Summer can feel like the world’s on vacation mode – offices empty, inboxes slower, and the heat draining your energy. But not everyone checks out. These founders share the habits and hacks that keep them focused when summer tries to pull them away.
From micro-breaks in the sun to early-morning routines, from strict boundaries to gamifying productivity, their strategies may help you stay on track, too.
Rachel Gargano: “Our body goes through shifts every 60 to 90 minutes.”
“It’s important to recognize that our body goes through shifts in hormones, blood pressure, and blood sugar every 60 to 90 minutes. These micro drops are part of our ultradian rhythms.
Ensuring I eat a snack or meal, or take a small break, in these intervals provides the recovery I need to help maintain better focus. In the summer, I make sure some of these micro recovery sessions are done outside, which has also been shown to help improve focus and cognitive function.”
— Rachel Gargano, chief registered dietitian at Live it Up
Zach Nonnemacher: “Motivation is too unreliable for us to count on.”
“I’m strict about maintaining a schedule year-round to avoid letting external factors, such as weather or the time of year, impact me too much. Mainly because I believe ‘motivation’ is too unreliable for us to count on.
Ever since WFH became a thing, I am insistent on keeping ‘work’ tasks bucketed into those allotted hours. Not only traditional work, but all the things that might require ‘motivation’: fitness, house chores, etc. These things must be done.
Of course, that means personal time is just as critical, which is why another priority is to ensure every day belongs to me. That means bookending those work efforts with ‘my’ time at the start and end of a day.
Some will brag about being workhorses and grinding, but I know myself well enough to know what I need to remain sustained and do my job well.”
— Zach Nonnemacher, Content Manager at ZeroBounce
Kristine Genovese: “Always bookend your day with peace and connection.”
“One strategy I rely on to stay focused regardless of the season is to begin my days with my Soul Intelligence® practice.
My morning ritual begins with gratitude, prayer and meditation. I often journal those insights with my coffee in hand while I watch birds play in the trees. I also adjust my schedule based on the types of work as it requires different concentration levels.
I easily shift from distraction to alignment by using calendar blocking — optimizing my thinking and creative time. I perform mundane tasks in the morning and plan midday blocks of time for strategy, marketing, or spreadsheet work. I honor my natural rhythms for productivity.
I’m more creative in the afternoon, so that’s when I write and perform SQ energy alignments. Then I reward myself with a trip to the beach to catch the sunset and ground.
Best advice: always bookend your day with peace and connection.”
— Kristine Genovese, Founder of Soul Intelligence
Theresa Byrne: “Movement is my magic.”
“My focus strategy during the summer, when everyone seems to be sipping cocktails and enjoying vacations, is movement. Not always full-blown intense workouts — I’m talking exercise snacks and micro-movements. Little bits of mind-body connection.
A few squats between emails. A quick burst of kickboxing. A stretch before a Zoom. A fast-paced walk while I voice-text ideas. These tiny sparks of movement keep my brain sharp and energy high. Movement is my magic.
It clears my energy, resets my nervous system, and helps me stay out of the ‘why am I the only one not on vacation?’ spiral. When I move, I feel my breath and my muscles engage. It’s a moving meditation. I feel like… me. More creative. More grounded. More on it.
Summer might be slower for some, but I use movement to stay in my flow — and keep my fire burning.”
— Theresa Byrne, Founder of InPower-Activate the Power Within
Lucyann Licausi-Baniel: “Summer gives me space to create without pressure.”
“When I give myself permission to slow down, I stop holding everything so tightly. I soften. I breathe. I return to what’s true.
Summer gives me space to reconnect with my vision, listen to what’s stirring within me, and create without pressure. Stillness becomes possibility. Flow and freedom can exist alongside purpose and clarity. I use this time to reset, play, and lay down the next layer of what I’m building, without rushing.
I remind my clients often: the pause isn’t weakness, it’s wisdom. It’s where you meet yourself before meeting the next step. You’re allowed to move slower and still be on time. And sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is move with intention, listen deeply, and trust that even in stillness, everything is still unfolding.”
— Lucyann Licausi-Baniel, Founder of Healing Her Stories
Azlynn Berry: “This practice builds excitement rather than burnout.”
“One way I stay focused during the summer is by slowly packing an overnight bag filled with small indulgences that awaken my senses. Starting with new perfume that smells like my dream getaway carrying the notes or mischief, exploration and sensuality. Next adding a dress I’d wear while there or picking the music, I want to vibe too on my perfect slow morning poolside.
Each time I hit a goal or complete a task, I add something to the bag. It becomes a living, sensory mood board, bridging the gap between now and the next getaway.
This practice gamifies productivity and builds excitement rather than burnout. It’s a reminder that high performance doesn’t come from deprivation, but from intentional dedication. A reminder that pleasure and success coexist. It’s the dance to be mastered for a purpose-driven life that you love building along the way.”
— Azlynn Berry, Founder of Emotional Architecture
Dr. Letitia Wright: “I speed up my visibility.”
“Most people slow down in summer, but I speed up my visibility. Journalists are still publishing. Podcasts still need guests. And fewer people pitching means I stand out more.
I use summer to stack receipts: landing features, interviews, and media that keep working for me long after the heat dies down.
My habit? I check in with the team on Mondays to see what’s on the horizon. And yes, I’ve booked national press in July when everyone else was resting!”
— Dr. Letitia Wright, Founder of Wright Place Studios
Jana Short: “It’s how I stay consistent.”
“Rising at 5 AM in the summer creates space for intention before the day begins. It’s how I stay consistent and connected to my goals.”
— Jana Short, Editor-In-Chief of Ageless Living Magazine | Discover Timeless Wellness Now
Jillian Pawlowski: “I’m deeply in tune with what lights me up.”
“What helps me stay focused during the summer is knowing who I am and who I’m becoming. That clarity always guides me.
I’m deeply in tune with what lights me up, what I’m available for (and not), what I value, and the vision I’m walking toward. It makes decisions easier and keeps distractions in perspective.
To be clear, I love vacations, side quests, and slow days! What keeps me steady is knowing who I am even while I check out or flow with summer’s unpredictability. I don’t force consistency because seasons change and so can we!
Staying connected to my true self creates alignment in any season. We all need rest, flexibility, and fun. When you’re intimate with who you are and who you are becoming, you can’t lose momentum. You just move through the waves differently. For me, summertime focus is less about rigidity and more about alignment.”