Six tips for getting through the rest of winter

After nearly three solid months of brutal winter weather, most of us are ready to scream, “Uncle!” Consistently cold temperatures and a lot of snow have caused accidents, ice dams, and backaches from shoveling.

As we get closer to spring, the remaining weeks of winter can be even tougher. That’s why I compiled a list of tips that may help you and your family get through it. And remember, the first day of spring is March 20, less than a month away!

1. Exercise, Exercise, And Exercise – If you’re feeling down or frustrated, exercise is an excellent way to improve your mood; it gets the endorphins flowing.
At West Bend, wellness and fitness are encouraged. Many associates work out, take fitness classes, and participate in wellness programs. My exercise of choice is running. While it can be challenging at times to get on the treadmill after work, it’s always worth it.
Consider joining your local gym or buy a piece of exercise equipment for your home. If you choose to buy exercise equipment, watch for deals on price, free delivery, and free set-up. I just bought a new treadmill that was on sale with free delivery and set-up. Even if you have to pay for delivery and setup, it may be worth it. Depending on the type of exercise equipment you buy, it may be very heavy and hard to move from the store to your home.

2. Rekindle old friendships – If you have old neighborhood or college friends you haven’t seen for a while, make a point of getting together. My family recently got together with old neighborhood friends and it made for a nice evening. Visiting and reminiscing can conjure up a good laugh which will likely improve your mood. Even though it’s still cold, make the effort to get out of the house and socialize.

3. Re-evaluate your New Year’s resolution – If you made a resolution, evaluate how successful you’ve been. If you’ve “fallen off the wagon,” challenge yourself to get back on. If your goal is to lose weight before a spring break trip, there’s still time to be successful. Don’t give up! Any challenge, big or small, can be enough to keep your focus off the snow and cold.

4. Embrace a winter hobby – There’s still time to consider a new winter hobby. Friends of mine want to try snowshoeing. Maybe the winter Olympics have you fired up to ski, ice skate or try curling. Whatever it may be, try it. It may be enough to get you through the rest of winter. Hmm. I wonder if my wife will let me buy a new snowmobile. Wishful thinking, I’m sure.

5. Make your life easier; put common items in your home to work – Did you know cooking spray can make shoveling easier? It’s true. If you apply cooking spray to your shovel, the snow won’t stick to it. To learn about other interesting uses for cooking spray, click here.

As we move into spring, changing temperatures can cause a mix of precipitation. I’m sure you’ve experienced a frozen car lock or a sheet of ice on your windshield. If your lock is frozen, put a small amount of hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol on your key and insert the key into the lock to de-ice it.
If your windshield is a sheet of ice, put three parts vinegar and one part water into a spray bottle and spray it on your windshield. This is an easier alternative than trying to scrape your window with an ice scraper.

6. Enjoy the daylight – While the temperatures are still cold, daylight is coming back. To me, this is awesome. My number-one complaint about winter is the darkness. Everything else I can deal with.
Take advantage of the extra daylight and go for a walk or even take a spin on your bike (assuming snow/ice and salt are off the road). Added daylight can also help improve your mood.
Daylight savings time returns Sunday, March 9. Yippee!!!

Do you have any tips you’d like to share? I’d love to hear them; please share them in the box below.

Sources: http://www.examiner.com/article/common-household-items-can-help-winterize-your-vehicle http://voices.yahoo.com/cooking-spray-used-more-places-than-just-kitchen-7643780.html?cat=6