The end-of-summer blues: Keep them from striking your team

The good times had to end eventually! The summer is coming to close. And while kids may be seriously bummed out about heading back to school, your own staffers may well have a case of “end-of-summer blues” all their own.

Maybe it’s the end of summer hours. Or simply a return to the school year craziness which makes work-life balance even more of a struggle.

The end result: distracted, less productive, possibly even depressed employees.

But there are ways you can minimize the post-Labor Day malaise.

3 moves keep the crash away

Consider these strategies to not only combat the crash but even infuse some new energy into your office this fall:

• Plan ahead. Back-to-school night, PTA kickoff meetings, first sports games of the season – your people may have some out-of-work commitments they don’t want to miss. Encourage everyone to put those dates out there right away so you can adjust for them.
• Create an end-of-summer tradition. Labor Day week is notoriously slow. Maybe that becomes the great filing cabinet cleanout. Or bring in a trainer to teach a new skill.
• Embrace the new season. Fall has its own unique joys … apples, football – build some activities in that celebrate this time of year.

(Adapted in part from “7 Ways to Beat the End-of-Summer Blues,” by Stacy Kaiser, at livehappy.com)