I think it’s safe to say that most of us are experiencing the “winter blues”. It’s cold. It’s dark. We can’t go outside without putting on every piece of clothing we own. It physically hurts to be outside for any period of time, but when do the blues go a little deeper and into all out misery?

Do You Worry A Lot?

Do you worry about work? Money? Your kids? The apocalypse? Do the “what ifs” crawl inside your ear and have a party? I once heard someone say that “worry is the interest you pay on trouble before it’s due”. Chances are, you’re not going to get fired, you’re not going to go broke, your kids are not going to run away and a zombie is not going to come and eat your brains, so relax. When we worry and stress out about things, our bodies release a hormone called cortisol and cortisol tells the body to hang on to fat and that makes it harder to lose weight.


Are You Bored?

I know when I’m bored, my mind starts to wander and before I know it, I’m rooting through the pantry or digging around in the fridge. Being aware of when boredom strikes can help combat it. I get bored when I go home after work. I’ve now taken notice of when my mind starts to wander and I begin to eat, or have stray negative thoughts. I’ve become aware of it and then I tell myself to stop it and I go do laundry or something. If you find yourself with nothing to do, volunteer your time somewhere or take up a hobby; especially if it gets you outside. I am seriously considering reconnecting with how to cross country ski. I used to do it, but got “too busy” and now I’m regretting it with all the parks and trails around Central Minnesota not to mention the calorie burn with it!


Do You Always Assume the Worst?

I live by the saying “Hope for the best, prepare for the worst”. It’s OK to be prepared for bad things to happen, but to dwell on them can really take away from productivity, a sense of adventure, and living life. Everyone is not out to get us. Yes, bad things happen, but not every day all the time, so hope for the best and take time to enjoy the little things in life.


Are You A Critic?

Sometimes it’s OK to be a critic, but if we’re doing it all the time, some may begin to take offense. I complained constantly about myself, my life, my work; everything! I used to pick apart other people, other radio stations, restaurants, bars; everything! I found out my phone stopped ringing. My staff never wanted to hang out with me. Don’t be so critical. Focus on positives. Maybe the service was a little slow, but the pizza was hot and the beer was cold.

 

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