“Summer has filled all the things with light; the lightest thing of all is the human soul.”
— F. Scott Fitzgerald
It’s a brilliant summer day. The sun is shining, and you’re sitting in your home office with a cup of coffee, ready to start your day. As a remote worker, you might feel like work doesn’t stop just because the sun is out.
While remote work can offers a lot of flexibility, many people end up mirroring the structure of a traditional office out of habit or feelings of obligation. This might feel okay in the winter, when you’re happy to stay indoors. But summers feel wasted when you spend the best part of the day inside, working.
Don’t live only for the weekend. Take advantage of nice days during the workweek, too. If you’re a parent, this can also allow you to spend more time with your family. You don’t have to wait for your summer holidays, either. This can make you resent your job for making you miss out on core memories. And just like that, summer will end and you’ll be left wondering why you didn’t enjoy it more.
Why This Matters Now
It’s July, which means summer isn’t near, it’s here. And it’s still early enough to make some adjustments to how you work that will make you feel less trapped inside while the world passes you by.
If your remote job encourages fFlexibity,le work this can actually improve productivity because it gives youpeople more control over when and how youthey do yourtheir best work. In Canada, that idea is backed by data: two-thirds of Canadians surveyed said remote work improves organizational productivity, and 90% of workers who moved from office work to working from home said they were at least as productive as before.
The Staff Shop Way emphasizes team members completing tasks, not when or where they do them. If you’re meeting deadlines, delivering quality work, and we’re seeing results, it doesn’t matter whether you work from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at a desk, on a beach, patio, or after the kids go to bed. You have the freedom to plan your day as you see fit. While some organizations still utilize a traditional framework for remote workers, our philosophy has always been to allow our team members to structure their days that work best for them.
Discipline vs. Design
The issue isn’t that people lack discipline. It’s that most remote workdays are built like office days, just in a different location. Workers are asked to follow rigid schedules and stay online for long stretches, treating flexibility as something to earn rather than a normal part of work. That design, not motivation, creates the burnout.
In Canada, most employers say flexible work arrangements improve both productivity and employee satisfaction. In a recent national survey, 81% of Canadians believe remote work is beneficial for employees. When work is designed around flexibility instead of squeezing flexibility into a rigid schedule, people have more time for focus, less stress, and more energy to focus on real work.
Practical Shift: How to Rethink Your Workday During the Summer Months
- Design Your Day Around Energy, Not Just Hours
Instead of locking yourself into a rigid 9-to-5 block, match your work to your natural energy. Work when you’re most focused, and protect your slower hours for lighter tasks or breaks.
- Start at 7:30 a.m. when you’re sharp, get your deep work done by 11 a.m.
- Take a long mid-day break outside
- Wrap up emails or lighter tasks later in the afternoon when you’re back in the zone
- Stop Assuming Remote Work Has to Happen Indoors
Remote work doesn’t have to mean “inside the house.” If you have a laptop and Wi-Fi, you can work from a coffee shop, beach, park bench, the porch at your cottage, poolside, or even a shaded backyard spot. Set up under a tree or take meetings on long walks. You’re still working, but you’re not stuck inside with the air conditioning on.
- Build in Outdoor Time Before the Day Gets Too Hot
Summer mornings are cooler and more inviting. On those days with high UV indices and heat warnings, plan your outdoor time early before the heat spikes and the day gets overwhelming.
- Walk or work out before you log on
- Have your coffee and breakfast outside
- For parents, walk or wagon your kids to camp or daycare, and stop by a park on your way
- Make the Most of Summer’s Natural Advantages
After months spent indoors, summer offers a chance to reconnect with the things many of us miss during winter: fresh air, natural light, and a greater sense of connection to the outdoors. If your work allows it, open a window, move closer to natural light, or take your laptop to a porch, patio, or local café for part of the day.
Remote work doesn’t have to happen from the exact same spot year-round. One of its biggest advantages is flexibility. Rather than feeling tied to a dedicated workspace, consider how your environment can support your wellbeing and productivity during the season. A change of scenery, even for a few hours, can boost focus, creativity, and overall job satisfaction.
Summer is short. When possible, let your workspace adapt to the season instead of shutting it out.
- Hydration, Food, and Clothing Matter More Than You Think
Summer changes your body’s needs. You lose more water, you get tired faster, and heavy clothing makes you sluggish. Treat these basics like work tools, not afterthoughts.
- Stay hydrated: keep a glass or water bottle on your desk and sip throughout the day + add electrolytes for fun
- Eat lighter meals and avoid turning on the stove. Think fresh salads, fruit, or cold sandwiches instead of heavy hot lunches
- Wear breathable fabrics. If you have meetings that require business casual attire, look for linens and cottons for dress shirts. If you require a jacket, opt for something lighter and only wear it during the call while you’re on camera
You’ll feel less foggy and more focused when you aren’t feeling stuffy and hot.
- For Parents, Create Summer Blocks Instead of Trying to Multitask All Day
Parents don’t need to juggle work and kids all day at once. Block out work time, then block out family time. Make both clear and protected.
- Work hard from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. while kids are at camp or with a caregiver
- From 12 to 3 p.m., be fully offline for lunch, the pool, or a park visit
- Wrap up light work from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., later in the evening or earlier the next morning
- Team Leaders Should Talk About Flexibility Before People Burn Out
Summer can put added pressure on employees juggling vacations, childcare, travel, family commitments, and the desire to make the most of the season. Rather than waiting for people to become overwhelmed, leaders should proactively communicate how flexibility works within their organization.
At Staff Shop, flexibility isn’t a seasonal perk, it’s part of our culture. Our remote-first Freedom Model is built on trust, accountability, and results. Team members are empowered to structure their schedules in ways that support both their responsibilities and their lives, provided expectations are clear, communication remains strong, and commitments are met.
When leaders communicate this early and often, employees are less likely to feel guilty about taking advantage of flexibility and more likely to manage their capacity before burnout becomes a problem.
Summer is also a good time to revisit expectations around:
- Communication and responsiveness
- Team collaboration and meeting availability
- Vacation planning and coverage
- Workload and capacity management
- Deliverables and deadlines
- Flexible work locations
- Cross-training and team support
- Healthy boundaries and sustainable work habits
The goal isn’t to track hours or dictate schedules. It’s to create an environment where people can do their best work while maintaining harmony between their professional and personal lives.
- Do Not Let Summer Pass You By
The goal is not to be unavailable. The goal is to be intentional, and to maximize the 24 hours we all have in a day.
Take the meeting off camera when possible. Start earlier if that gives you more freedom later. Move your laptop somewhere cooler. Give your kids structure. Take the long weekend seriously. Use your vacation days. Step outside between calls.
Summer is short. Build a work rhythm that lets you deliver well and enjoy it.
We Can Help
Want to learn more from Staff Shop?
If you’re a business leader, we’re happy to chat about how we frame remote work for our team and share best practices on why this model works.
If you’re a job seeker, we can help you find flexible roles that actually fit your summer.
And if you are looking for a remote job that works with your lifestyle, apply to join our team!
“If I had my way, I’d remove January from the calendar altogether and have an extra July instead.”
— Roald Dahl
