Seasonal Productivity – TPW470

Staying productive through seasonal changes . . .

After my conversation last week with Lahana Vigliano about hormones and productivity, I’ve been thinking a lot about the cyclical nature of our lives as women--not just hormones, although hormones and their effects do create a cyclical rhythm to our lives--but also the cyclical nature of our world, as we cycle through one season after another. How does that affect our productivity?

There are different meanings of “seasonal”

* Hormonal seasons, especially for us as women 

* Seasons of life (like childhood, college, career building, child-rearing, empty nest, retirement) 

* Nature’s seasons -- fall, winter, spring, and summer

I did some research and found some tips for productivity in any season. I'm mostly talking about nature’s seasons, but many of these apply to the other types as well

Recognize the Seasonal Changes

Productivity can naturally fluctuate with the changing seasons due to factors like daylight hours, weather, and temperature. It's essential to be aware of these changes and adapt your routine accordingly. 

Some studies show, for example, that in general people tend to be more energetic and productive in the spring, more creative during the fall, and less productive and more likely to procrastinate during the summer 

On the other hand, Forbes cites a Harvard Business School study that indicates workplace productivity can improve during crummy weather, speculating that there are fewer alternatives to work during bad weather than when the weather outside is warm and sunny. When we’re stuck indoors during beautiful weather, we’re more likely to be distracted by daydreaming about what we could be doing outside. 

To the extent seasonal weather affects our health, it can also affect our productivity. For example, that same Forbes article refers to Bureau of Labor statistics that “while less than .5 percent of workers miss a day of work because of the weather during the warmer months, that percentage increases to almost 2 percent during the colder months.”

Stay Flexible

It's okay--even necessary--to adapt our routines as the seasons change. Flexibility is essential in maintaining productivity and mental health. As noted, I mostly want to talk about how this applies to nature’s seasons, but in my research, I came across several articles about something called cycle-syncing, which specifically talked about increasing overall productivity by adjusting your activities and routines to your menstrual cycle.

A Forbes article advocates the idea that women’s four hormonal phases can serve as a “blueprint to launch, execute, and finish projects of all kinds,” saying that “each phase of your cycle provides you with amazing brain superpowers,” and encouraging women that “By synching our professional life to our females cycle it allows us to be more efficient, productive and to stay in peak creative flow.” Citing quotes by several physicians,