But that time is running out. Soon it will be so hot your shoes will melt into the pavement. Which means you and your employees are perhaps not quite as productive as you were a few weeks ago. Vacations are being planned, lunches are extended and precious hours are lost by employees daydreaming about the backyard hammock or pool.

For entrepreneurs and startups, this can be the most frustrating time of the year. Your colleagues and employees taunt you with their vacation plans while you anticipate a summer trapped in the office.

Like kids in the last week of school, this can be the most difficult time to motivate yourself and your employees.

It does not have to be that way. Business coaches across the country are reaching out and encouraging entrepreneurs and managers to take advantage of weather as a work incentive, for themselves and employees.

The entrepreneurs reading this are probably snickering by now. Clearly, you are far too busy running your company to leave the office before sundown, let alone plan a vacation. Right?

Wrong. Everyone needs an occasional rest and being denied a summer breather has made at least some of you bitter (I've heard you at the luncheons complaining, despairing - and yes, whining).

Not only is it making you jealous, but not planning a break could be bad for your health and that of your business, according to life coach Ty Freyvogelo, a former entrepreneur and founder of makingsenseofyourbusiness.com.

"No one can immerse himself in work nonstop without a break and maintain a healthy sense of perspective," Freyvogelo said. "Try it and you'll surely start to exhibit bad judgment in your business decisions. You'll start feeling the effects of constant stress. You may even eventually burn out, or worse, start experiencing health problems."

He suggests creating a personal life plan to go alongside your business plan. That means scheduling family time or time with friends and at least a short break early on. Make this a priority, don't just pencil it in. And when you leave work, you need to really leave work, said Las Vegas life coach Anita Laruy, owner of Dynamic Life Changes . Time off does not include your laptop (although you should take your cell phone for emergencies).

"When you are at the business, concentrate on the work at hand and try to forget your personal life. You'll be more focused and productive. When you leave the job, do the same thing. Focus on your family and focus on what you want to do so you can create a balance between the two of them," Laruy said. "With correct scheduling of personal and business life, you will make the time to relax, you will make quality time with your loved ones, and you can take a vacation if you want to. It's all down to scheduling."

Laruy understands how hard this can be. She is an entrepreneur who has run two successful businesses. The first three years can be the most difficult, she said. But if you start out with healthy habits, your business will do better in the long run. And while many business coaches suggest integrating family into the workplace when you have to work late hours, Laruy cautions against it. She said it should be a last resort for those who truly do not have the ability to spend time at home.

She likes to remind entrepreneurs that they are in charge. In fact, they probably started their own business so they could be masters of their schedules. Taking time off, even if it is just a long weekend with BlackBerry in tow, should be a priority.

"You are the master of your destiny when it comes to scheduling. You are the boss. You will know when is the best time for you to take off and leave the business in the hands of your employees," Laruy said, "You can be connected but still have a family vacation and enjoy the time you need. Everybody needs a break."

But how can you possibly schedule time away when everyone in the office seems to have their heads in the clouds? This is where the nice weather could actually turn to your advantage, according to executive coach and author Noah Blumenthal.

"Most managers try to ignore the weather and push their employees to refocus," he said. "But the key to maintaining or increasing productivity is actually to embrace the summer heat and use it as one of your best motivational tools."

Start out by taking a break. Take your employees to long lunches and sit on the patio. Soak up some vitamin D and you will all feel better. Or let everyone off early on Friday. Happy employees are productive employees.

To keep them productive, Blumenthal suggests creating a summer goal for employees with a meaningful reward. He suggests rewarding high productivity with incentives such as golf clubs, vouchers to outdoor restaurants or tickets to shows or events.

Also, it's a good idea, at least while the weather stays fine, to find ways to take work outside. Try holding team meetings or one-on-one employee conversations outside, at least in the morning, when the weather is cool.

And once the weather gets truly unbearable, managers and business owners can do little things to perk up the office like hosting iced coffee breaks or bringing in fresh fruit.

So turn that frown upside down, take a short walk in the sunshine and then get back to work. It's good for you.