Learn how to enjoy summer the smart way, including adopting the right work mentality, some basic tips for being safe in the sun, and even how to survive a beach weekend with co-workers.

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Hi, this is Stephanie Maas.

Today, I want to talk to you about summertime.

And for a lot of folks, one of the reasons why we look forward to summertime is because it's a slower time.

I know for me personally, I have three kids.

Our morning routine.

To get everybody up, everybody fed, out the door, on time, lunches packed, at the bus stop, pulling out of the driveway, whatever your case may be, it's a hustle from the second my feet hit the floor in the morning.

So when summer comes, it's a welcome relief of Okay, we don't have that race, but for so many of us in business, summer isn't a natural slowdown.

It's just a shift of energy.

I will tell you oftentimes at work, I'm the busiest that I've ever been in the summer.

Search is absolutely still happening.

I know for a lot of bankers, their portfolios are going through renewal season.

It's just a shift.

So while there are certain aspects of summertime that absolutely can slow things down.

One of my favorite slowdowns is just simply having light longer.

When I get home at night, Yeah, we've got to do all the normal things.

We've got to, you know, have dinner, do whatever.

But because we've got light until nine or nine 30 at night, there seems to be more time just to go sit outside, take walks, do all these things.

But eight to five mentally, I'm running often just as hard as I do every other time of the year.

So, as you start thinking about summer being a slower time, let me encourage you to think about it just being a shift of time instead and really encourage you to look at your goals, your business agenda for the year and say, Hey, when it's time to slow down, you need to slow down.

Go be with your people, spend the time, do what you need to do.

But when it comes to business, summertime is actually a great time to run and really get ahead.

My theme for this summer is Summer fun, summer smart.

Here's what I mean.

It's summer.

People have been working our butts off to get here.

It is time for fun.

It is time for vacation.

It is time to celebrate.

Enjoy.

It's just such a neat time right now, which leads to the summer fun, the trips, the times together, the silly things, the fun things.

However, with all that being said, I also have to remind myself that I need to be smart.

Hey, it's summer.

When my kids go outside to play, they need sunscreen.

That's just being smart.

It doesn't mean they can't enjoy themselves.

It just means they need to be smart.

Things like hydrate, eat properly, take ibuprofen before I go to bed if I need to, limit my overconsumption in whatever form that might be for you.

It's summer fun, no doubt, but it's also summer smart.

So shifting gears a little bit, I want to talk to you a little bit about how to survive a beach weekend with your colleagues.

A couple of different things.

You want to go into a beach weekend with your colleagues very well prepared.

You need to take a look at the weather, pack appropriately, try and get a layout of, hey, what meals are we eating out?

What's the dress code?

I mean, these are just basic fundamentals.

You don't want to be the jerk that shows up to the nice dinner that the boss is buying and a pair of flip flops and a wife beater, right?

At the same time, you're at the beach.

Things are a little more casual.

You don't want to be showing up in a suit and tie to go, you know, put your feet in the sand and have a beer and a taco.

So these are just some basic things.

At the same time, I would also recommend if you happen to work with a group of folks that are in shape, they like to work out and maybe one of your favorite team members works out a lot and you work out a lot and The two of you guys say, Hey, while we're down there, let's make sure we work out together because that would be really fun.

Couple things I would recommend.

Number one, don't get hammered the night before so that at the end of the workout, you're puking your guts out.

It's just a thought.

I don't know if you do.

However, just know that this colleague will walk away from your puking.

They'll call back, make sure you're okay.

And when you're done, they'll have some nice cold water for you.

Sure hope this helps and have an awesome summer.