Five Tips to Warm Up to Winter

Baby, it's cold outside! That seems to be a recurring theme across North America these days. If it's true for you, try these Five Tips to Warm Up to Winter

Tip # 1: Give It a Break

The 'it' to which I refer is....yourself! Leave your desk or workstation (preferably your smart phone, too) and take your breaks -- morning, noon and afternoon. Even if you can't get away for your full break, take 10 minutes to leave your desk or normal work area and eat your lunch/snack somewhere else. It will give your body a chance to nourish itself and your mind the opportunity to slow down without work related distractions. Practice being fully present while you are AWAY from your work area.

Tip # 2: Choose Positive

Focus on what you are looking forward to every day (not what you are dreading, not that your car might not start at the end of the day, not that you are dreading the slow ride home, etc.). Throughout the day (during breaks is a great time), ask yourself 'what went well so far today?'. Then, pause and enjoy the experience. Write down what you appreciate about your leader, co-workers, your clients/customers. End each day by writing down three things for which you are grateful for that day.

Tip # 3: Smile

Do it, right now! Don't you feel better already? Now, smile at your co-workers as you pass them in the hallway, as you greet them at meetings or wherever you get the chance. Check out Ron Gutman's TED Talk on the hidden power of smiling. In that talk, Gutman, the founder and CEO of HealthTap reviews a number of studies that reveal how smiling has a measurable effect on your overall well-being, and can be a predictor of how long you'll live. If that's not reason enough to smile, remember that it is a contagious behavior...so your smile impacts the well-being and longevity of everyone around you!

Tip # 4: Give Yourself Permission to 'Hang'

You are constantly on the go. There is always something to do, or somewhere you either need to be, or think you should be. Use a cold day as an 'excuse' to do something you rarely take time to do: read that good book you've been meaning to get to, order take out, stoke up the fire and have a movie marathon with the people you care about.

Tip #5: Remind Yourself That 'This Too Shall Pass'

I was at a funeral last week, and a young lady read 'For Everything There Is A Season'. I'm embarrassed to admit that I did not know that these words originated in the Bible. I remember these words mostly from the song, performed first by Pete Seeger in 1952 and later by the Byrds. These words carry great comfort, I believe, and remind us all that there is indeed a time for everything (even -45C or F!!).

Here are the words from Ecclesiastes III:

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

And, here are the words set to music by The Byrds. Enjoy!

What do you do to warm up to winter?

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