
Doing this will shake up my schedule a bit, and that’s a good thing.
Doing this will also set my summer apart from the rest of the year. It’s something I’ll enjoy. It’s good physical exercise. And again, it reminds to take advantage of the scheduling freedom that comes with freelancing.
Try your own morning change up. Maybe one morning a week, you go to a local coffee shop to write instead of working at your desk. Or maybe you go for a swim in your local pool. Or maybe find a favorite breakfast spot and become a regular for the summer.
The possibilities are endless.
So, what do you think? Will you be switching up your summer schedule? If so, tell me about your plans in the comments. I’d love to see what you’re up to.
Don’t Miss Out on Our Quarter 2 Challenge
Our Quarter 2 Challenge kicks into high gear on Monday.
This Challenge is all about building a consistent habit on LinkedIn… and then watching how your audience and your network grows.
You can find all the information about how — and why — to join right here.
In Case You Missed It…
In her newest Reality Blog, Jennifer Ayling dives into the fears some writers have about AI. If you feel like most people talking about AI either dismiss every concern or can’t see any problems at all, I think you’ll find Jennifer’s discussion a refreshingly balanced look at how AI can impact us as writers.
If you write email campaigns for your clients, you can boost your value — and the results you deliver — by understanding key performance indicators, and how they relate to your client’s goals. In her latest Email Marketing column, Michele Peterson explores what different email marketing metrics mean and how they can inform your approach. Give it a look!
And, if you missed our Monthly Member Meeting early this week, the recording is up and available. Give it a watch to learn about the real reasons for managing your time better, along with three proven time management systems for you to try. You can find that here.
Coming Up on Digital Copywriter
June 22: A little later this month, I’ll be joined by Rebekah Mays for an interview on how she’s built her successful digital copywriting business. We’ll be talking about the things that made the most difference in leveling up Rebekah’s business. We’ll explore what to focus on when. And we’ll discuss how to find and work with great clients. It’s going to be a great interview, so be sure to join us. Details will be posted soon.
3 Things I Thought You Might Enjoy…
Take a little spin through a grocery store with Ann Handley, and learn a couple of hard-hitting writing lessons while you’re at it.
Here you’ll find some good tips on writing a newsletter by exploring how a cranberry company does it, including what they do well, and what they could do better.
And finally, some ideas to help you get into a regular publishing habit, even if you’re still building your confidence as a writer… from Copyblogger.
That’s all for now. Have a great weekend!
