It’s that dark time of year again. As I type this, it’s November, a difficult month for me every year because I lost my granny in November. I still miss her every day, and it hurts. The fact that such sadness coincides with the time when it gets darker and colder earlier certainly doesn’t help.
Yet, I also try to find distraction during those dark days. I know many people who struggle with the transition to the shortest days of the year, and I’ve asked around a bit to find out what helps them. I also have some of my own tips that I use every year when the days get shorter.
Cinnamon and cardamom rolls from Jumbo
Seriously, can I have a round of applause for these divine ‘Danish knots’, as they call them? Anyone who knows me a little knows that I’m a big fan of cardamom rolls (and saffron rolls, but those are hard to come by). And such fluffy rolls with these wintery spices and a touch of sugar are simply perfect for the cold winter months.
You can pop them in the oven at home and then eat them with a cup of hot tea, snuggled under a warm fleece blanket. Divine. And believe me: I’ve tasted many original cinnamon rolls and cardamom rolls in Scandinavia, but these from Jumbo are just as good. I hope they never disappear from the shelves :’-) Are we paying attention, Jumbo?
A visit to the sauna
I love the sauna, all year round. But in winter, that warmth feels like an extra gift. The contrast is greater than outdoors, which makes going in and out of the sauna even more pleasant. There are a few great saunas near where I live, but there’s plenty to choose from throughout the Netherlands. I have plenty of friends who love this too, so it’s easy for me to find someone to join me, but also going y yourself for a few hours after work is lovely. Just bring a book or borrow magazine, they often have a lot, so you can read for free, win-win. 😊 And then have some relaxing hours to yourself.
Tip: check the website for special offers or Google a bit; you can often easily save quite some money with a deal instead of the regular ticket. For example, the saunas near me often have a deal that includes coffee and cake or a sandwich, making it still cheaper than a separate admission!
Take a beautiful autumn walk (or snow one)
Especially in September and October, the forest already starts to change color beautifully. I can get so excited just looking at those beautiful color transitions of the leaves, just like a painting. Go into the forest and take a moment to look around. Do you have a dog? Definitely bring him. But even without one, being outside is good for you.
A cheese fondue potluck
Who doesn’t love cheese fondue? The idea is simple. You, as the host, provide the cheese fondue, and your guests each bring something to dip in it or something to drink. Bread, mushrooms, bell pepper pieces, tomatoes, zucchini—almost anything goes. And it’s super fun to sit around such a big fondue pot.
Game night
I secretly love playing cozy games with friends. Just board games or card games, nothing too difficult. Tired of your own games? Then suggest that everyone brings a game. Some libraries also have games you can borrow. And thrift stores sometimes sell cool things cheaply. But just be bold and organize an evening like that—it’s gonna be fun.
Routine
Try to create a routine that gives you stability. For me, it works to exercise three times a week and dance at least once a week on set days. I always work out very early, even before work. The alarm clock has become so ingrained that I even manage to get up early for it on those dark winter days. Or maybe it’s easier in a way: it’s still dark whether you get up at 6 AM or 8 AM anyway. Because I exercise early, I start the day with a good feeling. I’ve already achieved that healthy moment, and some me-time. It makes me feel better the rest of the day too.
But you can also choose a different routine. For example, snoozing in the morning just to consciously enjoy a little time to cocoon in your warm bed. Or set the alarm for a morning walk in the woods and set a daily ‘steps’ goal for yourself. Starting each morning with a short meditation can also be helpful. Does that sound too vague, or are you unsure what to do? Look up one on YouTube; there the choice is endless and free.
A hot chocolate date
Having drinks with my girlfriends is definitely one of my ‘hobbies’. It’s lovely to catch up in a cozy coffee shop or traditional Dutch café. But in the winter, I also really enjoy making (or buying) my own hot chocolate and drinking it in the cold air. Or perhaps under a blanket on the couch. That feels like a big event, especially with whipped cream on top. More calories than you’d want to count, but you can just skip that this time. Enjoy every sip, though. 😉
Major clean-up
If you’re spending more time indoors because of bad weather, now’s the time for a major clean-up. I love it when the house is empty and organized; it gives me peace of mind. When cleaning, also take a look at which clothes you haven’t worn in a long time or which clothes no longer fit and get rid of them. And maybe you’ll suddenly find things you’d forgotten and instantly have a cool outfit for a Christmas party or New Year’s Eve.
Selecting a new series
If you know you have nothing planned for an evening or a Sunday, try Googling or scrolling through the new series on Netflix. I love choosing a miniseries. I find them relaxing because an episode is shorter than a movie, making it easier to watch in between, but if I want to watch more, it’s also manageable. I find a new series with six existing seasons a bit overwhelming. Am I the only one?
Anyway, I recently watched ‘Reservatet’ on Netflix. It’s a really exciting miniseries where you constantly suspect someone else of being the ‘culprit’. It’s about two families who are neighbors and friends in a wealthy suburb of Copenhagen. They both have an au pair, but then one of them disappears…
Light therapy
Honestly, the first time I was above the Arctic Circle for an assignment in Tromsø, I felt like I had a jet lag. It was just so hard to ‘feel’ when it was daytime. A truly strange sensation. It did help that all the Norwegians put candles and hang lights everywhere to decorate their homes. It felt very cozy. And yet, I kept missing the sun, and I wasn’t alone in that. Many Norwegians (and other peoples above the Arctic Circle where it’s dark for months) have a light therapy lamp at home. Now, we in the Netherlands still have some light here for a few hours, but a light therapy lamp can really help you feel less depressed or out of sync.
You simply turn on a lamp like that, and it tricks your brain a bit, as if the sun were shining. This triggers the production of hormones that make you feel fitter and improve your biorhythm.
Sitting in front of a regular lamp doesn’t really help, though; it only provides 300 to 500 lux of light. A light therapy lamp — also known as a daylight lamp — has a larger surface area and a high light intensity, usually around 10,000 lux. That’s equivalent to daylight on a cloudy morning. For comparison, sunlight on a clear day can reach 100,000 lux.
P.S. It’s a myth, by the way, that you can’t see anything all day in Northern Norway. Between about 10 AM and 3 PM, you do see a slight difference compared to the hours before and after. It’s a bit brighter and you can walk around just fine without tripping over unseen tiles.
Do you have any tips that aren’t listed here? I’d love to hear them!