If your business is one in which summer can be a time when work is not flowing quite as abundantly as it usually is during the year, then you’ll do well to keep busy with other things. Below are five summer project ideas that will ensure you’re taking full advantage of and enjoying your precious downtime while you have it.
1) Get Organized.
Are you guilty of having piles of papers scattered around your home in various places? This system works great – until you actually need to find something. So: get on down to your local Staples (or OfficeMax if you will), buy yourself a portable filing cabinet or plastic crate and some hanging folders, and start organizing! And if you really feel like diving in deep, I recommend the book Getting Things Done by David Allen. Life-changing, I tell you.
2) Update Your Website!
Sure, as a web designer I’m slightly biased, but truly, when you’re having a slower time in your business, there is no better time to get your marketing materials up to speed. And for most, the website is the cornerstone of it all. Does your website still reflect who you are and where you are in your business? If not, you’ve got work to do – and now is a great time to do it.
3) Up Your Marketing Outreach.
If you’ve previously been a person who sporadically posts to social media, blogs “once in a while” or sends out a newsletter just a few times a year, now could be an excellent chance to commit to doing these things more consistently. For more tips on this, check out my post Market Your Business Without Wearing Yourself Out (3 Tips).
4) Learn Something New.
Pick up a musical instrument unfamiliar to you. Start learning a new language. Learn to dance, or paint, or sew. As entrepreneurs, we often forget that experiences OUTSIDE of our area of expertise can give us a fresh perspective and inspire us for all that we do. The summer can be a great time to expand your mind with a new skill or two.
5) Create a Five-Year Vision.
Where do you want to be in five years, both professionally and personally? What does this look like and feel like? If you’ve never created a vision, I highly recommend ZingTrain from Zingerman’s Visioning Exercise. Once you’ve got your vision, you may just find you’ve got a fire under you to put together a plan and begin your path to getting there!
In Conclusion
If you’re having a bit of a summer lull, remember that when fall arrives you’ll be busier than ever, so while of course you should rest and relax some (take advice from the lounging kitty), also use your free time wisely and intentionally while you have it! Come the busier season, you’ll be glad you did.
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