Winter blues

https://www.reddit.com/r/Norway/comments/1ig0mzm/winter_blues/

created by Ok-Poem1114 on 02/02/2025 at 16:13 UTC

36 upvotes, 33 top-level comments (showing 25)

Non norwegian here. Every end of January-beginning of February my winter blues turns on, like a alarm clock.

I get this feeling of claustrophobia and being trapped and overall feeling of being miserable with my life in Norway.

I have good periods where I can't imagine my life in some other place or my home country, but 'end' of winter always gets me.

Any advice or just experience share?

Comments

Comment by kitten_pawz at 02/02/2025 at 16:48 UTC

37 upvotes, 1 direct replies

You could get a sunlight lamp. They definitely help with SAD.

Comment by airsoftshowoffs at 02/02/2025 at 16:47 UTC

26 upvotes, 3 direct replies

Here are the only things to do in winter. Hike, ski, go on holiday somewhere warm or drink excessively. Those are your options here.

Comment by nicoletaleta at 02/02/2025 at 17:07 UTC

12 upvotes, 1 direct replies

Learned to knit last year and this winter has been very cozy 😊

Comment by Blahblabloblaw at 02/02/2025 at 16:20 UTC

11 upvotes, 0 direct replies

I take a vacation in winter. Currently on Gran Canaria 🏝️

Comment by No-Lingonberry-87 at 02/02/2025 at 19:25 UTC*

7 upvotes, 1 direct replies

I don't think I'll be able to stay long term in Norway due to this reason. I know people say "you just have to get through it", but life is too short to spend half of it "getting through it". At the moment I've a good job and try to travel as much as possible in the winter so it's ok. But I thought it would get better with time, and I'd get used to it: unfortunately it seems to be the opposite and every year is harder than the previous one. Let's see what happens. Hold on, but don't feel ashamed if you end up leaving. Norway is a great country for some things, and not so great for others. Don't fall for the "norwegian exceptionalism", there are many other great places in the world!

Comment by MrElendig at 02/02/2025 at 16:16 UTC

10 upvotes, 2 direct replies

take a hike

Comment by cat0b at 02/02/2025 at 16:24 UTC

10 upvotes, 2 direct replies

Low vitamin D levels are very common due to the lack of sunlight, and it's associated with depression.

Comment by netpuppy at 02/02/2025 at 16:35 UTC

7 upvotes, 0 direct replies

You honestly might just have to get through it. I get the same every single year, and as nothing helps I just have to tough it out. Just one more month and we're in March, though, the first month of spring!

(I also check timeanddate.com a little too often to see how much longer the day will be next week or next month and it always gives me a little boost)

Comment by Lost_Arotin at 02/02/2025 at 16:20 UTC

3 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Finding gaming friends, Board gaming friends, hiking friends, Signing up in team Sports like volleyball might change your mood. If all those activities are too expensive for you, try focusing on something productive like reading books, hiking alone, watching tv series or movies, learning a language, learning another skill, expanding your resume or changing your job. Just get out of your comfort zone and find a new comfort zone.

Comment by snickersogtwist at 02/02/2025 at 16:57 UTC

3 upvotes, 0 direct replies

14 days in asia in the mid of february helps.

Comment by BigCityBike at 02/02/2025 at 20:19 UTC

2 upvotes, 0 direct replies

My best friend always goes to the Canary Islands for two weeks in February. Every single year. Comes back brown and happy!

Comment by CS_70 at 02/02/2025 at 21:08 UTC

2 upvotes, 0 direct replies

The only advice is to stay here in summer and leave the other 9 months, I'm afraid.

Comment by LegalFox9 at 02/02/2025 at 22:36 UTC

2 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Oh, I'm so glad to hear that it's not just me.

Comment by FinnishGreed at 03/02/2025 at 04:23 UTC

2 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Check vitamin-D levels. Also, maybe you're just not made for this climate.

Comment by ErisTheHeretic at 03/02/2025 at 11:29 UTC

2 upvotes, 1 direct replies

February in Norway is rough. It's been dark and cold for several months already, but now all the Cristmas lights are gone too, so it feels even darker, and spring feels miles away. Enter winter fatigue. It's very important that you treat yourself a bit more kindly than usual at this point. For some that means going on a small holiday or to a concert or dinner with friends or trying out a new hobby or turning your living room into a pillow and blanket fort or whatever. You don't have to go hiking if that's not your thing, but do make sure to get outside regularly in daytime to get some light and fresh air. It helps with the claustrophobic feeling. It's really important to have specific things to look forward to (not just "I look forward to spring", that makes right now suck even more).

Comment by Starfield00 at 02/02/2025 at 16:34 UTC

2 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Work out and vitamin D supplement. Or take your vacation in January and travel somewhere warmer.

Comment by LordVega83 at 02/02/2025 at 17:13 UTC

2 upvotes, 1 direct replies

Best time of the year. Don't know what you're ranting about. A good fireplace, good books, gaming. Heaven on earth.

Wish it was this dark and cold all year long.

Comment by various_convo7 at 02/02/2025 at 16:52 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

hike or have a hobby

Comment by Linkcott18 at 02/02/2025 at 16:55 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

There seem to be two main ways of coping with this, going out & doing stuff, or curling up by the fire with a good book.

Going out & doing stuff is being social, going skiing, playing board games with friends, etc.

That said, some folks are helped by a sun lamp, or one of those clocks with dawn spectrum lights that come on before the alarm goes off.

Comment by Plenty-Advance892 at 02/02/2025 at 17:06 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Not enough Vitamin D. Take that and its all sunshine and rainbows until spring.

Comment by UmbrellaTheorist at 02/02/2025 at 17:15 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

One of my favourite things to do all year is skiing. It improves the mood. You usually can find places where you can borrow skis as well, like in oslo we have Frigo https://frigo.no[1][2] and bua https://www.bua.no[3][4] it isnt only for children.

1: https://frigo.no

2: https://frigo.no

3: https://www.bua.no

4: https://www.bua.no

Comment by NoggyMaskin at 02/02/2025 at 17:34 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

I’ll be doing Thailand next winter 😅

Comment by PowerWordTaint at 02/02/2025 at 17:35 UTC

1 upvotes, 1 direct replies

I GET YOU. And if you're like me (which is built incorrectly lol), the only thing that can reliably help you is the right medication. I'd advise you to check your vitamin D levels first; its low numbers are usually associated with winter blues, because we normally absorb vitamin D through sunlight, and, as you know, during the colder seasons we don't get much sun, especially in the northern hemisphere. But more exercise outdoors won't hurt too!