One of the worst things about winter (especially if you live in the Northern hemisphere) is the winter darkness. Because it really is dark! Day and night…
It’s scientifically proven that it is hard to exist and execute life as normal when it’s pitch-black dark in the morning when you wake up, and in the afternoon when you leave work. And the fact that things are going to stay this way for months to come doesn’t make it any better.
BUT! As much as it is a cliché, we are all aware of positive thinking and everything good that comes with it, right? So, let’s not dwell in angst but instead look on the bright side and all the things that we can do to make the struggle less so.
Believe it or not, there are things that don’t necessarily feel quite as great when there’s an abundance of light and warmth available. If you prefer listening to podcasts to reading, here’s my ultimate survival guide for getting through the dark period.
And here are some more tips you can try, in fact 11 of them!
1.Find joy in spending time indoors
Sometimes I find myself sitting on the sofa with a glass of wine in my hand and candles burning on the coffee table thinking “I’m so fortunate!” Because let’s not forget that happiness is built from the little everyday things.
I feel so privileged sitting there in my warm clothes in my beautiful, warm home with all the possible comforts in life that most people in the world can’t even dream of. Realising this, even if only for a brief moment, makes you appreciate the little things in life.
You know, the ones that go unnoticed on a regular basis. And it’s a great feeling, appreciation! To help you notice the awesome little everyday things even while we’re just trying to survive the winter darkness, I recommend you do as I did:
- Pick a spot in your home where you feel particularly comfortable. It can be a couch, your bed, or one of those ‘reading corners’ with a comfy arm chair and a table to set your cup of tea on.
- Think about some little things that you could bring to your comfy spot to increase the comfort-factor: a wonderfully scented, elegant candle; a pillow or four; a warm blanket.
- Organize the chosen space so that you can stop there for a little while at least once a day and just chill.
- Enjoy the moment, read a book, watch a film or just rest your eyes for a bit.
If you’re not yet familiar with slow living, this is the perfect time to acquaint yourself with it!
2.Get outside (when possible)
Yes, I know, when it’s dark it’s usually also cold and/or damp as hell out there. Not a very enticing environment to put yourself into, is it? But nonetheless, we can’t ignore the importance of getting a portion of fresh air each day.
Just to name a few important points to consider with exposing yourself to fresh air daily are:
- increase in your energy levels as the cobwebs are blown away
- improved digestion (oh yes!)
- cleaner lungs
- reducing stress and anxiety
- improve your mood (I can vouch for this!)
So, when it’s cloudy or cold, even rainy, spending time outside helps to improve your overall wellbeing and raise your energy levels while surviving the winter darkness. This is simply because natural light, even in small doses, helps your body produce serotonin, which is the “feel-good” hormone.
Dress up warm and cosy, take a walk, or enjoy the crisp air chilling on a park bench to boost your mood.
3.Visit Christmas markets
This is a particularly European phenomena that I love, love, LOVE so much! Christmas Markets! Every country, even every city has their own Christmas Markets that open their gates at the end of November, some of them even in mid-November. And I don’t know anything better to fight the winter darkness with!
If you have yet to discover the joys of European Christmas Markets I suggest you book a flight ASAP and head to (seriously) any destination on this wonderful continent.
It really doesn’t matter which country you end up in, there’s a Christmas Market there for sure! Even the smallest cities have their markets, like the Tallinn Christmas Market. The biggest ones can be found in Central Europe;
- Germany
- Austria
- Poland
- Slovakia
- Czech Republic
- Hungary
These all have spectacular Christmas Markets, but they are also extremely crowded to the point that it’s hard to enjoy the actual market. As such smaller countries with fewer tourists are worth considering.
The perk with the aforementioned countries is that all these countries are so close to each other that by renting a car you can visit as many of them as you like. One could easily fit even 3 Christmas markets in just one weekend (believe me, I’ve done it).
4.Light therapy
There’s no denying, some days the winter darkness is just too much to handle. When the sky is covered with a thick layer of clouds for a month for those few hours of daylight it can all get a bit too heavy.
But don’t fall into despair! With limited sunlight available during winter, there are still things we can do to try and alleviate the existing conditions. For example, consider investing in a light therapy box.
They simulate natural sunlight, which can be particularly helpful for those affected by Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). I haven’t personally tried these artificial daylight options, but have plenty of friends who have, and they all vouch for their efficiency.
5.Maintain a routine
One of the worst things we can do at the darkest time of year is to give in to it. You know, let go of all control over our own lives and succumb to the heaviness that we feel. As difficult as it is to get out of bed during the winter darkness period – believe me, I know! – we must.
It’s for our own wellbeing and mental health, as hard as it might feel physically to achieve. Acknowledge and accept that right now executing life is a tad challenging but also admit to yourself that you’ve got what it takes still. And then focus on taking baby steps each morning to get the engines running.
The most important steps to focus on are:
- keeping a regular sleep-wake schedule
- planning your days at least to some extent. Things like ‘have lunch’ count as a task well done!
Keeping up a routine brings structure and a sense of purpose to those gloomy winter days, so don’t underestimate it. It’ll also help regulate your internal clock.
6.Focus on nutrition
To keep to a routine during the winter darkness a healthy diet plays a vital role. A healthy gut ensures a clearer brain, which together keeps your energy levels higher than they would be. Both also contribute to better physical health, which means less time spent in bed with the flu.
Since there is a serious lack of sunlight, foods rich in vitamin D should take precedent. This means foods like fatty fish or things with high fibre and nutrient levels. These can help make up for the lack of sunlight.
Let’s be honest again, though. Sometimes comfort foods can also lift your spirits and that is allowed. Just make sure you don’t slip to over indulgence and also prepare nourishing, cosy meals that bring warmth and a sense of emotional security.
7.Organize a get-together with friends
As we know, the winter darkness doesn’t end at the end of the year. Yes, we start moving towards lighter days but it will still be a while before we have more daylight than darkness in 24 hours. Thus, we should plan a little bit ahead and think about some survival tactics for January and February as well.
Get-togethers with friends equal actual therapy sessions but cost considerably less. And since it’s your friends you don’t need to go to all the trouble of getting your house squeaky-clean and hiring someone to serve the coffee (unless you really, really like going to all that trouble).
And if the outside world doesn’t look appealing at all, it’s fine! Get-togethers can happen at home. Some cheese, grapes and a couple bottles of wine can transfer any basic evening to a little luxury experience. Simple but effective.
8.Book a pampering day at a Spa
Sometimes we all deserve a treat. Especially on those days when snow and wind are literally lashing in your face so that your already dried up skin feels like it’s gonna crumble off any minute.
OK, perhaps most of yous are living South enough to never experience such a weather phenomena, but every country has dark and rainy days that aren’t the best for your body and mind.
Treating yourself to a day at a spa is the ultimate favour from you to you. Sweat that stress out in a sauna, chill to the max in a jacuzzi and get a relaxing massage. If you still have some time left after all that chill, you might also go and get your nails done.
9.Take care of your skin
As mentioned in the previous point, winter can be very harsh on your poor skin. It’s ironic that the Nordic people, who have to put up with the most severe climate, were blessed with the weakest skin and hair type…
So, when I say look after your skin, I mean it! After all, it is our biggest organ. So, when winter darkness approaches, stock up on heavily moisturizing lotions, lip balms, and face masks to keep your skin’s vitalities secure. Taking care of yourself both internally and externally helps boost your mental well-being too.
10.Mindfulness & Self-Care
The slower pace of winter provides a great opportunity for self-care and mindfulness practices. The nature around us is asleep and recovering so that it can bloom again in the spring. Why wouldn’t we do the same?
Self-care looks different for each of us but it should be something that truly calms you and your nervous system down. Getting your nails done isn’t necessarily what that means. Instead, consider the following:
- journaling
- meditation
- reading (fiction)
- taking a quiet moment for reflection to clear your mind.
Don’t be afraid to give yourself permission to carve yourself personal time for resting and recharging.
11.Embrace Winter Activities
We can escape the winter darkness quite well with all the 10 tips ahead. But if you, unlike me, don’t mind a bit of snow, this time of year offers so many opportunities for fun activities.
Winter sports like skiing, snowboarding, or ice skating, are of course at the top of the list. In addition to these you could consider something like sledding or building a snowman for a fun way to make the most of this tricky season.
At the end of the day fresh air and staying active also provide a natural lift to your mood and wellbeing.
Final Thoughts
And there you have it; my 11 survival tips for the unfortunate period of winter darkness. What do you think? What would you add to the list?
Surviving through the darkest winter days can be tough, especially when there’s so little sunlight. Makes you appreciate the fact that to some extent we humans really do run on solar power, eh? ♥
