Let’s be honest—no one’s bringing their A-game when the temperature starts with a 9. Between the heat, vacation schedules, and mid-year fatigue, even the most mission-driven teams can find themselves dragging. I know we are. The heat index is supposed to exceed 100◦ here today, for the third day in a row. We’re melting. I intended to write an update on the federal budget for today, but I just don’t have it in me.
But summer doesn’t have to be a write-off. Whether you’re running on cold brew and fan speed settings or fully embracing the slower pace, here are five ways to make the most of this seasonal slump—without burning out.
Tidy Up Your Digital House
Now’s a great time to clean up that donor database, sort your Google Drive chaos, or update your MailChimp tags. These low-effort tasks set you up for a smoother fall season without requiring full brainpower. We practice what we preach here. We’re working on digital filing and project management system cleanup this week, as well as learning how to use some process automation tools to handle digital housekeeping.
Revisit Your Wins
Pull together a mid-year impact snapshot. What grants have you won? What stories have you gathered? Use this time to reflect and prep content for your next newsletter, annual report, or funder update. If you haven’t explored how to leverage AI to compile qualitative data into compelling narratives, now is a good time to learn about it.
Check in With Funders
Summer is a good time to nurture relationships—not just chase deadlines. Send a quick email to a program officer, share a photo from the field, or invite a local foundation rep to coffee (iced, obviously).
Lay Low, Strategically
If your team is running hot—literally and figuratively—use July to rest, reset, and plan. Take half-days, revisit that strategic plan you forgot existed, or prep for a fall grant sprint. It isn’t “doom-scrolling” when you’re browsing the news or grant writers’ blogs for the latest on the federal budget. It is “prospect research.”
Bookmark This for Later
If even reading this post feels like too much effort right now, we get it. Save it, share it with your team, and know that doing less can be part of the strategy. We’ve had several meetings over Zoom lately with folks who opened by apologizing for kids who are out of school making noise in the background. There’s no need to apologize. We’re human and have kids of our own. We’re running sprints ourselves right now during summer camps and not getting a lot accomplished in between them. Skim headlines and grab links to look at later, register for online events knowing you’ll catch the replay at 1.5x speed, and go hop in the nearest lake or run through the sprinklers.
The heat will break. The pace will pick up. For now, give yourself permission to slow down and work smarter—not harder. And if you need help turning your summer slump into fall funding momentum, we’re just a click away.