The 2022 winter season just began a month or two ago and already people are feeling the piercing cold. You walk around on a snowy day and witness people just trying to cope with the chilling temperatures. This season comes once every year and each time, nobody can ever claim to be fully prepared for it. Actually in the Nordic region, winter temperatures come with negative temperatures that only indoor heating, car heating and warm clothing may withstand. In Winter, nothing can be for sure-not train schedule, not road conditions or temperatures in general. If the winter storm that wrecked havoc in Northern America is anything to go by, we can almost get to understand the extremities that come with this season. As an expat or long-stayed resident of the Nordics, have it at top of mind that winter means new experiences regardless of how many times you go through it.
The rate at which expatriates desire to make an end destination to any of the Scandinavian countries has tremendously increased. Perhaps the urge is triggered by what they watch and read about that region. I guess they are things like it being a happy region with a state welfare generosity. Others issues like low unemployment and work-life balance are driving forces that steer guests for job-hunt adventure to those sides. However, while there, how do you keep a normal schedule during winter in the Nordic region?
Winter surprises adds to the list of peculiar experiences in the Nordics
Generally, the Nordics have recorded low insecurity and even their carefully selected and promoted diet works perfectly to add to life expectancy. Surely, there is just much good to talk of when it comes to Nordics. Even so, few who have made it to those regions have a few black spots to tell too.
Things like the Nordic anti-social and reserved nature makes it a struggle to break the ice for new friendship. It has really made expatriate singles wonder if they can find a life partner up there. No hope is lost yet, just get to learn their dating rules. And before you know it, your life partner will be there cosying you up and warming your bed comes the cold winters.
Oops, the long freezing, and dark winter know the art of chilling down a foreigner’s spine. If you landed there during summer, the new chapter of the winter will naturally add to your culture shock. It is so dreadful especially if your homeland lies somewhere in the tropical. But relax, this piece will surely teach you the trick to thrive in the season as locals do. But first, before anything, get the know-how on winter timing.
The Winter Calendar for the Nordic Region
Going by the five countries, Denmark marks the beginning of its winters in December or sometimes January when the temperature ranges from −2 °C to 4 °C. But that is a bit manageable because February is extreme to an average temperature of 0 °C. Besides, it is less of a wonder that the latter month may have a full day of eight-hour sunshine. It is closely similar to Iceland, which experiences its winter in January. But there again, the temperatures depend on high and low latitudes.
Moreover, like Iceland, winter kicks in in Norway by January. So there, the cold is mild in the coastal regions but it all gets intense as you go into the inland. For instance, midwinter in Southern Norway gets five-hour sunshine while the Northern part fails even a single ray completely.
For Finland, its winter season lasts for three solid months, December, January and February. Just like Norway, the Arctic Circle in the north of Finland may cause total darkness during polar nights in January. The situation may however change come February when at least six-hour of sunshine cheers up the locals.
In Sweden though, it starts a bit earlier than the rest of Nordics that is somewhere around December. The polar night ushered in by January lasts till mid-January. It all gets milder as it approaches February to the end. Still, as dreadful and freezing as the calendar looks in Nordic, there is always a way out to enjoy the stay. Just continue reading to unravel the secret of averting and keeping a normal schedule even with the cold.
How to Keep a Normal Schedule throughout the Nordic Winter
It is time to learn the many tricks that make Nordics happy even in their cold climate. At least they know a thing or two to live and thrive in their cold winter. Let’s go, nothing can stop you now after knowing the following
1. There is no bad weather, only bad clothes
If you are a book warmer or much into digging facts online, I bet you have met the above common Swedish saying somewhere. Swedes believe in preparedness for every season life has to offer because they can’t miss a second of happiness. To them, winter means a change in the wardrobe. Thus, you need to stock warm clothing to bundle you up the entire period. This is the best way to keep a normal schedule during winter.
2. It is all in your mindset to put up with winter cold
As the Danish term it, hygge means cosying up to get it warmer right from the brain. Mostly, Nordics make the most of summer sunshine to enjoy all of their pastimes. To shock you again, the norm continues in winter where they get our gaming, strolling, and sharing hot coffee with friends to keep a normal schedule during winter. It is just a season it will pass too. Therefore, that is the belief that keeps them going in winter.
3. Think of your self-care always
No one will if you are not set to take care of your mood and body during the cold. Have you ever wondered why the many saunas in Nordic? They are to take care of your long warm baths. Such are the times that you can light up your candles and have the longest hot dinner ever. To wrap it up in the evenings, a kettle of hot coffee around an open fire will do no harm. Or still, your bottle of wine can close the day.
4. Electricity and Heating System are a must-have during the Nordic Winter
With the fast-dropping temperatures, you can never have the electricity off neither is house heating. Not even for a second, because it works magic for your indoor warming. Such are the periods when payday loans or credit cards can save when you run out of cash. And more so to sort out the two entities.