Beat the Heat in the New Work World

By Mary Ann Faremouth, CPC

With the correct mindset you can make this hot summer one of the best ones yet!

With temperatures across the country at an all-time high, energy levels and productivity may be running low in the workplace. This can be especially difficult with the increased staffing shortages and other challenging situations in the New Work World.

Yet with a few easy tweaks to your daily routine, it’s possible to beat the heat and stay focused at work, even when sweltering temperatures have you feeling off-kilter. As Maya Angelou writes, “What you’re supposed to do when you don’t like a thing is change it. If you can’t change it, change the way you think about it.”

Consider the following tips for tweaking your mindset to ensure you not only beat the heat at work but also boost your productivity during the current heat wave.

1. Decide to Have a Good Day

My father always told me, “If you tell yourself you are going to have a bad day, you will.” Henry Ford said something similar: “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t—you’re right.” What we focus on becomes our reality. If you begin your day upset about the heat and how difficult it will be to function in it, you are doomed from the start. Change your mindset from the beginning; be determined not to let the heat affect what you need or want to accomplish.

2. Implement a Daily Strategy

As Benjamin Franklin said, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” Begin each day by assessing your duties. Write them down and prioritize the list by importance. Seeing your duties on paper and checking them off as you accomplish them can help keep you accountable as you work.

3. Tackle High-Energy Tasks First

Sunlight and heat grow stronger as the day progresses, so dedicate your mornings to those tasks that require the most energy. Not only will this mitigate the negative impact of the heat on your productivity, the sense of accomplishment from handling such projects early in the day can boost your self-esteem. The more positive you feel about yourself, the lower your stress levels and the higher your achievement quotient.

4. Hydrate and Keep Cool

Many studies have shown how important good hydration is, especially in the summer. While this requires proper water intake, you might also consider limiting your consumption of caffeinated drinks, which may hinder hydration. Eating fruit or fruit popsicles can also boost hydration and help you feel less overwhelmed by sweltering temperatures. Need to fight the heat from the outside? An inexpensive desk fan might be able to keep you upbeat and sharp when temperatures are on the rise.

Choose to make this summer one of your most productive yet. With a few tweaks and the right mindset, you can accomplish whatever you put your mind to, no matter the temperature. To fight decreased productivity, choose positivity, plan your day, dedicate the cooler times of day to the most energetic tasks, and be sure to keep hydrated and cool. And remember the Persian adage, “This too shall pass.”

And another famous quote from Zig Ziglar that I’ve always resonated with in difficult times: “The greatest of all mistakes is to do nothing because you think you can only do a little.”

Mary Ann’s award-winning first book Revolutionary Recruiting has been listed by Book Authority as Number #1 Best 100 Recruiting Books; #1 Best Seller, Non-Fiction, Amazon (2019); Top 20 Recruiting books, Recruitics; Readers’ Choice finalist (2019), Houston Literary Awards; Best Non-Fiction (2018), Best Cover (2019), and Best Self-Help (2018), Authors Marketing Guild. This was followed by “Revolutionary Reinvention”, a workbook for job seekers giving advice on how to rediscover your skills and passions and reinvent your career. Her most recent book is “Revolutionary Results” , a collection of life lessons about relationships, integrity and contributing to the world.