Keep the Grinch Out of the Office: Dealing with Winter Burnout

The Grinch. Who wouldn’t love to work for someone always in a sour mood, who’s aggressive, lashes their whip, and has a heart two sizes too small?

Obviously, no one wants to work for that person. But sometimes things go out of our control and have us acting all, “Grinchy” whether we want to or not.

Especially during the brutal, stress-filled winter months.

As bosses, our employees, and clients, look to us to make an example of acceptable behavior. So, how do we survive winter burnout?

Get Active!

Take advantage of the limited daylight hours. A brisk 5, 10, 15-minute walk after breakfast or lunch really makes a difference. Use this as an excuse to go to your favorite taco place down the block. We won’t tell anyone.

Add Healthy Food Options!

Winter is the season for comfort foods. We love them. We need them. Just don’t forget to add plenty of healthy options to your diet. We’re talking about adding extra veggies, fruits, nuts, and lean meats to your diet. 

Be sure to include healthy options for the office as well, even if you have a vending machine. 

Of course, don’t forget to eat your favorite foods. Indulge in your seasonal favorites, especially if you’re craving them! Just remember, everything in moderation.

Boost Your Vitamin D

Vitamin D is incredibly vital to keeping our bodies healthy and strong. Which is even more shocking when you realize almost 50% of adults have a deficiency. 

This vitamin helps our bone, heart, and brain health, plus it can control how the immune and digestive system functions. Basically, it’s an important nutrient that can drop if we spend most of the winter indoors. 

Boost your Vitamin D levels by taking advantage of the daylight outdoors, snacking on fruits, cheese, cereal bars, plus incorporating Vitamin D rich foods into your diet. 

Create a Healthy Daily Schedule and Stick To It!

This is easier said than done. Set a wind down time an hour or two before bed to ensure you get 7 - 9 hours of sleep every night. 

Focus on home-cooked meals versus delivery. Plus, don’t forget to hydrate and upping your water intake. 

Create time for just you. Invest time in a new hobby, hit the home gym, or pick up meditation. The important thing is you're doing something that pleases and is for you - and only you.

Most importantly, whatever new schedule you create - you stick to it. It’s ok to say no, the world will still be there when you’re done.

Relax!

Be kind to yourself during these months. As long nights and short days settle in, this is time to rest, recharge, and relax. You don’t always have to be “on” and working every single second of the day. 

Enjoy the little things and make time to indulge in the things you love this season. Whether that’s taking time to read the hottest new book, binge watching on Netflix, or going out for a winter walk - you do you. 

Be sure to make time for yourself, especially if you’re really busy. Blocking out just 30 minutes a day to relax can dramatically reduce stress levels.

Organize Your Space!

No one likes a messy space, even those that excel in chaos. Use any downtime in your schedule to organize your desk, office, and space. 

Clutter alone can add to levels of stress and you feeling grouchy, even before your day has begun. 

Imagine you have your cup of coffee ready the way you like it, but now there’s nowhere on your desk to put it. No one has time for that aggravation and stress. Take time to make your space the way you want it and implement any tools or furniture to keep you organized. 

Team Spirit! 

Remember to nurture and support your staff. No one understands the daily stresses of your job like your staff does. 

Create time to destress as a team and make the overall wellbeing of the team a big part of your work culture. Set clear expectations, communicate, and have areas in your space that are just for gathering and collaboration.

Remember, you’re all in this together. 

Celebrate Your Wins!

You’ve come a long way! Celebrate your wins and allow yourself grace to focus on what you’ve accomplished. 

This isn’t the time to focus on the day-to-day stresses, the negatives, or what you’ve failed to do. 

Celebrate even the little wins and give yourself a pat on the back.

The answer to preventing or curing burnout isn’t a simple A, B, C. But by taking time out to create daily habits that boost your wellbeing, you’re on your way to elevating your mood and stopping the Grinch in his tracks.

Happy Segworking!