Surviving the Winter Blues

You thought maybe the groundhog was right, that maybe Spring was right around the corner.  However, your snow shovel has been as active as ever.  Do you have this secret fear that sunny days and balmy breezes will never make it back to your climate?

The more snow and cold a person experiences during the winter time, the more likely he or she is going to experience "winter blues."  Assuming a trip to the tropics is out of the question, what can you do to keep yourself going a few months more?

• Move.  Not move away, but move your body.  The last thing you probably want to do is exercise, but it is the best thing for your tired body.  Even a little bit of weak sunshine and a short walk to get the blood flowing can loosen up those cobwebs. 
• Heat it up.  Heat of any kind will help.  Hot drinks, roaring fires, saunas, hot tubs... Warm your body and soul.
• Turn up the lights.  Even if you don't have an official Seasonal Affective Disorder diagnosis, light therapy helps with alertness and mood.  Keep bright lights on in the rooms you spend the most time in, including your office. 
• Catch a rainbow.  Brightness also comes in colors.  Be sure to have color in your wardrobe every day.  Consider using some down time at home to paint or redecorate a room.  Fresh flowers, even some inexpensive daisies or carnations, can make Spring seem much closer.
• Do it differently. Variety really is the spice of life.  Get out of the house and try a new restaurant. Take a class or learn a new skill or hobby. Take a different route to work or plan a weekend getaway. 
• Be positive.  Read inspiring stories.  Turn off the evening news.  Post favorite motivational quotes in your bedroom or office.  Spring, with all its promise, will come.  
• Use your imagination.  Watch movies about tropical places or read books about a desert locale.  Somehow, it tricks your mind into thinking you're in a warm place. 

The way our minds and bodies react to less sunlight in the winter may be beyond our control.  However, we have the power to manipulate our environment to make wintertime life more than survival mode.   

Making a difference in your career

Have you ever questioned what it is you’re doing everyday? We spend hours each week at work and many of us bring work home. With all the time we spend working, it’s no wonder we want to feel fulfilled in our jobs.

I spent years working at various jobs I didn’t enjoy - some of which felt like torture. Others were a blast! After paying my dues at several low level positions in fields I wasn’t interested in, I was lucky enough to land a job I loved at an advertising agency and was promoted several times within the company.

But even as great as that and later jobs were, I still questioned what I was doing. At some point in everyone’s life, we begin to consider if what we are spending our time on is making a positive impact in the world. After 18 years in the agency world of marketing, I wondered if my time might be better spent using my skills helping others rather than increasing the bottom line for another large corporation.

After spending unfulfilling years working at a direct mail agency, I began to question how important was it we sell another pair of pants to a buyer that probably doesn’t need them. It was at that time I began my quest to search for what was important to me. My deep soul searching revealed that I didn’t necessarily need to abandon my years of experience to help the world and make a positive impact.

That’s when my second career working with non-profits began. Today as a marketing consultant and professional life coach, I continue to use my marketing skills to make a difference in the world. I use my expertise educating the public about important issues that affect us all, encouraging individuals to live their dreams, and working with many other organizations who support those in need.

If you want to make a change in your life or career, don’t be afraid to look at options. To begin, take some important steps by asking yourself the following:

• What do I really want to do?
• What inspires me?
• What is truly important to me? In my life? In my work?
• How do I want to spend my days?
• How can I still use my unique gifts and the skills I’ve developed to assist me in my new direction?

With a little soul searching, you can use your life in a way that goes well beyond simply bringing home a paycheck.