Battle Winter Blues

Wow! What a Winter!

This Winter in particular is challenging; frigid cold, harsh messy conditions, days on end of gray can all contribute to bad moods, boredom and low energy.

I love Summer I find late January through April is my least favorite time of year.

There are many people that I have spoken to lately that suffer a dip in mood in Winter. This can be part of SAD, seasonal affective disorder a condition attributed to a lack of light particularly sun during dark Winter months. It is also due to being immobilized and falling into hibernation mode. Let's face it, it is just is not so fun to go anywhere in this weather. Nearly risking our lives on the slippery roads, bundling up with layers of clothing,  getting covered in salt, shivering and shoveling. There are a very few that enjoy this time of year and if you are one you can have it, but most of us to some extent by February 1st have grown tired of it and are feeling the effects.

As with everything we face we are called to make the most of our situation and find the silver lining. The shorter, darker, colder days of Winter may wear you down but they do not have to keep you down.

There are several proven strategies to cope with the Winter blues plus some creative fun suggestions. I encourage you to try some and to create some of your own to share with the rest of us.

Get more light: turn the lights on at home  and when there is sun get out in it if tolerable for a brisk walk if it is too cold go for a drive in the sunshine or at least curl up in a sunny window for a while. You may also consider a light box  to use at home or on your desk. There is much research supporting the fact that a lack of light contributes to low mood and depression for some it is severe. Even if you do not think you are having a significant issue extra light and  sunshine will do you good.

Exercise: Brisk physical activity 45 min 3 x a week is shown in studies to have as good an effect as antidepressants on mild and moderate depression. Already taking anti depressants? Stay on them as your doctor prescribed and add in more movement to feel better. All of us can reap a mood boost with physical activity. Fight the temptations to hibernate!

January a Cabin Fever Party: Turn up the heat, throw on some flip flops and flowered shirts,  break out the Beach Boys invite some friends and serve your favorite summer drinks complete with umbrellas. You may even want to start a group that takes turns with Summer parties or outings during Winter. You could go out for BBQ, Play indoor volleyball, go to a tiki bar and so on. Have fun, be with others and turn up the heat.

Try something new: You may find yourself with more time on your hands with less time outdoors around this time of year. Why not do something you have been interested in but putting off? Start a new hobby make time for a long ago pastime, take a class in something that interests you. Join a gym, take dancing lessons, learn Spanish or take a cooking class. The options are endless but engaging your mind in activities that stimulate you will do wonders.

Plan a trip: Of course if you can get away for some sun and fun go for it. Ultimately I would leave the Chicago area in mid January and not return until May...someday.

The weather outside is frightful and Winter in Chicagoland is long. Take steps now as we move into February to make the most of the next 6 weeks conquering the cold, caring for yourself and having a real good time.

What ideas have you tried?

Dance of Our Lives

It is something many of us give lip service to: Playing all out. Going all in. Living on fire. Pushing the limits and exiting the comfort zone.

How many of us live it I wonder? I think very few. It sounds appealing and very exciting, but at the same time it is scary. The fact is for those that aspire to live rich, full, authentic and meaningful lives such as you and I, life becomes a dance between striving forward  and overcoming the fear that threatens to hold us back. I realize most of us think it is only ourselves that has these lingering doubts, fears, negative voices, but I am here to tell you some variety or intensity is within all of us, totally human.

To a large extent the measure of our happiness and success is the result of how well we cultivate the courage to be fully who we are despite the fears we have that tempt us to play small and stay safe.

Just as there are underlying subconscious yearnings that we spend our lives trying to recognize and fulfill there are underlying subconscious fears that we must take out and examine by the light of day pushing through them to ultimately be, do and have what we seek.

This combination is the cycle of our lives, a dance we are invited to participate in boldly, fully and passionately. Many do not. The thought of the risk too great. Choosing to forgo the joy hampered by the the thoughts that start with what if? What if I fail , what if I am judged , rejected and so on.

We will examine those fears moving forward this year. As I have endeavored to live boldly and seek to uncover my own fears. I too know what it is to be tempted to stay small or safe to only risk so much, to be bold in only some areas. I also know the reward of having courage and the incredible experience and triumph it brings. It is one of those things that gets better with practice, like dancing I suppose.

First, we must be bold enough to get out on the floor, then we must trust our selves to be aware; to listen to the music within and around us and courageously, authentically move freely in the joyous dance of our lives.

I have always loved to dance...this year I am ready for more practice.

What calls to you that you feel is not possible or scary and why?

What things do you avoid because of what others may think?

How can you cultivate more courage than fear this year?

Do not wait for the absence of fear, cultivate more courage and go after what you seek.

 

 

 

 

Being vs. Doing in 2014

Okay, so we have already touched on the obligatory post about how to make resolutions that work.

This is vital stuff of course, if you are going to set out to make some significant changes in your life you want to go about it in such a way that you have the best chance to succeed and let's face it that's what we coaches get paid to help people do right?

But I have been thinking since I wrote it just what it is people set their resolutions about.

This was also inspired by two recent conversations; one with a very good friend a couple days ago as he shared his resolutions for 2014 and one with my daughter Rachel today, New Years Day.

My friend had many written, specific and detailed goals but they were not the typical work out more, eat better, lose weight or career goals.

All of his were personal objectives focused on who he would be and how he would live. His resolutions included:

Continue to search for meaning, be ready to recognize it when presented, and commit to experiencing it fully
Live life with passion and purpose
Continue to become the best version of myself I can be in every regard
Tell the people who I love how much they mean to me with regularity
Find the best in everyone and let them know that it is seen and appreciated.

Quite  beautiful and powerful objectives. It occurred to me however that these all related to how to be and that usually when discussing resolutions or goals the focus is on what to do, a dramatic difference. It seems that people often get caught up in task oriented goals and to do lists. Maybe it is easier to set concrete objectives like lose 15 pounds or quite smoking. However, I think we often fail to truly recognize we are more than just a list of accomplishments. That at the end of the day it matters most who we are  and how we are rather than just what we did.

The conversation with my daughter today started with her asking me what word represented my theme this year. I had to think a minute as she shared that hers was commitment. The theme of commitment being the guiding principle to  adhere to as she pursued personal and business objectives in 2014. I chose Big-Time. The principle to no longer play small and take everything to a higher level including my business but just as importantly my personal relationships even my personal care like exercise and meditation. Truth be told I played kinda small in 2013 and it is time to step it up a notch in lots of areas. I liked her idea to have an overall theme, a guiding principle or word. This approach also supported the concept of how you would be rather than just what you would do or attain.

As I considered this approach it became clear that if we set the objectives and themes around how we are being what we ought to be doing to achieve and support that would be apparent.

I believe that the more closely aligned your goals are to your deepest values the more motivation you will have to work towards them and the more fulfillment, happiness and meaning you will feel as you achieve them.

And so today I am encouraging you as you consider what changes you will make and what you would like to do with this new year that you start with who and how you want to be. As with everything else worthwhile we must have a clear vision of what we want and a step by step strategy that will get us there if we can hope to attain it.

What types of objectives reflect how and who you want to be?

 

Here are some of mine:

Fear less & risk more both personally and professionally, go all in

Live with more freedom and independence

Show more love and appreciation to people in my life more often.

Recognize and appreciate beauty in all forms.

Play more, live fully and invite others to join me.

Say thank you more and complain  less

Be in the moment, focused and present

Make a positive impact in the lives of as many people as I can everyday.