3 ways to stay focused at work when all you want to do is enjoy summer weather

3 ways to stay focused at work when all you want to do is enjoy summer weather3 ways to stay focused at work when all you want to do is enjoy summer weatherWarmer, sunshine-filled days are upon us. Soon enough, the harsh, bitter cold of winter will be a distant memory.On an early Friday afternoon, and youll be counting down the seconds before you can head home and finally kick off thatweekend beach getaway youve been looking forward to. Here are ways to stay on-taskat workwhen all you want to do is leave your building andsoak up some sun.1. Practice if-then planning so you dont want to run away from workIts helpful to make sure youre not trying to escape your work if you are, it may indicate youre overwhelmed or working too long without breaks, and its time to approach it differently.Instead of just trying to make yourself get work done, Heidi Grant recommended adopting if-then planning in a 2014 Harvard geschftliches miteinander Review article choose when and where you will do somet hing, and stick to it.Grant uses this example in the article If it is 2pm, then I will stop what Im doing and start work on the report Bob asked for.She suggests that we dont have to spend so much time deciding what to do- weve already decided what to do in advance.If-then plans dramatically reduce the demands placed on your willpower, by ensuring that youve made the right decision way ahead of the critical moment. In fact, if-then planning has been shown in over 200 studies to increase rates of goal attainment and productivity by 200%-300% on average, Grant wrote.No more wasting time trying to make a decision, which means you can work efficiently without wanting to run away.2. Yes, its almost summer - just dont forget the office dress codeDressing for the summer weather and the indoor freeze is a nearly impossible balancing act in warmer months - but its absolutely necessary to stay decent.Your outfit can reflect the fact that its warm, but remember that your clothes create your mindset. If youre going to work, dress like youre going to work, no matter how warm it is. You want to be taken seriously in the office so your work gets the respect it deserves- especially on a casual Friday. While it can be tempting to pull on a shorter dress or shorts in the morning, just make sure youdont stray outside of your companys dress code.If youve got an interview coming up in the summer, consider checking out this Ladders article about dressing for one during that time of the year.Your outfit can still scream summer without crossing the line.3. Give in and go outside on scheduled breaksIf you keep resisting the sunlight and fresh air, you will become worse at your job. Willpower is a limited resource. Testing your willpower for 8 hours a day for four months during the summer will be a huge drain on your cognitive abilities and will reduce your willpower for other tasks, according to the American Psychological Association.The solution give in. Make going outside part o f your workday. Schedule 30 minutes outside, suggest having meetings outdoors, and make sure you arent breathing office air nonstop.During summer workdays, youllwant to avoid as many instances of your mind wandering as possible- its way too easy to get caught up in the inviting sounds of the outside world every time the door opens. But your workday doesnt have to be torture.