9 ways to stay sharp when summer fatigue sets in

July’s relentless heat, staggered vacations and an ever-swelling inbox can make even a well-run practice feel like it’s running on fumes. Patients still need care, payers still demand paperwork and payroll still comes due; yet physicians and administrators often find their own reserves dipping just as the dog days arrive. Mid-summer fatigue isn’t just uncomfortable; it can erode efficiency, drive mistakes and sow the seeds of burnout that blossom in the fall rush.

The good news: small, deliberate adjustments right now can prevent an August energy crash. By beating the heat, tightening workflows and nurturing personal resilience, practices can keep their clinical engines humming and arrive in September with horsepower to spare. Whether that means shifting office hours earlier to dodge triple-digit afternoons, scheduling a brisk team huddle to surface bottlenecks or prioritizing hydration and recovery time the way you’d prioritize a patient’s vitals, the payoff is the same: steady, sustainable performance.

Think of it as preventive maintenance: just as you wouldn’t ignore a patient’s warning signs, you shouldn’t brush off your own. Put these tips in play now, and you’ll keep patients satisfied, staff engaged and, most importantly, your own energy tank firmly above “empty” all the way to Labor Day and beyond.