by Tom Morgan | Feb 28, 2021 | Self Awareness
Winter is considered a lovely time of the year by many. Others dread the short, cold days and the even colder, long nights. Winter isn’t the preference of most people, but it doesn’t have to be a time of misery either.
If the winter months make you feel dreary, there are a lot of things you can try to make the most of your winter and boost your mood.
pines with snow
See how you can turn your winter around for the better:
1. Be active. It’s natural to slow down a little in winter, but you don’t have to sit around and wait for spring. Stay busy. Maintain your social life and other activities. Go for walks. Take advantage of the fact that it’s not 90 degrees outside. Avoid the tendency to plant yourself in front of your TV or computer.
2. Control how much you sleep. The vast majority of adults require 7-9 hours of sleep. Avoid allowing yourself to spend more time in bed unless a medical condition requires more rest.
3. Bathe yourself in light. There are fewer hours of sunlight in the winter, and that light is less intense. Get outside and spend some time in the sun. Sit by the window and enjoy the sun. You might consider buying a special light that mimics sunlight and spend an hour each day bathing in the light.
4. Find outdoor activities that you enjoy. Depending on where you live, winter can be a great time to hike, camp, ski, ice skate, or just sit in the sun. The more you can move around, the better you’ll feel.
5. Reach out to others. You can still spend time with your friends and extended family during the winter months. Everyone else is in the same boat. Throw a winter party. Invite others out to dinner. Chat with people online.
6. Eat well. Dietary habits tend to take a turn for the worse during the winter. Make a real effort to maintain a healthy diet all year. The poorer your diet, the poorer you’ll feel. Experiment with your diet and see what makes you feel the best.
7. Make exciting plans for spring. Give yourself something to look forward to this spring. Make travel plans. Design a flower garden. Look at the latest car models and plan on replacing your clunker in the spring. What sounds appealing to you? What do you want to do, buy, or see?
8. Make exciting plans for the winter. There’s no reason to wait until spring to do something exciting! What can you do next month? Whom can you do it with? Make some plans that excite you. A little anticipation can help your mood tremendously.
9. See your doctor. If these activities don’t lighten your mood, you may want to see your medical professional. You might be one of the many who suffer from seasonal affective disorder. Talk with your doctor about things that can help in your specific situation. Avoid waiting! Get the help you need.
Imagine adding three more enjoyable months to your life!
Stay active, eat well, and get an appropriate amount of sleep. If you need more light, ensure that you get it. Make plans for some things that you can look forward to and spend time with others. Bring a positive light and some warmth to your winters with these tips and they’ll be easier on you overall!
by Tom Morgan | Feb 28, 2021 | Self Awareness
Disaster movies teach you how to outrun zombies and forage for food, but they rarely mention the dangers of boredom. What do you do when your usual activities are canceled, and you need to take a break from streaming?
Jetting off to an exotic destination or working at a communal table in your local café may be too risky for you. However, there are many enriching projects to fill your time.
Try these low-risk strategies for coping with boredom.
Interesting Things You Can Do on Your Own
Maybe you live alone, or your loved ones are busy with their own responsibilities. Learning to entertain yourself is a useful skill.
Try these activities to break up the monotony:
1. Adopt a new attitude. Fighting boredom starts from within. When a task seems tedious, remind yourself of the purpose behind what you’re doing. Continue learning and stay on the lookout for new things to try.
2. Establish routines. Do you feel like you’re drifting aimlessly? Replace some of the structure you may have lost. Wake up at the same time each day and change out of your pajamas.
3. Start a hobby. Find a new hobby or invest more time in a pastime you used to enjoy. You might even create an additional source of income from refinishing furniture or decorating cakes.
4. Do crafts. Express your creativity. Sketch still lifes and nature scenes. Carve wooden figures or make scented candles.
5. Listen to music. Adding a soundtrack to your day can have a powerful effect on your mood. Sing along to your favorite tunes while you cook dinner or fill out your expense reports.
6. Read books. Expand your mind with quality fiction and nonfiction. Reread a classic novel you remember from high school. Explore a historical era that interests you.
7. Work out. Physical activity relieves stress and boredom, as well as enhancing your overall health. Go for a morning run or ride a stationary bicycle at home.
8. Pamper yourself. Treat yourself to something special. Paint your toenails a fun color or give yourself a makeover.
Interesting Things You Can Do with Others
You can connect with others while maintaining your distance.
Use these social strategies to fight boredom:
1. Volunteer online. Support a worthy cause and savor the satisfaction of giving back to your community. Contact a local nonprofit to see if you can help with IT services or writing newsletter articles.
2. Organize happy hours. Do you miss hanging out with your office buddies? Propose a weekly online gathering to help you stay in touch.
3. Talk by phone. Video calls may be the closest thing to a face-to-face conversation. Check in with family and friends frequently. Surprise them with a handwritten letter or a greeting card.
4. Take classes. Sign up for web courses that will advance your career or deepen your knowledge about subjects you care about. Earn certifications in accounting or marketing. Study architecture or rose gardening.
5. Stream together. Sample one of the free online apps for hosting a virtual movie night. PIck a title your group will love and send out invitations. Eat popcorn and discuss the film afterwards.
6. Meditate and pray. Maintaining your faith community can be especially challenging, but it’s worth the effort. Follow your church on Facebook or search the internet for online meditation groups and other services.
7. Adopt a pet. Furry friends count too. If your circumstances allow, consider bringing home a cat or dog for extra companionship.
Avoid quick fixes that might reduce your boredom temporarily, but leave you with regrets, like excess body weight and credit card bills. Enjoying a variety of meaningful activities will help you to stay engaged while you stay home.
by Tom Morgan | Feb 28, 2021 | Self Awareness
We all have emotional triggers. There are just situations and people that seem to set us off without warning. You might be enraged by someone that interrupts you, while someone else is bothered by clutter. We each have a unique set of emotional buttons.
Our reaction is similar to a reflex. Someone presses the button and a negative emotional response springs into action.
Disconnect your emotional buttons with these strategies:
1. Observe yourself. You can learn a lot by observing yourself. You’re in a perfect position to notice your emotional buttons as they’re triggered. However, this is harder than you might think. We all think our emotional buttons are rational and reasonable, but that might not be the case.
● First, think back on all the times you’ve been very upset in the past. What triggered that reaction? What was said? What was the situation? Who was there? Do you see a pattern as you examine multiple situations?
● Pay attention to your emotional reactions over the next month. Notice when your emotions take a sharp turn. Determine the cause.
2. Ask for help. It’s not easy to know yourself. The way you see yourself is very different from the way the rest of the world sees you. Ask a few friends to give their opinion regarding your emotional buttons. Ask family members for input. You might be surprised by the reactions you receive.
3. Make a list of your emotional buttons. Make a list of all the triggers you’re able to identify. Write them out so you can actually see them. Keep adding to your list until you feel it is complete.
● Do you see a pattern? For example, you might despise people cutting you off in traffic, tardiness, and being interrupted. This would suggest that disrespect is what really triggers you.
4. Identify how those emotional buttons are hurting you. Go through each emotional button and think about the harm it is causing you. It might be hurting your chances for a promotion at work. It could be damaging your relationships.
● Each one of your emotional buttons is harming you in some way, even if it’s just damaging your emotional comfort.
5. Consider the cause. Why do these things trigger you? Your emotional buttons aren’t the same as someone else’s. Why do these particular things get such an emotional rise from you? Why does something bother you but mean little to someone else?
6. Identify a more effective response. Go through your list of emotional buttons and think about the ideal response for each one. What would be the most appropriate or advantageous response on your part?
7. Monitor yourself. Give your new and improved responses a try. When you notice yourself being triggered, be thoughtful enough to use your new response. See how it goes. It might take a while to learn to be present enough to remember your intention.
8. Be patient. It’s very challenging to be thoughtful and logical during a time of high emotion. Your brain doesn’t function in the same way when it’s emotionally aroused. However, with sufficient practice, your new responses will become automatic.
What are your emotional buttons? Have you ever noticed that your emotional buttons are different from other people you know? That means that emotional buttons aren’t universal. We form them ourselves based on our experiences and our unique perceptions of these experiences.
Emotional buttons can be a big obstacle to moving your life forward, your career, and your relationships. They can even pose a big challenge to your emotional and physical health.
Do your best to minimize the effect your emotional triggers have on your life and you’ll enjoy less stress and greater peace and serenity with your life and those around you.
by Tom Morgan | Feb 28, 2021 | Daily Affirmation
I know what I want and how to achieve it. Putting my goals on paper clarifies my thinking and increases my motivation. I deepen my sense of commitment. I feel more accountable. I am less likely to become distracted or make excuses.
I write my goals down each morning and revisit them at night. I use them to structure my days and measure my progress.
I create clear and compelling language. I ensure that my goals are meaningful and realistic for me. I add details and descriptions that help me to translate my objectives into concrete steps.
I focus on what I can control. I design goals that depend on my effort and resources rather than counting on external events.
I find a format that works for me. I write lists or draw diagrams. I browse for templates online or create my own. I carry around a notebook and pen. I experiment with different apps.
I post my goals where I can see them. I keep a copy on my phone and inside my office door. My targets stay fresh in my mind.
I check off the tasks as I complete them. Each accomplishment gives me satisfaction and helps me to build more momentum. I feel confident in myself and my abilities. I know that I can realize my dreams.
Today, I am determined to succeed. I expand my comfort zone and create the results I want. I keep my goals in sight.
Self-Reflection Questions:
1. Why are written goals more powerful?
2. How can I align my goals with my values?
3. What is the difference between a goal and a wish?
