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This article is a transcribed edited summary of a video Bob and Brad recorded in December of 2019. For the original video go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NN5EGCzJazQ&t=7s
Bob: Top five little-known secrets to enjoying a long winter. We're right in the midst right now. We turned the corner. The days are getting longer but we've got a couple of tough months ahead, January and February. In Minnesota and Wisconsin, it gets tough. All right, number one, I'm a get right to it, Brad. It really is a mindset issue. The Norwegians, actually embrace winter.
Brad: Oh!
Bob: They look forward to it. When I used to walk outside in the cold weather, I'd say, maybe you've seen this meme, why do I live where the air hurts my face, why do I live in a place like this? This is how I look at it. You've heard of cryotherapy before?
Brad: Yeah, cold, ice cubes.
Bob: Yeah, actually now, one of the more popular things is to do whole-body cryotherapy. And actually, I saw the research on it, it actually helps with ankylosing spondylitis, MS, degenerative disc disease, and it helps you sleep better. I'm serious, it helps all these things.
Brad: So how do you achieve full-body cryotherapy? Do you walk outside naked in the winter?
Bob: Well no, but you know what? When I walk to the car and freeze, I'm thinking, I'm getting a little bit of cryotherapy right now. I mean, seriously. I think this is good. So in the morning, I go out and get the newspaper, I go out in short sleeves. It's only a couple of minutes.
Brad: You’ve got something on?
Bob: Yes, yes, yes, I'm wearing sweatpants. But I go out, and then in the afternoon, I go out and get the mail, the same thing. I'm getting my cryotherapy.
Brad: That's a good way to look at it. Actually, there are athletes, who is that one guy?
Bob: LeBron James does it.
Brad: Yeah, and the other guy, he's not an athlete.
Bob: Oh, Tony Robbins.
Brad: Tony, yeah, he jumps in a big tub of ice and water.
Bob: He does that and he also has a big unit too for cryotherapy. I think they use dry ice or something like that.
Brad: Oh, he does? Whoa!
Bob: That's something else you might want to check out if you need an anti-inflammatory treatment. So, if you're in Minnesota and Wisconsin, you don't have to worry, you get cryotherapy for free. All right, number two. I look at it as my opportunity to read more. When it's the summer, I'm outside. I'm doing a lot of things outdoors, I'm not reading. During the winter, I try to read at least 20 pages a day of the interesting, non-work type of material, because we read a lot for our work too.
Brad: Right, it's like being in school.
Bob: Yeah, I think 20 pages a day is a reasonable goal. But when you do 20 pages a day, you start knocking off some books. You're going through them
Brad: Right, absolutely!
Bob: Number three, use some bright light therapy. So, they have these desk models now. This is full-spectrum, not non-UV light, but it simulates the sun.
Brad: I think it's LED. They've really come along. That has really changed lighting, LED technology.
Bob: Right, yeah, it really has. What it does is it can help you if you have Seasonal Affective Disorder. My daughter suffers from this and she really likes to use a lamp.
Brad: Gives her some relief?
Bob: Yep. It helps set your circadian rhythms. I've been reading about that lately. They help you sleep better.
Brad: Yup, that's good.
Bob: So, do you want to turn it on, Brad, just so they can see how bright it is? It's got three little settings.
Brad: Oh, absolutely. We got a little button right there, woo.
Bob: This is what they called Circadian Optics. This was on "Shark Tank". That's where I saw it. You see the nice little unit. This is about 60 bucks. There are cheaper ones.
Brad: Sure, good.
Bob: Number four. I look at the winter months, and I think we both try to really get down and work a little bit more. Do you know what I mean? I look at it during these six months which are more of the cold-weather months, I try to get 60% of my work done for the year.
Brad: Oh, so you can play more in the summer.
Bob: Right, right. So, we're going to do maybe a few more videos. We're going to do maybe a few more programs.
Brad: Except December's a tough one.
Bob: December? Because of Christmas and stuff.
Brad: Yeah, a lot of family things going on and that's gotta go first.
Bob: That's why January and February, we must really kick it down, Brad. All right, number five. This is not related really to winter, but it's any month. I just saw a huge study on smiling more. We talked about this, Brad, we don't smile enough.
Brad: Well, yeah, my wife said, we must smile more.
Bob: I'm smiling now.
Brad: Especially at the beginning.
Bob: If you see our smiles, you're going to wish that we don't. They've done studies on this. It produces good hormones, makes you feel better, and makes you look better to others, too.
Brad: And I believe it takes fewer muscles to smile than to frown.
Bob: Right. Honestly, fake it 'til you make it. But if you smile more, it's going to make you feel better and you're going to start acting better.
Brad: Sure! Yeah, it's a chain reaction.
Bob: So, there we go, I think we're done.
Brad: I didn't even get to put any of my input in there.
Bob: Well, do you want to say something?
Brad: Nah, I forgot it all, it was all pretty much in line with that though.
Bob: All right.
Brad: Thanks, everybody.
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