One of the things that made me the most nervous about life in Norway, or any Arctic climate since we flirted with the idea of moving to Alaska, was how does one survive polar night. Knowing that I am already sensitive to the loss of daylight, I was extremely nervous about what life would be like with just a few hours of it. Never mind the solid month and half that the sun never rose above the horizon. What?!
After experiencing it first hand, I have created a guide based on my recommendations on how to survive polar night in Norway, or any Arctic climate.
Change your mindset
I think this is the most important of all, so it needs to be first: change your mindset. One of the first things that I learned about Norwegians is that they don’t hate the winter. They have learned to appreciate winter for what it is, and it gives them a chance to partake in some of their favorite activities such as skiing.
If you dread the darkness and the winter then guess what? It is going to be terrible. If you change your mindset, and look for the positive things then you will find reasons to love it. One of my favorite articles that helped me change my mindset and understand this concept can be found here.
Fill the darkness with the Christmas Season, or God Jul
Because Norwegians begin counting down the days to Christmas with an Advent calendar, by December 1st you already have a fun surprise to look forward to every day. And this is just the beginning. Maybe it is just where I live, but the essence of Christmas has an old timey feel. There is less commercialism and it is more about spending time with loved ones.
Shopping at boutiques is fun and personal. Your gifts are complimentary gift wrapped and hot tea, coffee, and pepperkaker (a Norwegian ginger cookie) is waiting for you when you arrive. There are concerts, and lights, and a chance to stay in to get cozy and warm up. Read more about my Christmas in Norway here.
Go outside
Yes, even if it is dark. Even if it is cold. Even if it is windy. Yes, even if you want to hide under the covers and binge watch Netflix while eating all of the snacks. I had those excuses at times, but once I learned how to go outside despite them, I fell in love with it.
And I mean genuinely fell head over heels in love with the silence and calmness of winter. I think being in nature is so important for healing stress. The more stressed out or sad you feel, the more important it is for you to get outside and explore.
Make things koselig
Koselig is one of my favorite Norwegian words, which is similar to the word hygge in Danish, or cozy in English. It encapsulates so much though, and includes feelings of wellness and contentment. When it is cold, dark, snowy, and windy, that means it is a good time to get cozied up indoors and create an atmosphere that brings you ultimate comfort.
Start a hobby
I started two new hobbies this winter, three if you include blogging as a hobby. I also restarted hobbies that I used to love but stopped making time for. One of the things that I keep thinking about is that many Americans have lost the notion of having a hobby for hobbies’ sake. Not something to monetize, not another grind… something to do for the simple fact that you enjoy it, it brings you peace, or it calms your mind. It doesn’t mean you’re any good at it, but with anything the more you do it the better you will get. Finding joy in the messy start of a new hobby is something I wish for everyone. Do it for you, do it because you want to, do it because you like it, and forget the rest.
Get social
Make coffee dates and lunch dates with your friends and family. In a world where we connect so much through social media, it can be isolating. Every afternoon the best coffee shops and cafes are full of groups of loved ones and friends talking. In person. Without their phones.
Since I don’t know many people here, I am usually the only person with technology when I take myself out on date. Usually my computer, sometimes a book, and I’ve even taking my journal to do some reflecting. I also made a lot of video calls to my friends and family which is now my new favorite way to talk on the phone. It helps to see your people, preferably in person, to brighten up those winter blues.
Embrace change
This one has been happening to me more organically over the last year since every single detail of my life changed. Once you fully embrace change then you know that it is just a matter of time until everything changes again. And if you’re experiencing polar night then that means there is a fairly good chance that you will experience polar sun too.
Polar sun means 24 hours of daylight, or midnight sun. Appreciating the extreme cycles of light for what they are instead of what you are used to, is part of the secret to how to survive polar night in Norway. Change will happen soon enough, and you just may find yourself missing those deep winter blues.
xo Kelly