Emerging from Hibernation

A message from Terry: Winter is a time of short, cold days and long, dark nights.  Mother Nature always seems to have another trick up her sleeve, giving us plenty of incentive to just hunker down and doze, conserving energy…as we wait…for Spring…to…arrive…

But there is an alternative! Shake off inertia and its old buddy, depression. If you and your team seem to be moving through quicksand, going through the motions without really connecting with your day, it’s time to stage your own intervention – for your patients’ sake AND your own!

On an individual basis, make sure that you’re staying hydrated and eating right. Pack an orange in your lunch, for an extra boost of Vitamin C. Get some exercise, even if it’s only shoveling the walkway for the fifth time today. It’ll warm you up! Try listening to peppy music as you drive to and from work – maybe some sun-drenched reggae with a jaunty beat.

In the office, shake things up a little by pairing off team members and having each of them teach the other how to carry out one small task or skill that is new to them, then trade the responsibility for carrying out those tasks, one day a week. Try substituting one or two brighter, energy-efficient bulbs in the reception area, to stave off that winter overcast. Designate a certain hour of each day as the “gratitude hour,” and make a special point of noticing and acknowledging the many ways that your team members interact to keep the day running smoothly.

Remember, you don’t have to go on auto-pilot just because it’s Winter! Look for ways to alter the routine and brighten your days, and Spring will soon come riding to the rescue.