As the summer approaches, you may be asking how you can kick your business into high gear even during the hottest months of the year.

It may be difficult for employees to concentrate when it's beautiful outside; they probably would rather be enjoying the great summer weather than sitting in an office looking at a computer screen. Many of your employees may also be daydreaming of hiking, river rafting, barbecues, and Caribbean vacations.

It’s an often overlooked strategy to change some things up at the office during the summer to motivate your employees to continue to work at strong pace. Here are a few things you can do to keep the productivity rolling:

Company Outings: Although it may seem cliché, a company outing is a great way to build camaraderie as well as let your employees get a breath of fresh air during a busy time of year. The summer is the perfect time to get outside – a company sponsored barbecue is one great way to spend a long lunch and a friendly game of bocce ball could add some excitement to an otherwise dull day.

Exercise: It cannot be overstated how important exercise can be for your employee’s overall productivity (as well as their health). Exercise sharpens not only the body but also the mind: it is proven time and again that workers who exercise regularly are far more productive at the office. Consider getting outside and bringing your company on a hike, kayaking trip, or biking expedition. Also offer employees the option to work out mid-day as long as they are able to accomplish the same number of goals within a workday.

Office Junk Removal: Unwanted clutter and junk in your office can have a big effect on your employee’s overall performance on an everyday basis. It could be some old desks from workers who were laid off in the past year that are still sitting around. It might be an old Xerox machine that is simply taking up space or a water cooler that doesn’t work anymore. These items are doing nothing for your business, and in fact may be a detriment to your employee’s performance simply by sitting there. A junk hauling business can easily and efficiently remove this clutter without interrupting a normal work day.

Competition: A little competition like a sports bracket or after work dart tournament never hurt anyone. Although an ‘extra-curricular’ competition might seem like it would distract employees, it may in fact be a nice reprise from the regular schedule – keeping employees alert and on-target.