Does it have to be this way?  Frankly, it can be anything you want it to be.  I recently met a very spiritual artist called Tom who told me that he never works in winter.  Instead, he takes time out to relax, hibernate his creativity, and go within himself.  Incidentally, this reminds me of a wonderful quote from Conversations With God by N Walsch: “If you don’t go within, you end up going without.” Tom told me that he spends his winters reading, travelling (great discounted offers) and getting in touch with what inspires him.  He spends this time revving up his mind to give it all he’s got when spring comes along.  I suppose you could say it’s a great way of managing how his mind works best.

We can learn from Tom because if we focus on how we feel and bare in mind what we want, we can always make the most of our time and season.  True the weather isn’t nice and it seems like an eternity until that next pay packet is due, but we can research what we want via the web (as you are right now).  We may not have the disposable income we did in early December, but we can sort our finances with a sound plan for the next 11 months.  This is our chance to go within our hearts and minds to understand what we really want from life.  Create a feasible and realistic plan.  Research whatever we may need to – a spring break, a new job with company X, or even a project we want to undertake once we know more about it.  Winter offers us that so why not benefit from it rather than loathe it.  See it as an opportune time to take stock and plan for a rewarding year ahead.

The Persians celebrate their new year on the 21^st of March because it’s the first day of spring.  A new year with the season that brings new life.  If you think about it, it kind of makes sense really.  If you missed recharging and truly preparing for 2007, the planet and coming seasons still offer you another chance to re-plan your goals.  Why not grab it?

Here are some tips to beat your winter blues:

1-    Take time to give your body what it needs. If it wants rest, listen to it.  If it wants certain foods, give it with moderation.  If it feels like a hot salt bath, then so be it.  Remember, whatever you resist, you persist.

2-    Have a constructive conversation with yourself.  By constructive, I do NOT mean critical and negative laced with guilt.  I mean, find out what you want.  A new career? A new partner? A new hobby?

3-    Research.  Here’s your chance to look into new things to do, and new avenues to explore.  Time and time again I hear people saying: “Yeah, I really should look into that.” And then they never bother – well, don’t think about doing it, just do it!

4-    Mingle and network with new people.  By expanding your social circle, you also sow seeds you can reap in the future.  Someone might know of so and so who’s looking for a new project manager who might be you, or they may have a cousin who’s looking to buy a used car and you want to sell yours.  By socialising more, you open your doors to new opportunities and break the cycle of negative attitude which everyone seems to have.

5-     Travel.  With the winter offers available these days, you can spend a weekend somewhere new doing something you’ve never done before.

6-    Make some extra cash.  I recently met someone who’s a full time secretary and a part time hand model for extra cash.  There are many ways you can earn some extra cash.  Be a film extra, a mystery shopper for a research company, or write an article and have it published in a niche magazine.

There are no right or wrongs to this.  Do what you feel like as long as it’ll help you feel better, happier and busier.  Winter can be as bad or as good as YOU want it to be.

Until Next Time……Live Don’t Just Exist.