Here in Canada, if there was any doubt that winter had started, it was definitely dispelled this week. As almost every province in the country had a winter storm warning issued this past Monday, it’s safe to say that winter weather is definitely a factor to consider from this point forward.

With the onset of winter, new opportunities and new challenges arise. There can be lots of great things to do wiht friends and family, like skating, skiing, building snowmen, planning vacations to warm and sunny destinations and the like, but there are several challenges we must face as well.

The primary challenge with winter (at least here in a region that gets snow) is the weather. Winter weather can have wide ranging and drastic effects on our day-to-day lives, and there’s absolutely nothing we can do to change it. Therefore for these challenges we must control what we can, ourselves. Thus, it helps to be prepared with some backup plans so you can make the most of any situation.

The biggest impact that weather can have is to cause delays. Whether it’s traffic delays in getting to or from work, flight cancellations and delays at the airport, or even just the extra time it takes to get ready when going out, we’re faced with the prospect of requiring longer for everything.

So we have to choices. We can always be rushing, trying to react when time is short, or we can be proactive and plan ahead for potential delays and enjoy whatever extra time we may have. With that in mind, here are four tips you can use to keep some balance in your winter.

1. Give yourself extra time.

Giving yourself an extra thirty or forty-five minutes in the morning can be a lifesaver when the weather has been bad. Whether you use the time to shovel the cars out, get the kids bundled up and drop them off at school (especially if buses have been canceled) or need time to enjoy that extra hot cup of coffee, this extra time gives you a buffer between you and stress.

2. Leave earlier

The roads are generally a little more slick in the winter, making for dangerous driving. Trying to rush when conditions are bad is just asking for an accident, so leave yourself extra time to get where you’re going. Leave earlier for work or to get the kids to hockey practice, and save yourself the stress of both being late and driving with less care in dangerous conditions. If you do this and still find yourself running late, stay calm. Chances are, if you’re running late getting into work, most other people are too. Take it easy and get there when you get there, as you can’t control the weather, the traffic, or when the snow plows get to your street!

3. Call ahead

Sometimes what you need to do is call ahead. Why leave two hours before your flight’s scheduled time only to find out when you get there that it’s running two hours late, or even canceled. Or if you’re heading into work, check in to see if meetings have been postponed or delayed due to the weather and adjust your plan accordingly. For salespeople, even if you have calls scheduled, check in with your clients to see if they’ve made it to the office. Just taking five minutes to make a phone call and gain a better picture of your schedule can save you hours in waiting.

4. Bring something to do

The previous tips cover what to do if your delays can come before you get going. But what about if you’ve already left and you’re sitting somewhere, whether it be stuck in traffic, waiting at the airport, or waiting for friends or family to meet you somewhere? Make sure you’ve got something to occupy your time. For some, this is as simple as people watching. Others like audiobooks (if on the bus or in the car), regular books (not recommended for driving), handheld videogame systems, or anything else to pass the time. It’s rare that I go anywhere without at least my iPod, maybe a book or Nintendo DS, just in case. If I’m suddenly stuck waiting for someone, then I get a few things done, and no worries!

Basically, this all boils down to planning for eventualities. The thing is, eventualities are just far more likely to occur during the winter.

So plan ahead, leave time, and relax and enjoy the winter. Don’t stress yourself out about the things you can’t change, and be safe.

Cheers,

Adam