Winter is coming… How do we survive winter when working from home as an entrepreneur?
Lidia Drzewiecka MBA, C.Mgr, FCMI
Transforming brands into global leaders through innovative strategies and creative excellence | Visuable
Winter is such a festive time. You finally get to spend time with your family eating chocolate, roasting chestnuts and opening presents. So why do we feel so low during this time? This feeling is caused by the Winter Blues or Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). The Winter Blues are very common, 1 in 3 people actually suffer from this, so you’re definitely not alone!
As an entrepreneur, you may feel the effects of the winter blues even more than others. This may be because you’re a remote worker, working in your business by yourself or never getting time off. We get it! As a remote company, we get what it’s like to not have an office, have people around constantly and to feel overwhelmed. This is why we are going the extra mile this winter to ensure that everyone on the team isn’t feeling those terrible winter blues.
Here are our 3 key tips to survive the winter blues from home as an entrepreneur:
1. Keep Focusing
2. Treat Yourself
3. Stay Positive
KEEP FOCUSING
The best way to keep productivity high is organising, organising and more organising!
I know it’s easier said than done, but get yourself either an amazing digital online planner like Trello (we can’t live without Trello) or a really nice digital notebook where you can outline your days, weeks and months! This has really helped us keep productive as there is no hiding from what you have to do! If there is something that isn’t your favourite like administration work, try to eat that frog first thing in the morning.
Eat That Frog by Brian Tracy is a great book that explains the method of “eating that frog.” This method is to undertake the most challenging or boring task of your day and just get it done fast so you can move on with the more fun parts of your business, such as posting Instagram Stories or chatting to your audience!
Another great way to keep productive is to get dressed up (put a nice shirt on without a stain), put on makeup and find a space in your home or a cafe that you feel most productive at. For me, I love writing in a cafe where people are looking at me, weird but it works! This is because of the audience effect which happens when your performance is influenced by the presence of others. For me this really works, but find that space for yourself and ensure that there are no interruptions, distractions or disturbances.
Find out what works best for you!
Try different ways of organising and planning so you’ll get over the hurdle of the winter and be ultra-productive.
TREAT YOURSELF
The really hard part about the winter blues as an entrepreneur is feeling overwhelmed, tired and ultimately not motivated to do anything. We feel that! It’s so hard to find motivation when it gets dark at 3 pm and you still have loads of work to do. You don’t have to buy yourself lavish presents every day (unless you want to, hello diamonds), but simple things such as more fitness, talking to people, sleeping more, drinking less alcohol and drinking more water will treat your body and soul in a way that running a business doesn’t.
I find that taking a fitness class during the working day gets me out of the house, forces me to meet other entrepreneurs and makes me healthier! Who doesn’t love all of those benefits in one. It breaks up my day and gives me something to look forward to when the weather outside if frightful (get what I did there?).
Even buying a nice water bottle or buying blue light blocking glasses will enhance your mood during the day. By drinking water out of a lovely water bottle, you’ll not only nourish your body and treat it but have something nice to drink out of! Having blue light blocking glasses on hand will tremendously help you when you're continuously staring at a screen running your business. Trust me both of these items have really helped me feel better!
Treating yourself really doesn’t have to do with material items, it helps, but it’s about nourishing your mind and body in a way that you need in order to get over the winter blues. If you see the sun come out to make sure you go and take a walk! Even if it's cold.
STAY POSITIVE
Staying positive is key to getting over the winter blues when you are an entrepreneur. Let’s face it when you see darkness outside you sort of feel darkness in the inside and it’s understandable! The best way to beat this feeling is to find your purpose in running your business. Find your “why” below the surface level. How and why are you helping your clients? Are you changing their lives? Are you having an impact on them? These answers will help you shift your mindset from anger to peace. If you’re having trouble finding your “why” check out the book “Find Your Why” by Simon Sinek it’s a great read and will really give you a chance to uncover your why.
Also, it’s good to remember that your client may be feeling the winter blues as well, so go above and beyond for them! Don’t ignore them if they have an issue, communicate and reply to their emails with enthusiasm and attention. By helping them you’re helping yourself! This will also go back to your “why” and make you remember that this is for your client and make an impact. Even starting a 52-week challenge of starting the day with gratitude will help you with staying positive! The Good Days Start With Gratitude: A 52 Week Guide To Cultivate An Attitude Of Gratitude: Gratitude Journal by Pretty Simple Press is a great start to challenge yourself to start the day with appreciating what you have in your life and the bigger picture. This can really help you find positivity!
You can also download relaxation tracks (our favorite are from our client Relax Me Happy) that will help you shut your mind off when sleeping so you don’t feel overwhelmed when you wake up! I get it, you have a deadline coming up and you wake up in the middle of the night having a nightmare about it. Don’t let your mind go that way and treat it to calmness before the storm. This will really help you keep positive because let's face it sleeping in your nice cozy bed is a huge positive at the end of a long day!
Staying positive is the hardest part of the winter blues. It’s easy to just get down on yourself and others around you, but stop yourself every time your mind shifts to stress and low mood and remember the “why”.
Last but not least - if you are really feeling the winter blues then don’t go at it all alone, contact a specialist to help you fight through it and get out on the other side feeling happy and inspired on the inside.
We have worked with many amazing coaches and therapists and can swear by their expertise in helping you fight the winter blues:
Zofie Lloyd-Kucia
Happiness Coach at Relax Me Happy
Sara Levitsky
Therapist at Birmingham Counselling for Women and Girls
Melissa Stephens
Empowerment Coach at Serenity of Fire
Ismene Cole
Transformational Coach at Ismene Cole
Nicola Strudley
Psychotherapist and Coach Brain Train Me
Aga Lawrynowicz
Transitional Coach at Choose Clarity
Or if you’re an active type, try fighting the winter blues by increasing your physical activity this winter season – exercise helps to release happiness hormones in your brain and is proven to have a positive effect on body, mind, and soul!
We’ve worked with some fantastic online trainers, who offer mood-boosting fitness programs:
Ania Chabura
Health Coach at Health Means Happiness
Amanda Lifestyle
Lifestyle Coach at Amanda Lifestyle
There are so many ways to beat the winter blues as an entrepreneur, but these are key tips we find are most effective for us. You just need to find what’s best for you. Always keep in mind that some stuff may not work for you, but don’t give up because you can definitely beat the winter blues, as long as you keep trying!
Winter has ended for Game of Thrones and winter blues will end for you too!!
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This blog was first written and published on Visuable.co