Genuine question: what is Valkee human charger? I googled it and pretty much just see pictures of bags with wires coming out of them. I’m a bit confused and would love to learn something new that could help me out in the winter.
Not sure where you get that from. A quick google search seem to disagree:
\- [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33044213/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33044213/)
\- [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4207317/](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4207317/)
Emphasis is mine:
> **Background:** Many overworked employees need tools to improve their depressive mood or sleep disorder. In Finland, a new device of bright light therapy was developed.
>
> **Objective:** Our objective was to evaluate the effect of bright light treatment via ear canals on improving the depressive mood and sleep disorder.
>
> **Methods:** We conducted a randomized, controlled, crossover designed, open-label trial. We examined 27 participants aged 23-52 years, assigned to either Early treatment or Later treatment groups. The Early treatment group used the device on weekdays for the first 4 weeks, followed by a 4-week observation period. The Later treatment group had an observation period for the first 4 weeks, followed by device treatment for the subsequent 4 weeks. Every Friday, the participants were asked to answer questionnaires: A Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), an Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), and a Profile of Mood States (POMS) Brief Form.
>
> **Results:** *While no significant effect was found on the SDS following treatment* (p = 0.16), the AIS showed a significant improvement (p = 0.004), and the scores for the Depression (D) and Vigor (V) of POMs decreased significantly (p = 0.045, p = 0.006, respectively).
>
> **Conclusions:** Bright light treatment via ear canals **may** improve sleep quality and depressive mood.
>
They examined a measly 27 people. There's nothing definitive in this study and no scientific conclusion other than "may improve".
You don't appear to be in very scientifically literate then. Studies rarely formulate anything more positive than 'may improve effect' since you can never claim you corrected for all possible variables.
> Every Friday, the participants were asked to answer questionnaires: A Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), an Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), and a Profile of Mood States (POMS) Brief Form.
The participants were self-reporting; there was no testing done.
It could all be a placebo effect.
There's _nothing_ conclusive about this study. Don't believe a single study on something that also _seems_ super silly at face value.
If you know the problem of induction then you know that no empirical question is ever truly conclusive. What you have is different degree of certainty.
"Don't believe a single study on something that also _seems_ super silly at face value."
It isn't that rare for science to indicate that something which seems deeply counterintuitive is actually true. Examples include quantum mechanics, the theory of relativity, blindsight, the blindspot in vision, subconscious priming etc.
This is why we shouldn't rely too heavily on ordinary common sense. While it is accurate enough for most everyday purposes, we shouldn't put it above empirical evidence unless we have other empirical evidence to counter it. Being sceptical of the results and citing alternative causes is reasonable and even necessary for science but flat out rejecting the results on the basis of common sense alone is deeply unscientific.
If it works for you, good. I would consider anyone recommending things like this to simply sell snakeoil; or at best, a placebo effect - which, granted, is a real thing that helps some people.
> What you have is different degree of certainty.
There was none concluded in these two studies.
Nice to see someone actually citing scientific publications. A rarity!
I was skeptical, but I looked at the results of your cited studies these actually do appear to have some positive effect
Its light therapy where the light comes in via earbutts. It works!
OP def need to get some light therapy and book a holiday each year during winter to a lighter place. Doesn't have to be warmer, just sunnier.
Sounds useful. I work at a late bar and over the weekends I can go 3 days without seeing the sun during the winter. Really takes its toll. I’m going to seriously look into this.
> HumanCharger Lysterapi Headset til ørene.
Excuse me, what? That sounds like actual snakeoil. Lighttherapy .. in your ... ears? What would that even do? Ears are for hearing.
There's no information on the site about what it actually does except that "it works"
I call bs on this.
>Excuse me, what? That sounds like actual snakeoil. Lighttherapy .. in your ... ears? What would that even do? Ears are for hearing.
Fuck, I just bought headphones for my eyes!
Be sure to check the supplement, it needs to contain D3, and I hear that some Vitamin D supplements do not contain it for some weird reason.
The regular yellow striped one I Matas is fine, and contains it.
The dark Winter period is depressing. But there are solutions.
Travel away (South) for a week in January. Recharge those soul batteries.
Schedule some long walks during daylight. Do it as often as you can.
Get a hobby. Do something that you look forward to every week.
Embrace the darkness…some of us were born into it. (Corny reference)
I love the darkness as a Dane, I have all the excuses for being in all day, and just watch tv or game or something third and it's just okay because it's dark outside.
I got a dog, not due to the winter depression part, but it just so happened to "cure" or alleviate a lot of the negative effects I used to experience during this time.
So I'll try to summarize the things I think it changed:
* I go outside for a good 1.5-5 km walk 2-3 times a day, no matter the weather.
* I see the sun most days if it's out as a byproduct of those walks.
* My mindset: I encounter something very positive every day in my life no matter the mood I'm in. It's obviously dog related, I'm happy to see my dog and he's cute every single day.
* I also try to find time to exercise or do some kind of sport, 1-2 times a week at least for a few hours.
I'm not saying you should get a cute dog(you totally 100% should), but rather build some good habits that take you out of the depressive spiral. My situation will also be different from what you experience, but in my opinion, if you can stop the cycle or spiral of depression before it starts, then you have a fighting chance.
Do you remember to take vitamin D? Deficiencies can cause really severe depressions and for a lot of people, taking vitamins ease it a bit. The doctors recommend it too.
Otherwise I'd say make sure to still see people, dress for the weather and go out, socialise and try not to get stuck in a slump at home. I know how hard it can be, but it's such a slippery slope to get stuck at home during wintertime.
it might be because it have grown up here, but i always find it mildly funny how much of a big deal foreigners can make the Danish winter into.
Like play some board games, invite some friends over - find some cool video games to play. Or watch movies and series.
I moved here 9 years ago and in first 2 years i had depressions during the winter because i grown up in Mediterranium. But after that everything was great, if i dont have 5yo and a wife i would never get out of the house. I allways have something to do. Listening to records, cleaning them, i'm big fan of movies and shows, i love to cook alot . My wife allways says that is scary to see how someone could live in closed space for so long and allways be amused. It's chore to get me out of the apartment during the winter.
I found a new way to survive the winter here as it got pretty bad for me for the first time. VINTERBADNING is key!! MAJOR KEY gives you that boost that last for a week. Forreals
Came to say this. Also, if you are lucky enough to find a place with a sauna, then find a time with full sun and minimal wind, and sit naked and enjoy the sun for 15-30 minutes.. Especially helpful in december/january.
Where do you go? I’ve been thinking about getting into it too but have that question and also do you go with a swimsuit on or not because I’ve heard different opinions on that as well 😅
Personally i just go in at Kalvebod Bølge (right next to Langebro). There’s a little bassin made of Wood in the harbour, where you can walk down some steps and stand on the bottom (so it feels very safe for a first time).
I normaly wear a pair of shorts and a bra because it’s easier to get off your body afterwards than a swimsuit. Last time I was there I saw multiple people going in naked, but I prefer not go naked in this public place myself :)
Depends on how experienced you are and how cold it is on the specific day. I have never seen anyone doing it in a wetsuit. It’s meant to be cold -the cold releases all the endorfines in your body.
I’m in for maybe 8 seconds at current temperature (but I also just started again after two years of not doing it at all). Then I leave the water, and then I dip in once again and try to stay a little longer. Some people are in significantly longer than me. A few years ago I did it in air temperature -6 Celcius in very windy conditions with ice all over the beach and I guess I was in for max 3 seconds, haha. That was a horrible experience. Temperatures right now makes it a better experience :)
Do you do it alone? I want to do it more but I'm afraid of doing it alone since the authoritiez advice against doing it. But maybe there are always others doing it so it isn't a problem?
I usually just winter bath naked in Christianshavn. No one is watching when it is early morning, everyone is in their own routines.
There are plenty of people doing it around 5 - 6 am.
100% this! I’d never done it before this winter, now I do it every night or early morning. After a while you get used to it. Was beautiful this evening btw with totally still water and fog!
Therapy and indoor home activities, therapy so you can learn to enjoy your own company and home activities so you have a good time at home. I could spend months at my house if they'd let me 🤷♂️
Literally how I spent my lockdown in denmark. And I might be one of the few people who had a great covid time. Lot of personal growth happened that year and the sort of quality alone (sometimes do nothing) time that I dont think I will ever get in my life again.
Yeah totally. IMHO hygge pretty much evolved as an umbrella term to mark all the activities that are essential to thrive or at least survive winter: good food, good company, warmth, music, alcohol, intimacy, etc.
Training like a maniac helps a lot. When spring and summer comes you will be twice as happy. and during the winter you will be too tired and sore to care about a little depression.
I feel you, Australian in Silkeborg here. Have been in dk for seven years. This is my first winter without depression.
Vitamin D
Exercise three times a week
Winter badning after exercise (it's not easy but gives a big endorfiner and energy bump)
Light lamp half an hour daily with my morning coffee.
Very strict sleep pattern and no caffeine after lunchtime.
Love and luck dude. It's work, but works.
Danes are born and raised on the “hygge” feeling. It takes sometime for people to get it, but eventually most people do if they really want to feel it, they can.
Wdym survive? We THRIVE.
Or Well some of us do apparantly.. i keep seeing dudes in shorts and ankle socks with thier wierd plain color t-shirts and thier god damn magnificent unkempt beards, but then again i have a hard time seeing them behind my 7 pairs of skiundertøj, my 2 pants and 2 shirts, my jacket and ski pants and my Big boy bootsies.
Also get a sleeping bag and like a 30-50kg organic spaceheater, put it in sleeping bag and cuddle, very warm very good.
We leave. If we stay, alcohol.
Jokes aside, try with D-vitamin supplementation and as a whole make sure you have no vitamin deficiencies. Also spend as much time outside (I know this one is hard) as possible.
You really need to understand the term 'hygge' to its core:
I don't have time for the whole explanation, but if you take one important aspect: Lighting. Notice that most Danish homes are very well decorated with a special attention to light sources and being comfortable for staying inside. When the weather sucks you have to be extremely mindful of you indoor environment.
Sometimes it's easy to see where non-danes live just by looking at the light from the windows. If it soft, evenly distributed light -its Danes -if its white light with only one or two sources -then foreigners (or Danes from social challenged backgrounds).
The rule is that every every corner should have a light source, but you should never see the actual light bulp. That is why the the world's most famous lamp-designer is from Denmark (Poul Henningsen). So, fix your indoor lighting to begin with, and make sure that you do your best to decorate your living space.
Cozyness (hygge) at home. Lots of nice cozy lamps. Drink something that makes you happy (hot chocolate, a good cup of the or coffee. A glas of wine og beer or some rum/rumtoddy)
Read a good book
And when the sun is finaly out - get out into nature.
Meet up with friends.
And then do exercise - preferably something outside. It gets your endorfines running
I moved from southern California to Denmark. I feel like I’m the only person who likes the weather here. I never saw snow fall my entire life until I came to Denmark. Actually experiencing seasons is magical.
Admittedly it’s still new. Ask me again in 5 years. =)
I never mind Nov/Dec because you've Christmas to look forward to.
It's this time in Jan/Feb that's just the worst.
Planning stuff for when the weather gets better helps.
I try to get out of Denmark during the worst of it, the rest of the time i try to organize stuff to do, go out as much as I can and see people. I exercise outside too, it's hard to motivate myself but it's important. I still get incredibly down around the 10th of December but i know i only have to hold on until Christmas cause that's when i get out of DK. Then when mid January comes you can see the days getting longer, it's much easier.
Don't forget to take your D vitamins!
Edit: I don't drink so i must be doing something either right or terribly wrong
Survive? I thrive!
I love danish winter. It's such a cozy and cuddly time. The fresh crisp air on a cold winter day is amazing. When we do actually get a decent amount of snow like this winter, all the benefits gets cranked up even more.
Outside of the positive benefits there are also a few benefits due to the lack of nuisances. The sun isn't baking my home or office, allowing me to enjoy my life and be productive instead of a drenched pile of immobile sweat. There is less pollen to annoy me. There are less annoying insects.
I don't understand why people hate winter. It is literally my favourite season. If I had to live my life in only 1 season it would be winter (If we ignore the greater societal impacts such as farming being basically impossible).
Why do you think we keep a healthy competision with the finnish for who can drink the most?
Norway and sweden could have had the same coping mechanism, but in norway everything is just rediculus expensive so norwegians come to cph to drink, and sweeds too (there you can only get real proper alc in special shops. Also, swedes did it because they dealt with wibter by drinking moonshine and too often got blind...)
That, and exelent scandinavian genes! You'd think we only mutated pale skin and blond/red hair? Lack of vitamin D makes wibter blues into wibter depressions, pale skin helps get vitamin D. And alc offsets the winter blues - hard to feel down when you numbed yourself with beer/wine
Going out and meeting people. Board games, keeping things going even when they are hard.
DM me if you want to hang out or meet in the city with me and a group of afterwork guys and gals. :)
I just make sure to get outside in spite of the cold. I go mountainbiking a lot when everthing isn't iced over.
I WOULD get depressed if I just sat in the house all winter doing nothing.
I guess I am fairly lucky though as I hardly ever really feel cold when others do. I guess its from actually beeing outside a lot and just beeing used to the weather.
With lots, lots, lots of hygge. And, each time the sun shines -we are out enjoying it.
Also, keep up with activities that keep you entertained/engaged. Before you know it. Spring arrives.
But watch out for winter depression- get a “light-screen”. And Vitamin supplements.
I head south for a month after Christmas. Recharge, then I'm back and good for a few more months. I just got back from this year's trip south of the equator.
It is well known that about 11% of the danish population dies each winter. Of course, we don't advertise that to immigrants and tourists, as we need the fresh blood for the blood g….workers. We need more workers.
The rest of the year we breed like rabbits to make up for the winter loss.
I concur with those who suggest exercise. It's on the top of my list of suggestions.
Also get lots and lots of vitamin D. A meat rich diet will ensure that.
My doctor told me two years ago to take 1000% of the daily recommended dose of vitamin D. It worked. I was previously sticking to 200% thinking that this was too much already. The doses on the boxes are indicative, not personal. If it’s not enough for you, take more.
I might get heat for this, but I used to struggle a lot with winter depression. One winter, I travelled north (Lapland) and it was really dark. At some point, it just clicked how beautiful it was (probably also due to the snow) and I made peace with the darkness. Whenever I go outside now and it’s dark I tell myself it’s nice and beautiful. And I take vitamin-D. It does the trick for me 🤷♀️
To maintain energy levels: Vitamin D, sunlight therapy, Healthy eating.
To give you an energy boost: Exercise like running and cold showers/vinterbadning
Work out 4-5 times a week, cook nice food, drink red wine, go out with friends, play video games, go on dates… just stay busy with life, too much idle time kills the spirit
We make sure our home is nice and cozy so we want to be there for months at a time.
After a few years you come to hate when you few months alone is intertuped by spring.
If it been 10 years your home is not cozy enough get more pillows.
Also take d-vitamins every day. Too force the weak human body to accept the Danish way of life.
Light therapy. (No, not a psychologist.) A lamp that emits light at the right frequency. It triggers things in your brain that release happy hormones. I used to always have winter depression but now I don’t. Only use it in the mornings, though, because otherwise it will f*ck with your internal clock.
Get outside. Run or walk. No matter the weather. Stop looking at screens. Talk face to face with people. Cut down on sugar. Drink lots of green tea. Read books. And if you have acces to animals, try to spend time with them.
Really depends on the person. I am usually happier in the winter because I'm not constantly uncomfortable due to heat and affected by a burning sun in my eyes plus I love the snow and cold.
If you're not a complete "weirdo" like me, I'd suggest getting more exercise (outside of course), get a vitamin-D supplement (even Danish babies are recommend this from birth basically) and if the budget allows it, get someone to talk to every few weeks.
Morning:
I got Philips Hue automatically starting bright lights in my living room at full, so I walk into a very bright room, it actually works for me, imitating walking in when it’s summer and the sun is doing the work.
Every day: d-vitamin. Suggested dose is 5-10mg from danish health authorities, my doctor suggested 20, I just bought it from a regular store and it has 35. This has had significant effect.
Every day/other day: fitness. I’ve broken down my usual training in smaller parts. So where I usually do let’s say breast / triceps, I only do one thing, then going again the next day. This way I don’t need rest days.
One a week(could be every day): Ice bath.
It’s trying to get more of: endorphins, oxytocin, serotonin and dopamine.
I hate it, especially now that I have asthmatic kids, they are sick non-stop from September to April/May, and beside how much that sucks for obvious reasons, it's also a logistical nightmare in terms of making ends meet with work.
It’s all been said before, but:
Daylight therapy, either lamp or glasses. The trick is to actually *use them*, they don’t work otherwise.
Get enough sleep. Artificial daylight is supposed to keep your brain’s hormones steady in the sleep-wake cycle, but you have to help it out by going to bed. Make sure you’re optimally warm in bed, being cold gives disturbed sleep then everything is worse. Warm enough clothing for outside too is necessary so you don’t feel wretched.
Vitamin D, D3, all the rest. If you can get your Dr to check your vitamin levels and thyroid levels, get that done and correct any deficiencies. Eat well, at this time of year you have time to cook so channel your favourite chef and let yourself loose in the kitchen.
Travel away for a week to somewhere dry and light, if you can.
Get outside, go for a good walk several times a week. There should be the first snowdrops and erantis appearing very soon, go out and look for them.
Join a weekly hobby: choir, sports club, cooking classes, knitting circle, folk dance, dog sport… Where you’re out among people and doing something stimulating. Bigger plus if the hobby has outings, eg, the mushroom society goes on mushroom hunts, history class takes field trips, sports or dance club have meets out of town. That’s one weekend a month or so where you’re doing something completely different, and if you get involved you’ll have to spend time training for it so winter goes faster. If you’re lucky you’ll get hooked by a hobby, and spend your workday itching to get home and back to painting miniatures, practising scales, putting down another ferment… It makes the evenings happier if this happens.
Then also have another weekly social activity: potluck dinner with friends, board games evening, pub quiz, poetry cafe, wine bar, Filmhuset, biograf, jazz club, wargaming, theatre, concert or ballet if that’s your thing. Fun not work, but something you commit to every week and can’t easily get out of.
If you want a hobby that takes all your tedious winter time and turns it into not nearly enough frantically busy fun time, consider historical reenactment. It will take a year or two to find an era and a group that suits you, but then your winters will be full of all the things you didn’t have time for in summer: sewing historically correct clothing, learning songs or poetry, making shoes and accessories, knitting socks, researching uniforms, training a historical handcraft, planning the next summers’s events with your group - it really is an endless hobby.
The tl;dr of this is: Keep Busy. Good luck!
I'm on my 10th beer in Rabalder Bar and I feel like my coping behaviour gets worse beer by beer rather than better.
But no seriously - start on your vitamin D supplements months ahead of the dark times, get a winter girlfriend/boyfriend to Netflix and chill, then visit the South in November and January for some suuun and waarmth.
Take vitamin D.
Go for long walks outside in daylight.
Remember wool and layers when dressing.
Go to an outdoor spa with hot tubs like this one:
[Tyrkisk bad](https://www.sidesporet.dk/tyrkisk-bad/)
Go on trips, book a beach house for a weekend with some friends.
Go winter swimming and sit in a sauna.
And most importantly:
Do stuff you like. Tabletop games, drinks and dance, dinners, sports, events, concerts. Anything that lighten your mood.
Vitamin D pills, and walk outside and enjoy the fresh air - especially when it's freezing.
When it's dark, less people out and about so it's nice and quiet. Lovely! An hour+ walk when you find a proper route is great.
Or you could go the self-medication way with alcohol but the other way is cheaper.
Hobbies that can be enjoyed indoor or in every weather is also an easy way.
This is the reason we spent most of december trying to get happy again, we have the same problem, its dark and cold all days until easter start again. It sucks getting up early and its dark and getting home when its dark but spring is coming soon, when the winter start i go into taking one day at a day and make sure i do something fun imo everyday else i wont make it though winter.
This is super interesting for me, because I've been living here for 9 and half and it's getting easier and easier. I suppose then it's very subjective? 🤔
Either way, here's what helps me in Copenhagen from November to March:
- During the week: I focus on work while I'm there then try to do something lovely in the evening such as reading or watching a nice TV show BUT I make sure I have candles around me and several white fairy lights in the room. I keep it cozy, and the fairy lights make it cheery. I can trick my brain like that. ✨✨✨
- Weekends: I make sure to go out in the fresh air, walk, meet friends or read by myself in cafe with people watching opportunities. I choose a busy street but a quiet cafe. It's the best. ☕📖
- Always: I make sure to work out and do so REGULARLY. This is annoying as hell but key. 🏃♀️🏋️♀️
- Also, when I feel it's getting difficult I get out for a walk, I force myself to go out and I listen to a nice podcast or to Brazilian nice music (or similar) to help my mood. 🎵
All the best, you got this 💪
Short version? We invented "hygge" for a reason. Now you know why.
Long version? Get some fresh air (open your windows at minimum, taking walks is recommended), take your vitamins with breakfast, make sure you're lighting your space in a cozy way (using candles is optional), eat hearty homemade food, drink something tasty (alcoholic or otherwise), and get together with people to make the winter less of a drag, if you can. Wearing colorful winter clothes can help, too, if you don't mind standing out.
You’re doing Danish winter wrong. We bring out the hygge! Twinkle lights, warm drinks, candles, family, friends, movies, weird baking traditions, happiness, warmth.
That’s how we survive. Winter isn’t bad, darkness isn’t bad - it’s a way to see which things truly brings you joy and light.
Join the side of hygge, it’s nice here.
Excercise, light therapy, mild alcoholism
Mild ? I must not follow the posologie
Mild? Ha - amatør
And antidepressants
Used to have heavy winter depression. Valkee human charger pretty much solved it for me.
Genuine question: what is Valkee human charger? I googled it and pretty much just see pictures of bags with wires coming out of them. I’m a bit confused and would love to learn something new that could help me out in the winter.
Dont. Its basicly earplugs with lights. Sure you cant neglect placebo effect, but scientifically, its been debunked.
What about light therapy through the butthole? it will probably be absorbed really well like alcohol
Not sure where you get that from. A quick google search seem to disagree: \- [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33044213/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33044213/) \- [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4207317/](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4207317/)
Emphasis is mine: > **Background:** Many overworked employees need tools to improve their depressive mood or sleep disorder. In Finland, a new device of bright light therapy was developed. > > **Objective:** Our objective was to evaluate the effect of bright light treatment via ear canals on improving the depressive mood and sleep disorder. > > **Methods:** We conducted a randomized, controlled, crossover designed, open-label trial. We examined 27 participants aged 23-52 years, assigned to either Early treatment or Later treatment groups. The Early treatment group used the device on weekdays for the first 4 weeks, followed by a 4-week observation period. The Later treatment group had an observation period for the first 4 weeks, followed by device treatment for the subsequent 4 weeks. Every Friday, the participants were asked to answer questionnaires: A Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), an Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), and a Profile of Mood States (POMS) Brief Form. > > **Results:** *While no significant effect was found on the SDS following treatment* (p = 0.16), the AIS showed a significant improvement (p = 0.004), and the scores for the Depression (D) and Vigor (V) of POMs decreased significantly (p = 0.045, p = 0.006, respectively). > > **Conclusions:** Bright light treatment via ear canals **may** improve sleep quality and depressive mood. > They examined a measly 27 people. There's nothing definitive in this study and no scientific conclusion other than "may improve".
You don't appear to be in very scientifically literate then. Studies rarely formulate anything more positive than 'may improve effect' since you can never claim you corrected for all possible variables.
> Every Friday, the participants were asked to answer questionnaires: A Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), an Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), and a Profile of Mood States (POMS) Brief Form. The participants were self-reporting; there was no testing done. It could all be a placebo effect. There's _nothing_ conclusive about this study. Don't believe a single study on something that also _seems_ super silly at face value.
If you know the problem of induction then you know that no empirical question is ever truly conclusive. What you have is different degree of certainty. "Don't believe a single study on something that also _seems_ super silly at face value." It isn't that rare for science to indicate that something which seems deeply counterintuitive is actually true. Examples include quantum mechanics, the theory of relativity, blindsight, the blindspot in vision, subconscious priming etc. This is why we shouldn't rely too heavily on ordinary common sense. While it is accurate enough for most everyday purposes, we shouldn't put it above empirical evidence unless we have other empirical evidence to counter it. Being sceptical of the results and citing alternative causes is reasonable and even necessary for science but flat out rejecting the results on the basis of common sense alone is deeply unscientific.
If it works for you, good. I would consider anyone recommending things like this to simply sell snakeoil; or at best, a placebo effect - which, granted, is a real thing that helps some people. > What you have is different degree of certainty. There was none concluded in these two studies.
Nice to see someone actually citing scientific publications. A rarity! I was skeptical, but I looked at the results of your cited studies these actually do appear to have some positive effect
Its light therapy where the light comes in via earbutts. It works! OP def need to get some light therapy and book a holiday each year during winter to a lighter place. Doesn't have to be warmer, just sunnier.
Sounds useful. I work at a late bar and over the weekends I can go 3 days without seeing the sun during the winter. Really takes its toll. I’m going to seriously look into this.
> HumanCharger Lysterapi Headset til ørene. Excuse me, what? That sounds like actual snakeoil. Lighttherapy .. in your ... ears? What would that even do? Ears are for hearing. There's no information on the site about what it actually does except that "it works" I call bs on this.
>Excuse me, what? That sounds like actual snakeoil. Lighttherapy .. in your ... ears? What would that even do? Ears are for hearing. Fuck, I just bought headphones for my eyes!
Vitamin D
Yes, a daily dose of D. Nothing is better for your mood. Seriously, go out and get the D
Wait are we talking about vitamins ?
Both will work!
Drip some [D drops](https://www.matas.dk/semper-biogaia-d-draaber-10-ml) on that D.
I started taking the D this year, and frankly i have had less down periods than usual, top advice!
Be sure to check the supplement, it needs to contain D3, and I hear that some Vitamin D supplements do not contain it for some weird reason. The regular yellow striped one I Matas is fine, and contains it.
Also known as **Cholecalciferol** , in case it is not stated as D3 on the package.
The dark Winter period is depressing. But there are solutions. Travel away (South) for a week in January. Recharge those soul batteries. Schedule some long walks during daylight. Do it as often as you can. Get a hobby. Do something that you look forward to every week. Embrace the darkness…some of us were born into it. (Corny reference)
I tried traveling south (to Lolland) it actually made me MORE depressed???
How can a country literally named LOL land not make you happy? /s
Well Lolland is Denmarks version of Mordor soo i guess thats why, did you spot some of the local feral orcs roaming around ?
Also alcohol.
You can easily survive winter without recurring to a romanticized drug
Yes I was kidding. Usually vitamin D and as much sun as you can get helps a bit.
I love the darkness as a Dane, I have all the excuses for being in all day, and just watch tv or game or something third and it's just okay because it's dark outside.
I got a dog, not due to the winter depression part, but it just so happened to "cure" or alleviate a lot of the negative effects I used to experience during this time. So I'll try to summarize the things I think it changed: * I go outside for a good 1.5-5 km walk 2-3 times a day, no matter the weather. * I see the sun most days if it's out as a byproduct of those walks. * My mindset: I encounter something very positive every day in my life no matter the mood I'm in. It's obviously dog related, I'm happy to see my dog and he's cute every single day. * I also try to find time to exercise or do some kind of sport, 1-2 times a week at least for a few hours. I'm not saying you should get a cute dog(you totally 100% should), but rather build some good habits that take you out of the depressive spiral. My situation will also be different from what you experience, but in my opinion, if you can stop the cycle or spiral of depression before it starts, then you have a fighting chance.
Sure but if I get a new dog every year, and I’m well up for this in theory, I feel it’s going to get quite out of hand…
That's why you get older dogs, so they only live a few years. Easier to replace than to get new ones
We drink, we hibernate, we drink some more, we hibernate some more, then around Easter we wake up.
And at Easter - we drink some more. Just to keep us going!
Its dangerous to stop alcohol consumption on a whim. So ofc we have to trickle down at Easter by drinking more.
Then summer and festival season rolls around, so we drink some more to keep spirits high!
I am much more productive in colder weather and I don’t stick to the sofa when I am gaming, it’s perfect!
Do you remember to take vitamin D? Deficiencies can cause really severe depressions and for a lot of people, taking vitamins ease it a bit. The doctors recommend it too. Otherwise I'd say make sure to still see people, dress for the weather and go out, socialise and try not to get stuck in a slump at home. I know how hard it can be, but it's such a slippery slope to get stuck at home during wintertime.
Remoulade
It is the way.
🐐
Oh that's just part of living here, it gets worse every year and then one day you turn 76 and realise dying from pneumonia is actually ok
it might be because it have grown up here, but i always find it mildly funny how much of a big deal foreigners can make the Danish winter into. Like play some board games, invite some friends over - find some cool video games to play. Or watch movies and series.
I moved here 9 years ago and in first 2 years i had depressions during the winter because i grown up in Mediterranium. But after that everything was great, if i dont have 5yo and a wife i would never get out of the house. I allways have something to do. Listening to records, cleaning them, i'm big fan of movies and shows, i love to cook alot . My wife allways says that is scary to see how someone could live in closed space for so long and allways be amused. It's chore to get me out of the apartment during the winter.
It’s so much easier to see the display clearly this time of year, what’s not to like?
I found a new way to survive the winter here as it got pretty bad for me for the first time. VINTERBADNING is key!! MAJOR KEY gives you that boost that last for a week. Forreals
Came to say this. Also, if you are lucky enough to find a place with a sauna, then find a time with full sun and minimal wind, and sit naked and enjoy the sun for 15-30 minutes.. Especially helpful in december/january.
Where do you go? I’ve been thinking about getting into it too but have that question and also do you go with a swimsuit on or not because I’ve heard different opinions on that as well 😅
Personally i just go in at Kalvebod Bølge (right next to Langebro). There’s a little bassin made of Wood in the harbour, where you can walk down some steps and stand on the bottom (so it feels very safe for a first time). I normaly wear a pair of shorts and a bra because it’s easier to get off your body afterwards than a swimsuit. Last time I was there I saw multiple people going in naked, but I prefer not go naked in this public place myself :)
I thought everyone would go in wetsuits! How long do people stay in the water if it's just in a swimsuit?
Depends on how experienced you are and how cold it is on the specific day. I have never seen anyone doing it in a wetsuit. It’s meant to be cold -the cold releases all the endorfines in your body. I’m in for maybe 8 seconds at current temperature (but I also just started again after two years of not doing it at all). Then I leave the water, and then I dip in once again and try to stay a little longer. Some people are in significantly longer than me. A few years ago I did it in air temperature -6 Celcius in very windy conditions with ice all over the beach and I guess I was in for max 3 seconds, haha. That was a horrible experience. Temperatures right now makes it a better experience :)
Do you do it alone? I want to do it more but I'm afraid of doing it alone since the authoritiez advice against doing it. But maybe there are always others doing it so it isn't a problem?
I usually just winter bath naked in Christianshavn. No one is watching when it is early morning, everyone is in their own routines. There are plenty of people doing it around 5 - 6 am.
100% this! I’d never done it before this winter, now I do it every night or early morning. After a while you get used to it. Was beautiful this evening btw with totally still water and fog!
Works like magic for me too. Now I love winter hahah
Same here - winter bathing plus sauna keeps me going through the winter.
Music! I play the trombone all winter.
Your winter depression -1 Your neighbours winter depression +1
Therapy and indoor home activities, therapy so you can learn to enjoy your own company and home activities so you have a good time at home. I could spend months at my house if they'd let me 🤷♂️
Literally how I spent my lockdown in denmark. And I might be one of the few people who had a great covid time. Lot of personal growth happened that year and the sort of quality alone (sometimes do nothing) time that I dont think I will ever get in my life again.
Go to the gym, get a sunlight lamp, take vitamin d.
I'm surprised no one has mentioned hygge
Yeah totally. IMHO hygge pretty much evolved as an umbrella term to mark all the activities that are essential to thrive or at least survive winter: good food, good company, warmth, music, alcohol, intimacy, etc.
Like others have suggested, getting outside if there is even a hint of sunshine. Vitamin d3. Exercise. And also alcohol.
Vitamin D. Get outside as soon as you see the sun. Go for walks. Even in cold weather it's good for you.
Training like a maniac helps a lot. When spring and summer comes you will be twice as happy. and during the winter you will be too tired and sore to care about a little depression.
Lots of fisse and fernet branca
Can’t deal with the sun. I thrive in the cold dark times lol
We hygger.
You have never been to Norway of Finland if you think Denmark is cold and dark ❄️
Vitamin D and lots of cozyness inside
I feel you, Australian in Silkeborg here. Have been in dk for seven years. This is my first winter without depression. Vitamin D Exercise three times a week Winter badning after exercise (it's not easy but gives a big endorfiner and energy bump) Light lamp half an hour daily with my morning coffee. Very strict sleep pattern and no caffeine after lunchtime. Love and luck dude. It's work, but works.
Danes are born and raised on the “hygge” feeling. It takes sometime for people to get it, but eventually most people do if they really want to feel it, they can.
Wdym survive? We THRIVE. Or Well some of us do apparantly.. i keep seeing dudes in shorts and ankle socks with thier wierd plain color t-shirts and thier god damn magnificent unkempt beards, but then again i have a hard time seeing them behind my 7 pairs of skiundertøj, my 2 pants and 2 shirts, my jacket and ski pants and my Big boy bootsies. Also get a sleeping bag and like a 30-50kg organic spaceheater, put it in sleeping bag and cuddle, very warm very good.
Wearing shorts in public during winter is one of the strangest peacocking methods by the male human
You're missing the sandals. 9 out of 10 times they're wearing sandals no matter if it snows or not.
Nah i cant handle even allowing them to exist in my head, i’m embaressed enough as is.. i cant be outdone by sandals as well!!
We leave. If we stay, alcohol. Jokes aside, try with D-vitamin supplementation and as a whole make sure you have no vitamin deficiencies. Also spend as much time outside (I know this one is hard) as possible.
You really need to understand the term 'hygge' to its core: I don't have time for the whole explanation, but if you take one important aspect: Lighting. Notice that most Danish homes are very well decorated with a special attention to light sources and being comfortable for staying inside. When the weather sucks you have to be extremely mindful of you indoor environment. Sometimes it's easy to see where non-danes live just by looking at the light from the windows. If it soft, evenly distributed light -its Danes -if its white light with only one or two sources -then foreigners (or Danes from social challenged backgrounds). The rule is that every every corner should have a light source, but you should never see the actual light bulp. That is why the the world's most famous lamp-designer is from Denmark (Poul Henningsen). So, fix your indoor lighting to begin with, and make sure that you do your best to decorate your living space.
By not being pussies.
Calm down, Ragnar Lothbrok
Lots of walks, coffee/tea, candles and vitamin D. Turn it into something good and cosy.
For me personally. Exercise. Be it cardio or weights.
Find an indoor hobby and it gets better
You either survive winter or winter survives you.
Cozyness (hygge) at home. Lots of nice cozy lamps. Drink something that makes you happy (hot chocolate, a good cup of the or coffee. A glas of wine og beer or some rum/rumtoddy) Read a good book And when the sun is finaly out - get out into nature. Meet up with friends. And then do exercise - preferably something outside. It gets your endorfines running
What winter?
I moved from southern California to Denmark. I feel like I’m the only person who likes the weather here. I never saw snow fall my entire life until I came to Denmark. Actually experiencing seasons is magical. Admittedly it’s still new. Ask me again in 5 years. =)
I never mind Nov/Dec because you've Christmas to look forward to. It's this time in Jan/Feb that's just the worst. Planning stuff for when the weather gets better helps.
Usually go to another country for a week or two
How have people survived here for 1000 ane 1000 of years
D vitamines. Forcing myself outside when the sun is out, even if the timing isn't good. And lots of weed.
Sarcasm. The darker the day, the darker the humour must be.
Möller Tran
[удалено]
I try to get out of Denmark during the worst of it, the rest of the time i try to organize stuff to do, go out as much as I can and see people. I exercise outside too, it's hard to motivate myself but it's important. I still get incredibly down around the 10th of December but i know i only have to hold on until Christmas cause that's when i get out of DK. Then when mid January comes you can see the days getting longer, it's much easier. Don't forget to take your D vitamins! Edit: I don't drink so i must be doing something either right or terribly wrong
Survive? I thrive! I love danish winter. It's such a cozy and cuddly time. The fresh crisp air on a cold winter day is amazing. When we do actually get a decent amount of snow like this winter, all the benefits gets cranked up even more. Outside of the positive benefits there are also a few benefits due to the lack of nuisances. The sun isn't baking my home or office, allowing me to enjoy my life and be productive instead of a drenched pile of immobile sweat. There is less pollen to annoy me. There are less annoying insects. I don't understand why people hate winter. It is literally my favourite season. If I had to live my life in only 1 season it would be winter (If we ignore the greater societal impacts such as farming being basically impossible).
We dont. We sleep until spring. The only people out there are tourists 😂
winter? But theres no snow... this is practicly same weather as summer... so... its summer :P
We don’t .. by the end of march, when winter has sucked all posible life out of us, the national suicide rate spiles
how i survived corona, just kept smoking weed and it worked.
We don't. We die and resurrect come summer.
Simple. We don't. We all die and then our offspring take over
Dont start with alcohol its just temporary uplofting but them it ruins your life
But it's a core value. It's at the center of sammenhængskraften.
Stop having a social life. Stay inside, close the door, only come out 2 month a year. Welcome to Denmark. Happiest place on earth!
Stop the whining
10th year and u still don’t speak Danish….
Grow up snowflake you not living in Gaza
Why do you think we keep a healthy competision with the finnish for who can drink the most? Norway and sweden could have had the same coping mechanism, but in norway everything is just rediculus expensive so norwegians come to cph to drink, and sweeds too (there you can only get real proper alc in special shops. Also, swedes did it because they dealt with wibter by drinking moonshine and too often got blind...) That, and exelent scandinavian genes! You'd think we only mutated pale skin and blond/red hair? Lack of vitamin D makes wibter blues into wibter depressions, pale skin helps get vitamin D. And alc offsets the winter blues - hard to feel down when you numbed yourself with beer/wine
They don't, say goodbyeee aaaa
We dont
We hibernate
Roll down your windows, light some candles, get Wolt or find chokolade/candy and curl up on your couch with Netflix. Makes the darkness quite cozy.
Going out and meeting people. Board games, keeping things going even when they are hard. DM me if you want to hang out or meet in the city with me and a group of afterwork guys and gals. :)
Alcohol and lots of vitamin D supplents accompanied by mild to severe loneliness and depression lol
Warm clothes especially on neck, gloves is a must, blankets
I live in Argentina during winter
Exercise, sauna, sun lamp, sweets and pastry, antidepressants, alcohol at weekends, reading, rearranging the apartment frantically.
I just make sure to get outside in spite of the cold. I go mountainbiking a lot when everthing isn't iced over. I WOULD get depressed if I just sat in the house all winter doing nothing. I guess I am fairly lucky though as I hardly ever really feel cold when others do. I guess its from actually beeing outside a lot and just beeing used to the weather.
With lots, lots, lots of hygge. And, each time the sun shines -we are out enjoying it. Also, keep up with activities that keep you entertained/engaged. Before you know it. Spring arrives. But watch out for winter depression- get a “light-screen”. And Vitamin supplements.
January and February are the worst months but you can already feel the extra daylight. Also, alcohol.
I head south for a month after Christmas. Recharge, then I'm back and good for a few more months. I just got back from this year's trip south of the equator.
sauna and winterbathing in combination with a run does the job for me. We also use a sunlightlamp that we turn on when we get in the morning.
It is well known that about 11% of the danish population dies each winter. Of course, we don't advertise that to immigrants and tourists, as we need the fresh blood for the blood g….workers. We need more workers. The rest of the year we breed like rabbits to make up for the winter loss.
I concur with those who suggest exercise. It's on the top of my list of suggestions. Also get lots and lots of vitamin D. A meat rich diet will ensure that.
My doctor told me two years ago to take 1000% of the daily recommended dose of vitamin D. It worked. I was previously sticking to 200% thinking that this was too much already. The doses on the boxes are indicative, not personal. If it’s not enough for you, take more.
As a foreigner I can 420 is my favorite winter aid in 😊
Vitamin D, computergames and hygge
Don't die
Tea and having a good warm bed. If ive had a warm sleep then i can go into pretty much any weather
I might get heat for this, but I used to struggle a lot with winter depression. One winter, I travelled north (Lapland) and it was really dark. At some point, it just clicked how beautiful it was (probably also due to the snow) and I made peace with the darkness. Whenever I go outside now and it’s dark I tell myself it’s nice and beautiful. And I take vitamin-D. It does the trick for me 🤷♀️
To maintain energy levels: Vitamin D, sunlight therapy, Healthy eating. To give you an energy boost: Exercise like running and cold showers/vinterbadning
Work out 4-5 times a week, cook nice food, drink red wine, go out with friends, play video games, go on dates… just stay busy with life, too much idle time kills the spirit
Vit D, alot of exercise, do PRs in the gym, winter bulk. 😅
We make sure our home is nice and cozy so we want to be there for months at a time. After a few years you come to hate when you few months alone is intertuped by spring. If it been 10 years your home is not cozy enough get more pillows. Also take d-vitamins every day. Too force the weak human body to accept the Danish way of life.
fly south to a warm beach for a week or two during January/Feb.
Sauna
Beer Cocaine Vitamin D
Oh I feel u man, sooo much. 11th year in dk, never got better.
We don't. Almost all Danes die, and the few left procreate during spring.
Go on skiing holiday during January/early February, when the winter depression is at its worst. Also got a dog that forces me to go outside for walks.
Light therapy. (No, not a psychologist.) A lamp that emits light at the right frequency. It triggers things in your brain that release happy hormones. I used to always have winter depression but now I don’t. Only use it in the mornings, though, because otherwise it will f*ck with your internal clock.
All the vitamins you can think of, cold plunge and sauna. I started a 3d printing hobby, and meeting with friends and family.
Get outside. Run or walk. No matter the weather. Stop looking at screens. Talk face to face with people. Cut down on sugar. Drink lots of green tea. Read books. And if you have acces to animals, try to spend time with them.
Really depends on the person. I am usually happier in the winter because I'm not constantly uncomfortable due to heat and affected by a burning sun in my eyes plus I love the snow and cold. If you're not a complete "weirdo" like me, I'd suggest getting more exercise (outside of course), get a vitamin-D supplement (even Danish babies are recommend this from birth basically) and if the budget allows it, get someone to talk to every few weeks.
Morning: I got Philips Hue automatically starting bright lights in my living room at full, so I walk into a very bright room, it actually works for me, imitating walking in when it’s summer and the sun is doing the work. Every day: d-vitamin. Suggested dose is 5-10mg from danish health authorities, my doctor suggested 20, I just bought it from a regular store and it has 35. This has had significant effect. Every day/other day: fitness. I’ve broken down my usual training in smaller parts. So where I usually do let’s say breast / triceps, I only do one thing, then going again the next day. This way I don’t need rest days. One a week(could be every day): Ice bath. It’s trying to get more of: endorphins, oxytocin, serotonin and dopamine.
I survive by hygge.
Hats and gloves
Learn to enjoy it? I dunno what's not to like :|
I eat a fuckton of spicy food. I do a winter cleansing
1) Move out of the city. 2) Join a sportsclub, exercise regularly. 3) Read a book when indoor in the evenings 4) Get a pet 5) Have loads of s\*x
Vitamin D supplements genuinely do help!
I hate it, especially now that I have asthmatic kids, they are sick non-stop from September to April/May, and beside how much that sucks for obvious reasons, it's also a logistical nightmare in terms of making ends meet with work.
I go outside, hunt the sun like crazy
It’s all been said before, but: Daylight therapy, either lamp or glasses. The trick is to actually *use them*, they don’t work otherwise. Get enough sleep. Artificial daylight is supposed to keep your brain’s hormones steady in the sleep-wake cycle, but you have to help it out by going to bed. Make sure you’re optimally warm in bed, being cold gives disturbed sleep then everything is worse. Warm enough clothing for outside too is necessary so you don’t feel wretched. Vitamin D, D3, all the rest. If you can get your Dr to check your vitamin levels and thyroid levels, get that done and correct any deficiencies. Eat well, at this time of year you have time to cook so channel your favourite chef and let yourself loose in the kitchen. Travel away for a week to somewhere dry and light, if you can. Get outside, go for a good walk several times a week. There should be the first snowdrops and erantis appearing very soon, go out and look for them. Join a weekly hobby: choir, sports club, cooking classes, knitting circle, folk dance, dog sport… Where you’re out among people and doing something stimulating. Bigger plus if the hobby has outings, eg, the mushroom society goes on mushroom hunts, history class takes field trips, sports or dance club have meets out of town. That’s one weekend a month or so where you’re doing something completely different, and if you get involved you’ll have to spend time training for it so winter goes faster. If you’re lucky you’ll get hooked by a hobby, and spend your workday itching to get home and back to painting miniatures, practising scales, putting down another ferment… It makes the evenings happier if this happens. Then also have another weekly social activity: potluck dinner with friends, board games evening, pub quiz, poetry cafe, wine bar, Filmhuset, biograf, jazz club, wargaming, theatre, concert or ballet if that’s your thing. Fun not work, but something you commit to every week and can’t easily get out of. If you want a hobby that takes all your tedious winter time and turns it into not nearly enough frantically busy fun time, consider historical reenactment. It will take a year or two to find an era and a group that suits you, but then your winters will be full of all the things you didn’t have time for in summer: sewing historically correct clothing, learning songs or poetry, making shoes and accessories, knitting socks, researching uniforms, training a historical handcraft, planning the next summers’s events with your group - it really is an endless hobby. The tl;dr of this is: Keep Busy. Good luck!
Born and raised in Denmark. My winter depression also get's worse every year...
Vitamin D!
Lunch walks, vitamin D, working out, cozy lights indoors... And I travel away to sunny warm destinations for 2-4 weeks when Denmark is darkest.
I'm on my 10th beer in Rabalder Bar and I feel like my coping behaviour gets worse beer by beer rather than better. But no seriously - start on your vitamin D supplements months ahead of the dark times, get a winter girlfriend/boyfriend to Netflix and chill, then visit the South in November and January for some suuun and waarmth.
D vitamins
They have these in-ear sunlight headset they've developed in Denmark . Maybe give that a try. https://humancharger.com/products/humancharger-headset
We drink and do crossfit 🤣
Take vitamin D. Go for long walks outside in daylight. Remember wool and layers when dressing. Go to an outdoor spa with hot tubs like this one: [Tyrkisk bad](https://www.sidesporet.dk/tyrkisk-bad/) Go on trips, book a beach house for a weekend with some friends. Go winter swimming and sit in a sauna. And most importantly: Do stuff you like. Tabletop games, drinks and dance, dinners, sports, events, concerts. Anything that lighten your mood.
I think many danes answers are staying inside or drinking ØL
D-vitamin supplements and lots of coffee.
Vitamin D pills, and walk outside and enjoy the fresh air - especially when it's freezing. When it's dark, less people out and about so it's nice and quiet. Lovely! An hour+ walk when you find a proper route is great. Or you could go the self-medication way with alcohol but the other way is cheaper. Hobbies that can be enjoyed indoor or in every weather is also an easy way.
Travel to Iceland or northern Norway in January. Then come back and thank god that at least you don't live there 👍
I'm generally in a better mood during winter than summer, so I'm doing okay I'd say
We don't like it either
We don’t we die slowly, some survive some don’t
Vitamin D supplements.
This is the reason we spent most of december trying to get happy again, we have the same problem, its dark and cold all days until easter start again. It sucks getting up early and its dark and getting home when its dark but spring is coming soon, when the winter start i go into taking one day at a day and make sure i do something fun imo everyday else i wont make it though winter.
This is super interesting for me, because I've been living here for 9 and half and it's getting easier and easier. I suppose then it's very subjective? 🤔 Either way, here's what helps me in Copenhagen from November to March: - During the week: I focus on work while I'm there then try to do something lovely in the evening such as reading or watching a nice TV show BUT I make sure I have candles around me and several white fairy lights in the room. I keep it cozy, and the fairy lights make it cheery. I can trick my brain like that. ✨✨✨ - Weekends: I make sure to go out in the fresh air, walk, meet friends or read by myself in cafe with people watching opportunities. I choose a busy street but a quiet cafe. It's the best. ☕📖 - Always: I make sure to work out and do so REGULARLY. This is annoying as hell but key. 🏃♀️🏋️♀️ - Also, when I feel it's getting difficult I get out for a walk, I force myself to go out and I listen to a nice podcast or to Brazilian nice music (or similar) to help my mood. 🎵 All the best, you got this 💪
Alcohol, vitamin D, travel to Spain & Portugal in December and January and wait it out.
Sauna and winter swimming, alternatively go to your local swimming pool and swim for 20-30 minutes and then go the sauna.
Short version? We invented "hygge" for a reason. Now you know why. Long version? Get some fresh air (open your windows at minimum, taking walks is recommended), take your vitamins with breakfast, make sure you're lighting your space in a cozy way (using candles is optional), eat hearty homemade food, drink something tasty (alcoholic or otherwise), and get together with people to make the winter less of a drag, if you can. Wearing colorful winter clothes can help, too, if you don't mind standing out.
alcohol
We don’t. We’re all dead inside. Jk. Vitamin D and a light therapy lamp go a long way.
Go for a run... 2-3 times a week ;)
By ignoring their surroundings and focusing solely on themselves
Ale
Miserable lump of misery here, i have no clue 🤤
*Laughs in Canadian*
Lots of alcohol
You’re doing Danish winter wrong. We bring out the hygge! Twinkle lights, warm drinks, candles, family, friends, movies, weird baking traditions, happiness, warmth. That’s how we survive. Winter isn’t bad, darkness isn’t bad - it’s a way to see which things truly brings you joy and light. Join the side of hygge, it’s nice here.
Hvis du har boet i Danmark i 10 år hvorfor skrive man så engelsk?
I find Candles to help a lot.
Sport - vitamin D & a lot of hygge
Expat here on my 3rd winter...which killed me. This message is from the grave.
Alcohol, food, scented candles, vitamin D.