Why autumn is the most productive time of the year and how to find the right balance

For a lot of people, the end of summer and the start of autumn marks the beginning of a new year and a fresh start. In fact, multiple surveys done among workers, asking about when they get the most done and when their concentration is at its best, seems to confirm that autumn is the season where we feel the most energized and productive.

Here are some of the findings:

The most productive time of the day
For adults, the most productive time of the day lies between 10am and 12pm. However, for most young adults who often sleep in a little longer, this time is shifted to the early afternoon.

The most productive day of the week
While Monday is the close runner up, the most productive day of the week seems to be Tuesday with Friday being the least productive.

The most productive month of the year
The most productive season is autumn with October being the most productive month of the year, followed by November and September.

But why are we the most productive in autumn?

If you look at the most productive time of the day, day of the week or month of the year, you can clearly see a pattern: they are all after we had some rest.
We’re the most productive after we had a good night’s sleep, after a weekend break and after the summer months where most of us have been on vacation and generally enjoyed long summer days full of activities that brought us joy and recharged our batteries.

This highlights once more the importance of breaks and the fact that without taking proper care of ourselves and our wellbeing we can’t be productive.

How to find the right work-life balance

If in autumn we naturally feel more productive and energized, how can we make good use of those fresh energies without depleting them in no time? How can we balance the most productive time of the year and still find enough time to take care of our wellbeing without burning out once winter starts?

Here are a few self-care tips for autumn:

Get enough sunlight
Now that the days are becoming shorter and shorter, it’s important to make sure to get enough sunlight. And in order to get the most out of it, shift your outdoor activities to the mornings, where there is the most light, instead than doing them after work hours when it’s darker.

Don’t forget to move
As soon as the first temperature drop hits and our home gets cozy, it’s simply too tempting to just stay indoors all day. However, it’s always important to get fresh air and enough movement throughout your day. With the right clothes layering, autumn has still a lot to offer: from foggy and crisp mornings to leaf padded trails and golden afternoon sunshine.

Time to pause
The closer we get to winter the more there will be times where it’s too gloomy and dark outside that we simply prefer to cozy up inside. Those times are a great occasion to take things slow, pause and reflect.

Pick up a creative activity
As you’re full of productive energy, you can put it to good use while also doing something for your wellbeing. Autumn is a great time to start a new little creative hobby as engaging in creative activities can help you to reduce stress, anxiety and generally contribute positively to your mental health. Do something that will bring you joy, make you forget time and will help you hibernate.