I’m going to miss the summer months for lots of reasons. I’ll miss the grandkids playing in the lake, golfing, fishing and a different festival every weekend. Of course, most of us still go to work everyday — except for that very short vacation — but planning and thinking about summer activities is a much-appreciated distraction.

I think hobbies and interests outside of work are important. The grind of constantly thinking about work and paying the bills isn’t healthy. Somehow, somewhere, we all need a break to recharge our batteries. It’s my theory that lots of people change jobs simply to experience something different. Maybe somebody out there is happy to be in the same job with the same employer for their entire career, but those stories are few and far between. The rest of us may want a different experience and changing employers, changing jobs and even changing your career path is a natural and good thing.

Organizations fill jobs 12 months a year, but the largest volume of recruiting activity happens between September to November and January to May. The business world doesn’t stop during the summer months, but hiring activities do slow down. Here are a few suggestions of what you can do over the next nine months to facilitate a change in your career.

Let’s start with an optimistic perspective. Maybe the job you have isn’t so bad after all. I’m serious. I constantly hear people complaining about their jobs (admit it, some of you are whiners), and I’m here to tell you that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side of the fence. Stop focusing on the co-workers who are difficult and think about those people who have a great attitude.

My wife and I share a secret we call, “We’re in the cave.” We were visiting the Howe Caverns on a family vacation and my cousin was complaining throughout the entire trip. Unfortunately, I began to display the same negative attitude, and my brother-in-law gave me some good advice.

“Billy, don’t let other people drag you down,” he said. “I’m enjoying your company, the kids are having fun and there’s lots of interesting stuff in here. Smile and let’s enjoy the day.”

This happened more than 20 years ago, and we still remind each other “we’re in the cave” when we encounter circumstances that are not ideal, but we don’t want to waste even one day complaining and whining. I hope you give this strategy a try, and we all have Teddy to thank for such good advice.

There will always be circumstances we can’t control, but we can control our response when things don’t go so well. Even those people who love their jobs have bad days. We spend a good portion of our lives at work, and what I do is not representative of who I am. I smile, I laugh and I do all I can to help co-workers and the people we serve. Maybe the most important thing you can do over the next nine months is to re-evaluate your current circumstances and get the most pleasure you can out of your current job.

If my story isn’t your cup of tea, than here are a few suggestions you may find helpful in the coming year:

• Buy your boss a coffee and have a discussion about potential changes in your job responsibilities that could benefit both you and the organization. There isn’t sufficient space to expand on this concept, but if you’re interested I would recommend a book by Marcus Buckingham, “Go Put Your Strengths to Work.” This approach is worth a try instead of launching an extensive job search for a change that may, or may not be, a better match.

• Consider taking a night class at your local college or online. Not only will you expand your skill set, you will also expand your network — and you may meet people who can help you in the future. If you do decide to change jobs, the fact that you are taking the initiative to take courses is a positive attribute that could help you get a job offer.

I dread the day I pack away my golf shirts, but it’s also a new beginning, and I always stop and access what do I hope to achieve over the winter months. It’s a time to reboot and prepare for the next challenge. What are your goals for the next nine months?

Kaminski is president of Stone Associates Training. He is an HR consultant with 35 years of experience in the employment field, teaching managers the art of hiring great employees. He also is an adjunct instructor at Keuka College. You can contact him with your questions, suggestions and comments at bill@stoneassociatestraining.com.