Beat the Winter Blues at Work

For most folks, there comes a point during the winter months when work starts to feel, well, like more work than usual. Days are shorter, temperatures are lower, and Mother Nature may start to wreak havoc on your commute and your mood.

Use these four tips to get out or stay out of a slump this winter.

Tap the Power of the Three-Day Weekend

If you dread Mondays more than another winter storm, use a few vacation days to turn every other week into an abbreviated one. Plan fun activities or a quick getaway on your extended weekend -- or nothing at all. Several shorter work weeks now may do more for your spirits than the promise of a slightly longer vacation in the summer months.

Build Your Team to Beat the Blues

February and March are typically quieter months for many people, socially speaking. The frenzy of the holiday season is long gone, and calendars tend to be clearer. Use this opportunity to plan one or two fun team-building activities for you and your coworkers after hours. Hold a bowling tournament or try a corporate cooking class. Doing something completely separate from work for a few hours may lift everyone's spirits.

Go for the Goal

If you're feeling like every day is the same, and the fact that it's winter makes those feelings stronger, why not shake things up by setting an aggressive professional goal for yourself? Pursue a promotion. Finish up a long-neglected project. Or start a job search. You don't have to wait for the spring to seek out greener pastures.

Warm Up with a Workout

It should come as no surprise to anyone that most of today's top movers and shakers start the day with a workout. A survey by columnist Jim Citrin revealed that a whopping 70 percent of the respondents, all of whom are business leaders, exercise every morning (and all but two exercise at some point during the day). Kick-starting your day with an energetic workout could kick-start your career and kick those winter blues to the curb.

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