By Amy Mazur, JVS Staff

The tune has been sung and the phrase has been heard since 1935 when the opera was first written by George Gershwin. In this part of the country, we look forward to summer for baseball, more time out of doors, lighter clothes, and leaner fare. 

But how do we think about the summer when it comes to our careers?

I have heard many people say summertime means it is time to take a break, to lay low, and to get away from all the worries that career planning and management are thought to bring.

How about a new strategy? What about continuing to think about your career but lightening the load a little? Here are a few questions to consider:

• What are some proactive steps you can take during the summer when you might be out of your ordinary routine?
• Are there people you can talk to, research you can do, information you can gather?
• If you are away, might you take some time to think differently about what you are returning to? Could getting away be just the break in routine you need to help you get out of that rut and re-energize your career imagination? 
• What career-related thoughts might come to you as you are out of doors, taking a nice summer walk, or driving to a vacation destination?

Keep having the fun you are seeking, but use the space provided to see what kind of career directions emerge. And, while you're at it, why not consider this type of break in the middle of February? Maybe you won’t find yourself on a beach, but is that the only place where new ideas or perspectives arise? How about trying a little summertime mindset in January, February and March? You never know what new and exciting career options might present themselves.

For some summer career mindset shifters, consider attending one of three Wednesday workshops coming in August to the Newton office of Career Moves @JVS. Details to follow.