Surviving Nordic winter darkness

As an expat in Finland, this is probably the question people ask me most: how do you deal with winter darkness in Finland. Indeed winters are quite long and dark up here but there are solutions to make life easier during the longest season of the year. Here is my advice after 5 winters in Finland.

1. Cozy up

Ever wondered why Nordic countries are leaders in interior design and cozy decor? It's no mystery! After centuries of long winters one can only master the art of living inside. So cozy up, buy cool furniture, decor, and light up candles. I usually bake a lot more during winter and drink all kinds of hot drinks, that's part of the nordic "hygge" everyone talks about. All in all, make your home the best place to be and to invite people when you clearly can't gather for picnic. Also, Finland is the country of sauna, so take advantage of this for self-care!

2. Don't Hibernate

A lot of Finns "hibernate" which means they limit their social interactions and outings to the minimum. This might work for some but not for me! As much as I love my cosy home, I need to keep moving and see people during winter. I try to take advantage of all the opportunities to go out despite the darkness. Finland is beautiful in winter, I enjoy walks in the snow while there's still light, just need to remember to go before it's too late in the day. A lot of people enjoy winter sports such as skiing or skating, I'm not a specialist but I'm aspiring to do more of that in the future!

When it's completely dark it's not as cool to walk in nature but for instance I love how downtown Helsinki is all decorated with lights beyond Christmas season. Plus, Finland typically offers lots of inside activities for the winter months, my favorite example being indoor beach volley fields!

3. A little help goes a long way

Alright so this is what I wish I knew before my first winter in Finland, there are powerful tools to help us. Almost everyone here takes vitamins during the dark season. When I choose mine, I make sure they bring me 100% of D vitamin to make up for the lack of sunlight. Then I prioritise vitamin C an magnesium. You can find good mixed vitamins pills in supermarket or pharmacies here.

Another life changing thing for me was to buy a sunlight lamp. My husband was sceptical at first, because he was born here and has lived many winters without it, but now he loves it! The sunlight lamp, or light therapy lamp is a proven way to treat seasonal depression. According to research, light therapy appears to improve serotonin activity and melatonin production, which improves mood and helps to restore a good sleeping rythm. These lamps are pretty expensive but they are literally life savers.

4. Finally: Leave!

This might sound funny but it's true. A nice vacation somewhere sunny during the dark months is a great way to take a refreshing break. Lots of Finns do that, their favorite destinations being Spanish or Portuguese islands. We went to Madeira a few years back and I had never seen so many Finns outside of Finland! If you haven't been there, you should, it's a great travel memory!

I usually pick the month of February to go see my family in Southern France, it gives me a new energy for the hardest part of the winter (for me) March and April.

I hope this was helpful, happy winter everyone!