5 Ways to Be More Efficient This Summer

With the time change and as summer approaches and the days stretch longer into the evening, there’s a natural opportunity to reset. The pace shifts slightly, routines change, and with that comes a chance to take a step back and ask a simple but powerful question: could I be doing this better?

Whether you’re running a business or managing your own time and household, efficiency isn’t about squeezing more into your day — it’s about making better use of what you already have. Summer gives you the breathing space to do just that.

Here are five practical, easy, high-impact ways to become more efficient this summer — with benefits that will carry well beyond it.

1. Review Your Energy Usage

Your energy profile changes significantly during the summer months. Brighter days and milder weather mean you simply don’t need the same levels of heating, lighting, or energy consumption — yet bizarrely many people and businesses continue operating as if it’s still winter.

Start with the obvious: use natural light. Open blinds earlier, rethink workspace layouts, and reduce reliance on artificial lighting during the day. It sounds dead simple, but trust me, over weeks and months, the savings do add up and quickly.

Next, look at heating and cooling. Many systems are left running out of habit rather than necessity. Adjust timers, lower settings, and avoid cooling empty spaces. If something is running, ask yourself — does it need to be?

Finally, identify equipment that’s quietly consuming energy in the background. Idle machinery, devices left on standby, or systems running outside working hours all contribute to unnecessary costs. Turning things off isn’t just good practice — it’s one of the easiest efficiency wins available.

2. Start Earlier – Use the Daylight

Granted I appreciate not everyone starts their workday in the morning and there are people who work late evenings / nights but there’s something about a bright summer morning that naturally boosts energy and focus. Instead of fighting it, use it.

Starting your day earlier — even by 30 minutes — can have a disproportionate impact on productivity. It allows you to tackle important or complex tasks when your energy levels are highest and before distractions build.

Natural light also plays a role in improving concentration and reducing fatigue. Working in daylight rather than artificial light can sharpen focus and reduce the need for constant screen time.

And then there’s the simplest rule of all: don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today. Procrastination is one of the biggest drains on efficiency.

One of the things I do to be fully prepared for the day ahead is to pick out what I’m going to wear the night before. Did you know that Barack Obama deliberately limited his wardrobe choices to grey or blue suits, when he was President of the United States. This was done as a strategy to increase efficiency. By wearing the same style of clothing, he didn’t have to consume brainpower on daily wardrobe choices.

This allowed him to focus on issues of national importance. Now I’m not saying we all must limit our wardrobe choices, although it does have some merit. What I’m proposing is that you might decide what you are going to wear the night before, thereby allowing you more time to focus on more high-level, strategic issues.

3. Streamline Processes and Procedures

Summer is an ideal time to step back from the day-to-day and take a fresh look at how things are done.

Ask yourself — why do we do it this way?

You’ll often find that processes have evolved over time without being questioned. Tasks are duplicated, approvals take too long, and workflows become more complicated than they need to be.

Start by identifying areas where time is being lost:

• Are the same tasks being done more than once?
• Are decisions delayed with unnecessary layers of approval?
• Are people spending time on repetitive, manual work that could be automated?

Even small changes can make a huge difference. Simplifying a process, removing a step, or introducing a basic automation tool can save hours over the course of a week.

Efficiency isn’t about pushing people harder — it’s about removing friction so that work flows more naturally and effectively.

4. Reduce Waste Across Your Business (and Life)

When people hear the word “waste,” they often think of physical materials — but waste shows up in many ways. Time wasted waiting, energy wasted on unnecessary tasks, money wasted on inefficient systems.

Start with stock and resources. Are you over-ordering? Are items sitting unused? I’m sure there are. Better planning and tracking can reduce both waste and cost.

Look at printing and materials — are they really needed? Many businesses continue to rely on paper-heavy processes out of habit, not necessity.

Then consider energy and operational “leaks.” These are the small inefficiencies that often go unnoticed:

• Equipment running when not required
• Poor scheduling leading to downtime
• Outdated systems slowing everything down

Individually, these issues may seem minor. But together, they can significantly impact your bottom line.

5. Plan Ahead for Autumn Growth

Summer is not just a time to optimise — it’s a time to prepare and reset.

The businesses and individuals who perform best in the final quarter of the year are rarely the ones reacting in September. They are the ones who took the opportunity to plan ahead in June, July, and August.

Begin by setting clear priorities for Q3 and Q4. What needs to be achieved? Where should your time and resources be focused?

Review your supplier arrangements and costs. Are you getting value? Could you renegotiate, consolidate, or switch providers? Many organisations leave money on the table simply because they don’t revisit these agreements.

Finally, think about systems and tools. Are they helping or hindering? Investing in smarter solutions — ones that improve visibility, automate tasks, and support better decision-making — can transform how you operate.

Efficiency isn’t about choosing the cheapest option. It’s about choosing the right one.

Final Thoughts!

Efficiency isn’t something you do once and forget about. It’s an ongoing mindset — a way of thinking about how you use your time, your resources, and your energy.

Summer gives you the space to take control, make improvements and position your life and/or your business for stronger performance in the months ahead.

Because in the end, efficiency isn’t about doing more work.
It’s about doing the right work, in the right way, at the right time.

Guest post by Tom Gilligan, founder of EfficiencyDoctors. Tom founded Efficiency Doctors to bring a disciplined, results-driven approach from his work in the public sector, to a wider audience — turning bureaucratic excellence, accountability and delivery into a real competitive advantage.