Winter has a bad reputation. We can catch the flu (or get jabbed to avoid it). The days are short. It’s cold. It rains. The holiday ads on TV seem just that bit more appealing. Extreme weather might upset your journey to work or ruin your weekend. You have to reset the internet and the clock on the cooker after a seasonal power cut. Even the dog doesn’t want to go out. A puddle you missed leads to a cold wet foot for the rest of the day. Roll on summer I hear you say.

But what about the upside? Every grey wintery cloud has a silver lining. You can beat the winter blues.

Let us consider for a minute some of the positives of this time of year and how to beat the Winter blues. As the nights draw in it’s a chance to sit back and reflect on your life. Warm bars, fireside chats and comfort food beckon as you connect with those around you. Fresh clean air, cosy environments and the plethora of winter based cultural activities provide the ideal backdrop for creative expression. In fact Winter is the perfect time to reflect, connect and create.

Back in the 80’s Howard Gardner argued the case for multiple intelligences. He suggested that we all exist with a range of frames of mind. These lead us to pursue particular passions, careers or activities. The blunt instrument of IQ as the barometer of intelligence is questioned as we recognise it takes all sorts to make a world.

Below we have used the theory of multiple intelligences to identify those we think work best to beat the Winter blues.

We also suggest how you can harness them to good effect in support of professional success and personal wellbeing. In short, here’s the case to beat the Winter blues:

1. Reflection through Emotional Intelligence

Close your eyes for a minute and consider the following scenarios:

a) Bracing beach walks by a choppy bay

b) Rain on a tram window

c) The squeak of boots in snow and silence in the street

d) A crackling fireplace and a snuggly blanket

e) A hot bath with the heating cranked up before bed with an electric blanket

These uniquely winter moments are the perfect backdrops for reflection. For you to indulge in a bit of ‘you’ time and consider your inner ‘self’. In short to get in touch with your emotional intelligence:

Who you are, what you want from your life, some mindfulness and meditation, digging deep into your inner psyche, relaxing, contemplating and soul searching to develop your intra-personal skills and the questions you ask and demand of yourself.

2. Connection through Social Intelligence

We all love a Barbie or a beach picnic but in Winter you can get up close and personal – everything from a cuddle on the couch to reaching out and building collaborations to setting goals for the financial year to come.

As well as the inner self we need to consider how we radiate to others. In other words through our social intelligence. Emotional intelligence is all well and good but without the social aspect it’s like having a driving license without a car. People skills are a crucial intelligence. Back in the biggest Winter of all – The Ice Age – humans survived through collaboration. We are the most successful species on earth because we are hardwired to be social. We get things done – together.

Furthermore, Winter is an ideal time to dust off the interpersonal skills and get out there. You can use the time out of the cold to collaborate and connect with a fresh approach at work. Look at it as a time to get things done and make things happen, with those around you as the best resource to help. From a personal perspective it’s a great opportunity to switch off the TV and talk at home. Sit around a table and share some wintery comfort food with your family or friends. You will be amazed at what being socially present can do for you personal and professional wellbeing. Although Winter is all about the chill, consider how you can give out a vibe of ‘warm fuzzy’ as the world descends into ‘cold prickly’. If you do, you will get it paid back. We’ve all been there. A bad day can descend further based on how those around you respond to your attitude.

3. Creation through Creative intelligence

Winter is a wonderful time to engage in creative pursuits and get inspiration in your personal and working life. Although you might think the sky is dull it just makes everything else stand out.

This Winter indulge in some idea making. It’s the season for events, cultural activities, art galleries, and visits to bookstores. The streets feel, sound and smell different. The leaves are off the trees as inspiration comes from nature. Economist Joseph Schumpeter coined the phrase ‘creative destruction’ as the old ways of thinking are replaced by new innovations. The Walkman becomes the IPod, the old becomes the new and it starts you thinking about the Spring to come and the renewal of things.

Finally, consider how you are projecting yourself to others. How is your creative ‘mojo’? Using social intelligence can help you with your creative intelligence, as ideas don’t often exist in a vacuum. New creative opportunities can come through collaboration, connection and the work-shopping of ideas.

There is inspiration everywhere – within us, all around us and amongst our fellow humans. Tap into it to help you become more fulfilled creatively, personally and professionally.

So, beat the Winter blues and get in touch with yourself, reach out to others and be inspired by what’s around you. By the time Spring comes around you could have achieved something wonderful.