Did you ever notice how everyone says “Where did the summer go?” but no one says “Where did the winter go?”

Late summer, which technically doesn’t really start until the third week of August, is certainly a time of mental transition. Patterns change as kids are back to school/college, and for many adults, especially job seekers and those looking to change their employment situation, decide where they want to be for the winter, as the colder season can have a marooning effect, not only in your home, but in your workplace.  

I personally wonder if the feeling of being “mentally marooned” is very much a location thing; Is there less urgency to make a job switch, or a life-transition, in an area where there is a lesser, or shorter, change of season? Do residents in the Carolinas/Mid-Atlantic states with more consistent weather not share the “lifestyle-change timeline” that those in the northeast seem to have. Though, it seems as you go farther south, the urgency of change could be the exact opposite of the northeast. While during a Buffalo winter you may only see neighbors while snow blowing or at a Bills/Sabres game, the same could be said for summers in Florida: It’s just too hot to be outside from June through September, so that’s when Floridians hibernate inside with AC, or head north for a vacation break from the heat.

So, what are you planning for the next six months, both personally, and professionally? Where do you want to be for the upcoming seasons? And no, saying “Watching the Bills in the Super Bowl” doesn’t count. It’s a nice thought, and the football season does get us through a good bulk of bad weather, but it shouldn’t be your professional focus.

Instead, take the time to put that professional gameplan you’ve always had in mind, but rarely had time for, on paper, either digital or hard copy.

George Lucas wrote Star Wars on classic yellow legal pads. Herb Kelleher started Southwest Airlines on a cocktail napkin. But it all started with them writing it down.

So, make your mental dream board a physical dream board now. You’ll find that as you cross off tasks and ideas, and add new ones, your winter will become as productive, fun, and hopefully as prosperous as summer, instead of months of hibernation.

And enjoy the nearly two months we have left of summer, before you have to say “Where did the summer go!”