Stop trying to maintain constant productivity: Your ability to cope with stress changes with the seasons and your own biological clocks

The time of year significantly affects how people feel and function. During winter, energy levels often drop, the immune system weakens, and social interactions may decrease. For example, research shows people are less likely to stick to workout routines in winter. In contrast, spring and summer bring longer daylight hours, which can boost energy and social activity, with summer reported as the most active and social season. These seasonal changes are not uniform worldwide; a person in February might experience winter in the Northern Hemisphere but summer in the Southern Hemisphere. This variability means that energy and productivity levels fluctuate naturally depending on location and time of year.

The human body operates on multiple internal clocks, known as circadian rhythms, which regulate daily cycles such as sleep-wake patterns, hormone release, and even heart attack risk. These rhythms are synchronized by the body’s master clock and influence energy, mood, and physical readiness. Another key concept is chronotype, which describes a person’s natural preference for being an early bird or a night owl. These individual rhythms interact with slower cycles, such as the female reproductive cycle, further affecting energy and resilience. For instance, hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle can impact mood and physical performance, demonstrating how biological rhythms shape daily life.

Beyond biological cycles, society imposes its own rhythms that impact stress and productivity. These include school terms, workplace deadlines like quarter-end pushes, national holidays, and even arbitrary deadlines such as Tax Day. These external rhythms can create sudden demands that conflict with natural biological rhythms. For example, parents may face increased workloads during school breaks while still needing to maintain productivity. These societal rhythms are not uniform globally, adding another layer of complexity for international teams and individuals working across different regions.

The rise of hybrid and remote work has led to more collaboration across time zones, with roughly 1 in 3 meetings now spanning multiple regions. This global workforce creates challenges because colleagues in different hemispheres experience opposing seasons and daylight hours. For instance, a team member in Santiago, Chile, might feel slowed down by winter, while a colleague in Calgary, Canada, could feel energized by summer. These differences can strain team dynamics and productivity, yet they are often overlooked by leadership. Addressing these challenges requires acknowledging the impact of seasonal and regional rhythms on employee well-being and performance.

A 2024 survey of nearly 28,000 employees across 16 countries found that when leaders foster a culture of psychological safety—where employees feel comfortable discussing workload, mental health, and productivity fluctuations—they are happier and less likely to quit. Employees who feel least comfortable raising these topics are roughly 10% more likely to leave their jobs compared to those who feel most comfortable. This highlights the importance of leadership in creating environments where stress and seasonal capacity are openly discussed, reducing turnover and improving team resilience.

Resilience is not a constant state but a dynamic balance between personal capacity and external demands. To build resilience, individuals can take three steps: first, acknowledge that fluctuations in energy and stress are normal and not flaws; second, integrate these rhythms into daily life by adjusting sleep, exercise, and work schedules to align with personal chronotypes; and third, adapt by preparing for unavoidable high-stress periods with healthy habits like sufficient sleep, a balanced diet, and regular exercise. Tools such as wearables, mood-tracking apps, and mindfulness training can also help manage stress and enhance resilience throughout the year.