What is the good thing about buying for sale property or condo in Baguio? You’ll have no problem planning a summer getaway because you’re now living in the “Summer Capital of the Philippines.” How convenient, right? And, yes, the summer season has already begun! It is the time you wish you’re in the beach or somewhere cool, like Baguio, doing summer-y activities.
But did you know that there is no such thing as “summer” in the Philippines?
We live in a tropical country. According to Panahon TV Blog, a tropical country only has two seasons: the wet (rainy) and hot (dry) season. Summer only occurs at temperate regions with four seasons, the other three are winter, fall, and spring. Yet the word “summer” is more appealing to use than “hot” or “dry”, so for the rest of this article, will refer the dry season as “summer”, alright?
Moving on, summer months are vacation months; the period we feel a bit lazy because of the sweltering heat; the time our body craves for an outdoor adventure and be away from the four corners of the office. All we could imagine are powdery white shores, green wilderness, and rocky terrains. It seems both of our mind and body is in a far, far away place. This mind-set may affect our productivity at work.
According to a study by Captive Network entitled “Captive Office Pulse Finds Summer Hours are Bad for Business”, in summertime, “productivity goes down (20%), attendance slips (19%), project turnaround times increase (13%) and they are more distracted (45%).” This is based on the response of more than 600 white-collar employees in North America last 2012.
How can we make summer breaks more productive and meaningful in a way that we can prevent from slacking off at work?
Wait up! Before we proceed, you must perform the “deed” to have a truly productive summer away from distractions like these:
Are you willing and ready to do the “deed”? Here are some blocking tools to have a digital detox during summer:
- Freedom for iPhone
- SelfControl for Mac OS
- FocalFilter for Windows
- Keep Focus or the more sinister, Procrastination Punisher for Android
We definitely hear some whines and groans there. Even if we don’t back this up with scientific studies and facts, Internet and social media are indisputably the modern distractions of our era. One of the simple and classic examples we could relate to is the “Marshmallow Experiment” by a former Standord University professor, Walter Mischel, in 1960s. This is how you’re going to look like while on digital detox:
The “marshmallows” of today is not just the latest Android 6.0 Marshmallow. We are also referring to the social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Pinterest, and Instagram. What is the reward? You can regain your focus; get back on track and have an opportunity to do something worthwhile.
After you’ve done the No.1 prerequisite of having a productive summer, you may try out the following activities:
Read Real Books
Books you can flip the page of, not swipe. Reading increases intelligence, boosts brain power, makes you more empathetic, fights Alzheimer’s disease, and can help you relax and sleep, Real Simple divulges.
Exercise
Summertime is the best time to burn those fats. Go swimming, water aerobics or exergaming (exercise gaming). Keep rehydrated, wear lightweight clothes and don’t exercise excessively to avoid dehydration or suffering from heat stroke.
Take an Online Class
Enrol at Coursera, edX, Udemy, Standord University or even at Harvard online. Allow these sites to bypass the blocking app you’ve installed in your device.
Pick up a Hobby
Do you want to be the next Da Vinci? Join Drawspace. Do you like taking pictures? Take a photography lessons. Do you like baking cakes? There are tons of recipes online. Or, simply do what you’re passionate about.
Volunteer
According to Forbes, volunteering helps you develop new skills; helps you to have a healthy body; helps you build experience and empathy. Visit Habitat for Humanity, Philippine Red Cross or Gawad Kalinga for starters.
We are not killjoys, okay? Plan ahead and schedule a summer getaway! Nope, this activity is not an excuse to turn off that blocking tool. Have a REAL vacation. Or buy for sale property or condo in Baguio to have a year-round vacation. Tuck away those digital devices. Just enjoy and live the moment just like what granny did at the premiere of Black Mass last year:
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| Image Source: Twitter/ Wayne Dahlberg |
Granny
Rocks!
