Science Finally Explains Why Summer Makes Us Feel So Freakin' Lazy
Insight into those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer.
Did you ever wonder why the dog days of summer seem to make us so doggone tired?
We're sluggish in the heat of the early hours of the morning, dreading the moment we have to leave our air-conditioned homes and get on the hot bus, saturated with sweat. Lana Del Rey sings of "Summertime Sadness," but what about summertime sleepiness? Well, according to science, heat isn't the only reason your productivity level seems to plummet June through August.
If you're feeling unmotivated—especially at work—you're not alone.
According to a piece by The New Yorker, one of the key issues during summer is motivation. In 2012, a group of researchers at Harvard and the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill conducted a study regarding a correlation between the weather and productivity.
The researchers studied a group of Japanese bankers and found that during bad weather, the workers became more productive. This was determined by the time it took the bankers to complete loan application assignments. When the weather improved, however, productivity fell.
So, bad weather means good productivity, and vice versa?
To dig deeper into this theory, researchers assigned Harvard students with the task of data entry on either sunny, pleasant days or gloomy, rainy days. Before starting work, the students were either shown six photos of outdoor activities in nice weather, or they were asked to describe their daily routines.
Researchers found participants were less productive when they were shown pleasant, outdoor photos. Instead of focusing on their daily tasks at work, researchers found that students focused more on what they'd rather be doing outside. They found that just the thought of pleasant alternatives made people concentrate less.
Summer weather, especially when muggy, can reduce our attention span and energy levels.
A study conducted in the British Journal of Psychology showed that high humidity lowered concentration and increased sleepiness among the pool of participants.
The weather also hindered the participants' ability to think critically. Researchers found that the hotter it got, the less likely participants were to question what they were told.
And when it's too hot out it affects people's overall happiness.
According to a 2013 study included in the Journal of Happiness Studies, economist Marie Connolly found that people were less happy on days when the temperature reached or surpassed 90 degrees—even greater than those who are widowed or divorced.
So, what's the ideal temperature for summertime productivity?
Unfortunately, for most of us, the days of summer vacation and a three-month hiatus from all things stressful are a part of the past. So, what's the temperature to wish for when checking your weather app before heading to work? According to a study conducted in 1976 (the results still reign true today) that temperature is 72 degrees.
So, when the temperatures surpass the ideal threshold for productivity, science says ice cream is the solution.
Multiple studies have shown that blood glucose levels are connected to cognitive performance and willpower.
We'll all be screaming for ice cream in the summer heat.
Biting something frozen and sweet boosts depleted glucose stores, and science says they're exactly what the brain needs when the temperature spikes.