As soon as summer arrives, you hear it everywhere: “it's cucumber time”. A period where everything seems to come to a standstill. Fewer meetings, fewer emails, less hustle and bustle. Many companies see these weeks as lost time. But that is a missed opportunity.
Because it is precisely in this quiet period that there is enormous strategic potential. According to TNO, 42% of working Dutch people use the summer to make concrete plans for the autumn. And that's smart. Because if you do it right, you can immediately start at full speed in September.
Let's be honest: in July and August, the activity level in the Netherlands is on average 27% lower than in the rest of the year. That is not surprising. People are on vacation, projects are on pause, and the issues of the day fade into the background for a while.
But that is exactly why this period is so valuable. The rest is not only natural, but also necessary. It provides space to distance yourself from the daily hustle and bustle. To think about. And to refocus your strategy.
However, we see that many companies are either completely ignoring this time or trying to keep going as if it were business as usual. A shame. Because if you use these weeks to reflect and look ahead, you can then switch much more focused and faster.
Reflection may sound soft, but the numbers show otherwise. Research by Utrecht University shows that employees who consciously incorporate moments of reflection are 23% more productive and experience 31% more happiness at work. That is no coincidence.
Reflection helps you see what's working, what's not working, and where you want to go. It makes room for better decisions. And it prevents you from falling into the same pitfalls again in September as you did before the summer.
How to do that? Start small. Schedule a short moment each day to look back: what went well, what could be better, where do you want to go? For example, use an OGSM template to structure your thoughts. This way, you can clearly bring your goals, actions and measurement points to one page. View the OGSM template here.
Many people see January as the time to start over. But in practice, September is much more powerful. You come back from vacation, have fresh energy, and the rest of the year is still open. It is not without reason that TNO calls September the “second new year”.
If you've already thought about your goals and plans over the summer, you can get started right away in September. No start-up time, no chaos — just pack right away. That's where strategy makes the difference.
By the end of August, you can already see it happening: activity is increasing again. On average, by 15% in the last two weeks of the month. The engine starts running again. And if you have planned well, you can immediately piggyback on that.
Use your OGSM plan to make that transition smooth. Turn your strategy into concrete actions. Get your team involved. Make sure everyone knows what the goal is, what the priorities are, and what success looks like. View the OGSM model here.
So no, cucumber time is not a waste of time. It is an opportunity. A chance to reflect, plan and sharpen your strategy. So that you will not only be busy again soon, but also really effective.
What can you do today?
Start your strategic planning with us today OGSM model.
