Winter in finland, ragin hamster

How I managed to BEAT the Winter in Finland

Malena Rose Exchange view, Features, Self-help, student story, Travel

If you have just started your studies in Finland and don’t know what to expect of the winter or how to deal with it… HEAR. ME. OUT! 

How to survive the Finnish Winter: The ultimate Guide

I have started my second year in Finland this semester, which means that I’ve already overcome the challenges of one winter. Now that it’s getting colder by the day, and we even got some first snow fall, I figured that winter seems to be easier this year.  

That’s not because of climate change or any different weather conditions… No. It’s going to be just as cold and dark this year as last year… But it’s because I now have MASTERED the art of surviving a Finnish winter. And you can do it too! 

So, here is my little guide of tips and tricks that will make your life a bit easier this winter season. 

PREPARATION

The most important thing is the right prep-work. Be ready for any type of temperature, not only in terms of clothes like long underwear or gloves, but also by filling up your fridges at home. Always have at least the ingredients for 2-3 recipes ready, in case the winter is keeping you from going outside. Oh and as I already mentioned it: A good winter jacket, gloves, warm socks and long underwear are a must. It’s better to invest a little bit more into those things because these pieces are crucial to survive the freezing temperatures.  

USE THE SUN

During winter, you will not get many hours of sun. In fact, for some time you will get about 4 hours of sunlight. Which means, the sun will go up at 8 when you go to uni, and go down while you are eating lunch.  

On the weekends or if you have a day off, do NOT sleep in. It will completely fuck up your perception of time if you miss the sun completely.  Keep a healthy sleeping schedule. Trust me, I understand how tempting it is to just take a nap after uni, but it will not do you any good if you treat the day like the night, just because it’s dark.  

VITAMINS! VITAMINS! VITAMINS!

Also keep track of your vitamin intake. In Finland in general, but especially during the winter months, we can’t get enough vitamin D from the sun. So, you’ll have to supplement. Don’t worry, you can’t do much wrong here, just take one vitamin D pill per day or whatever it recommends on the packaging, and you should be good. Don’t underestimate the lack of sunlight. Not getting enough vitamin D can lead to a serious depression during winter, that you should not mess with.  

ENJOY IT!

Find joy in spending time inside. Make hot chocolate, bake some cookies, find a good show to binge-watch or a game to play (I personally am going with Baldur’s Gate 3 this winter). You could also invite some friends over or visit the Helsinki Christmas market together. Basically, try to find things to do during winter, so that you do not end up napping or doom-scrolling for several months.  

I hope this is a bit helpful. And we all make it through this wonderfully challenging time together <3 (I will take a nap now).  

Malena Rose
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