Ways to Make Working From Home Feel Lighter (and More Fun) During the Summer

Ways to Make Working From Home More Fun During the Summer

Summer has a funny way of exposing the tension in working from home.

The days are longer. The sun is brighter. Everyone else seems to be outside living their best life. And meanwhile, your inbox is still full, your clients still need things, and your to-do list absolutely does not care that it’s 82 degrees and perfect outside.

If you’re a small business owner or entrepreneur who works from home, summer can feel… complicated.

You love the flexibility. You’re grateful for the freedom. And yet, there’s this low-level frustration that creeps in when your “office” is still your kitchen table and your calendar looks the same as it did in February.

This post isn’t about blowing up your routine, quitting your business, or pretending you don’t have responsibilities.

It’s about learning how to let summer exist alongside your work, instead of feeling like you’re missing it every year. Because enjoying summer doesn’t require abandoning your business. It just requires intention.

The Real Summer WFH Struggle No One Talks About

Here’s something I’ve noticed after years of working from home and talking to other business owners:

Summer burnout doesn’t usually come from overworking... It comes from misalignment.

You’re doing the same things, in the same way, during a season that naturally asks for something different.

More light.

More movement.

More flexibility.

More breathing room.

When your work life doesn’t adjust at all, summer starts to feel like something happening outside your window instead of something you get to participate in.

So the goal isn’t to work less at all costs. The goal is to work differently— in a way that honors the season you’re in.

Letting Your Environment Do Some of the Heavy Lifting

One of the SIMPLEST ways to make working from home feel better in the summer is to stop fighting your surroundings. You don’t need a new office or a full routine overhaul. You just need to stop pretending you’re working in a vacuum.

Summer is sensory. Light, air, warmth, sound— all of it matters.

Working near a window instead of tucked into a dark corner changes your energy more than most people realize. Opening the door or stepping outside for a call can shift your mood instantly. Even moving your workspace temporarily— porch, patio, backyard, sunlit room— reminds your nervous system that life exists BEYOND the screen.

You’re not being unprofessional by responding to emails with fresh air on your face.

You’re being human. And human brains work better when they’re not boxed in and cooped up all day.

Summer Rituals > Summer Productivity Hacks

A lot of “WFH tips” focus on squeezing more output out of your day.

Summer asks for something else.

It asks for rituals, not hacks.

Small moments that make workdays feel less heavy and more intentional. Things you look forward to, NOT because they make you more productive, but because they make the day feel enjoyable.

For some people, that might look like switching to iced drinks in the morning and treating it like a little ceremony.

For others, it’s a specific playlist that only comes out in the summer months.

Sometimes it’s changing your morning rhythm ENTIRELY— starting slower, working earlier, or taking a real break in the middle of the day instead of eating lunch at your desk and powering through.

These things might sound small, but they matter because they give your day texture and break up the monotony. Texture is what keeps work from feeling monotonous.

Rethinking Work Hours Without Burning It All Down

One of the biggest advantages of running your own business is flexibility— but a lot of entrepreneurs forget they’re allowed to use it (trust me, I've been guilty of this more times than I can count over the past 5+ years).

Summer is a perfect time to experiment with when you work, not just how much.

You don’t need to suddenly work four-hour days or disappear every Friday (unless that’s genuinely doable for you). But shifting your schedule even slightly can change how the season feels.

💭 Starting earlier so you can wrap up mid-afternoon.

💭 Clustering meetings into fewer days.

💭 Protecting certain mornings or afternoons for lighter work.

These aren’t radical moves that shift your schedule in an interruptive way... They’re small adjustments that create space for daylight, rest, and spontaneity— things summer NATURALLY invites.

And here’s the quiet truth:

Most clients don’t care when you work, as long as you communicate clearly and deliver consistently (and on time).

You’re allowed to design a schedule that works with your life instead of against it. It's YOUR business. You make the rules— don't forget it. I know I tend to forget that sometimes, even 5+ years into this entrepreneurship thing.

Joy Breaks That Aren’t About Optimization

Not every break needs to be “productive.”

Honestly, the breaks that restore you the most are usually the ones with no purpose at all.

Summer is the perfect season to reclaim the kind of joy that doesn’t need justification!

Like a brief walk around the block in the middle of the day.

Or sitting outside with a snack, sun on your face, and soaking up some vitamin D, instead of eating at your desk.

Or turning up a nostalgic summertime playlist and letting yourself truly enjoy it.

Or maybe running a midweek errand that feels like a treat instead of a chore— or grabbing a fun drink while you're out running an errand!

These moments don’t need to earn their place on your calendar.

They’re not rewards for finishing a task.

They’re part of living a full life while running a business.

And ironically, more times than not, they make you better at your work— calmer, clearer, more creative.

Making Peace With Summer Distractions (Instead of Fighting Them)

One of the biggest sources of frustration for WFH entrepreneurs in the summer is this feeling of guilt.

You want to focus.

... But the sunshine is distracting.

People are outside.

... Your motivation feels different.

Instead of treating this as a failure of discipline, it helps to reframe it as seasonal awareness.

Your brain is responding to environmental cues— longer days, more stimulation, a natural desire to move and explore.

Listen to me carefully... That’s not a flaw. It’s biology.

Trying to FORCE the same deep-focus rhythms you use in winter can feel exhausting. Summer might ask for shorter work blocks, more breaks, or a slightly slower pace.

Just remind yourself that you’re not losing momentum— you’re adapting.

Dressing Like the Version of You Who Enjoys Her Work

Clothes matter more than we give them credit for.

When you work from home, it’s easy to default to whatever is clean and comfortable. And comfort absolutely matters. But there’s a difference between comfortable and checked out.

Summer is a great time to find a middle ground! Clothes that feel light, breathable, and easy, but still make you feel like yourself.

The version of you who enjoys her business.

The version of you who feels confident hopping on a call.

The version of you who doesn’t feel like she’s been sitting at a laptop all day.

This isn’t about making sure you're dressing up for other people, to be clear. It’s about signaling to your own brain that this day matters.

Letting Yourself Enjoy Weekdays (Yes, Even as an Adult)

One of the quiet perks of working from home is access to things most people reserve for weekends, and yet, so many business owners still wait.

They wait for Friday.

They wait for vacation.

They wait for “less busy.”

Summer is a great reminder that life doesn’t need to be postponed. This is definitely something I find myself forgetting quite often, and I have to reel myself back in and remind myself that my weeks and my days are limited, and they're what *I* make them. There is no right way or wrong way to go about my days and weeks, as long as I'm still getting done what needs to be done.

Midweek farmers markets.

Early morning coffee dates.

An impromptu lunch date with the hubby.

A quick lake visit or walk during the day.

Saying yes to something fun on a random Tuesday.

Your business exists to SUPPORT your life— not the other way around.

And when you let yourself actually enjoy the flexibility you’ve worked so hard to build, work stops feeling like a barrier to living.

Why Romanticizing Your Routine Isn’t Silly, It’s Strategic

There’s been a lot of talk online about “romanticizing your life.” Underneath the aesthetic language, there’s something very real happening.

When you slow down enough to notice your environment, your routines and rituals, and how your days actually feel, you regain agency.

Like lighting a candle before you start work.

Opening a window.

Playing music instead of sitting in silence.

Working barefoot.

Letting your day feel intentional instead of rushed.

These moments don’t make you less serious about your business. They make your business more sustainable, more enjoyable, and as a result, a lot of times more productive because you're happy and in a flow state instead of feeling bored or stuck.

Burnout usually starts when days blur together.

Romanticizing your routine adds contrast, presence, and care back in.

The Bigger Picture: Building a Business That Fits Your Life

Here’s the truth I wish more entrepreneurs heard earlier:

You don’t need to earn joy by overworking first.

You don’t need to delay living until some future version of success.

And you don’t need to choose between a thriving business and enjoying your life.

Summer is a reminder that seasons change, and your work rhythms can change with them. When you let your business breathe a little, you often find that you breathe easier, too.

Final Thoughts: Let Summer Exist Alongside Your Work

Working from home during the summer doesn’t have to feel like you’re watching life happen through a window. With a few intentional shifts— in environment, schedule, expectations, and mindset— you can build days that feel lighter without sacrificing your responsibilities.

You don’t need to escape your work to enjoy summer.

You just need to let summer have a seat at the table.

Sip the iced drink.

Take the walk.

Close the laptop a little earlier when you can.

Let your business support a life you actually want to live.

That’s not indulgent. That’s the whole point.