Winter Batteries
We are at the halfway point of winter. Canadians tend to thrive in this season.
This writer does not. I'm not an athlete; I never learned to skate, and the thought of winter sports in general is a source of stress. I can almost feel pulled and sore muscles due to toboggan crashes that haven't happened. Additionally, my career path has brought me to work that is rewarding but more taxing during the winter as people tend to complain more. This reality, of course, means there is sometimes an unspoken expectation placed on folks like me who serve to solve unsolvable problems. Problems like:
“It’s so cold!”
“It’s so dark out!”
“Traffic is so slow, and the city isn’t clearing the roads.”
Shutting down for winter isn’t an option for me. I suspect it’s the same for you.
So, I have had to put some habits and processes into my life to stay motivated. You may find some of them helpful if you're a part of the unthriving winter populace of Canada. None of these tactics require any personal revolution, but they do require intentionality. In a way, they are my winter batteries!
1) Visit places where people know your name outside of work. For me, these places are: church, the book store, my favorite cafe, and a brewpub or two! There is strength to be gained by connecting with people who know you by name. These places matter year-round, but they become vital during the winter months.
2) Support your neighbors. Giving creates energy. Shovel your neighbor's sidewalks, volunteer, and support your local businesses. Investing back into your community helps to create a strong, sustainable culture. A tough winter is much easier to endure when done in solidarity with the people in your neighborhood. Isolation and cold don't mix well for human beings. Those two ingredients create a poisonous concoction that should be avoided at all costs.
3) Plan to have fun. Mark it down in your calendar so you don't forget. This tactic could be as simple as booking a day off in the middle of the week well in advance. Start out by booking one cool thing for you to do every month in winter. Reserve a space at that restaurant you've been meaning to try, plan to see some live entertainment, or take in a cooking class. Your city likely has a team dedicated to getting the word out about events to take in for fun. Check out their website; I'm sure you'll find something inspiring.
4) Gather people. Even if only 2-3 are available, invite them over to watch the hockey game or go build a fire somewhere. Some of the best winter experiences are those random ideas that can come up in the group chat. "Hey, wanna come over for the game?" or "Hey, is anyone up for grabbing coffee this afternoon? I've got a free hour and I'll be on this end of the city." These kind of random, low planning activities are great to help you make it until the spring. My family and I will get back into the habit of hosting people at home. It's fun and a great way to add a highlight to the week.
5) Create. One of the reasons I write is because I find the creative process personally rewarding. All consuming and no creating makes for a dull me. Everyone can be creative. Don't be worried about creating something great, just focus on something you can do. Your day will be much better if you take time to draw on a piece of paper, push some keys down on a piano, cook something from scratch or have some fun with a coloring book.
6) Vacation in the winter. I know everyone can't afford to book a week off for a tropical vacation in the middle of winter. If you can, fantastic! Do it! If you can't, consider planning to enjoy a weekend out of town. I have never regretted jumping in my car and driving an hour or more outside the city to enjoy being out of town for a while. You'll have an experience you can point to that was out of the ordinary.
One last thing,
I write from Edmonton and to be Edmontonian is to be tough. Most of the world would shut down if they were to experience the winters we do. We get up, make some oatmeal, take the kids to daycare, and go to work. That said, strength is a gift that needs to be shared; otherwise, it doesn't take long before that extra strength spoils morally. Not everyone is going to do well this season. If you have some strength in the tank today, remember to share it.
You’ve got this, Friend! Thank you for reading.