Changing Seasons, Changing Moods

How seasonal dynamics can influence productivity

While daily routines are a staple for most of us, embracing a seasonal routine for yourself, your employees, and your business can honour the natural transitions of the year. By adapting to these changes, you can mitigate potential productivity losses, reduce absenteeism, and maintain resilience, especially during the unique challenges of the winter months.

As we reach the end of the year, it’s a natural time to reflect on our projections and assess whether our goals are being met. This period often comes with scrutiny of our performance and is a crucial time for reflection. It is our people who carry out the work activities, and they are significantly affected by the seasons. So, how do we maintain productivity throughout the year?

Winter’s shorter days and longer nights signal a time for slowing down and conserving energy. However, businesses often demand constant productivity and high performance, regardless of the season. This contrast can lead to tension between the natural inclination to rest and the external pressure to keep working at full capacity.

Each season brings its own energies, gifts, and vulnerabilities. In winter, the reduction in sunlight can alter our serotonin levels (1) and disrupt our circadian rhythm, prompting increased melatonin production (2). These changes can make it more challenging to regulate our emotions, and we naturally require more sleep.

Even our brains function differently in winter, tackling tasks in unique ways. Memory and concentration are often the first casualties of this cognitive shift (3), with many people reporting increased forgetfulness and difficulty focusing on tasks during the colder months. This is likely due to reduced cognitive flexibility and slower processing speeds.

However, it’s not all bad news; studies suggest that creativity and abstract thinking may improve during the winter months. This could be attributed to increased introspection and a shift towards more contemplative mental states, offering a silver lining during the colder season.

Leaning into the unique joys of winter

The “Winter” energy in business is all about conservation, storage, and potential. Leaning into the following activities as part of your seasonal routine can help to harness the power of winter.

1. Innovation and Creativity

Winter’s stillness can be a time for reflection and innovation, making it an ideal period for brainstorming new ideas, developing strategies, and planning for future growth. Investing in research and development to create new products or services is akin to storing potential that can be unleashed when market conditions are favourable.

2. Resource Management

In winter, many animals prepare by storing food and conserving energy. Similarly, businesses can benefit from careful resource management, ensuring they focus on conserving resources, both financial and human, to ensure sustainability during challenging times.

3. Adaptability and Flexibility

Just as nature adapts to colder temperatures and shorter days, we can learn to be flexible and adjust our operations to meet seasonal demands. This could include flexing work hours, encouraging walking meetings, and installing natural daylight bulbs in the office. A compressed workweek where employees work longer hours over fewer days can give additional days off to fully rest and recharge.

4. Risk Management

Winter storms and harsh weather conditions can teach us the importance of risk management and contingency planning. This can include having robust emergency plans, investing in reliable infrastructure, and ensuring that there are protocols in place for unexpected events.

5. Preparation for Future Growth

Just as nature conserves energy and resources in winter to be ready for the burst of growth in spring, employee development prepares individuals for future challenges and opportunities. A proactive approach ensures that employees are well-equipped to handle new tasks and roles when they arise.

In contrast we can leverage summer’s vibrant energy through key activities such as expansion and growth by extending market reach and scaling operations. Marketing and promotion can attract new customers and boost brand visibility. Product launches can capitalize on market demand, and networking and partnerships can establish new collaborations.

By observing and learning from the natural world, and leaning into a seasonal routine, businesses can enhance their resilience and adaptability, turning the challenges of winter into opportunities for growth and improvement.