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HOW TO THRIVE IN DANISH WINTER YOUR FIRST DANISH WINTER MAY COME AS A SHOCK, FOR IT IS CONSTANTLY DARK AND GLOOMY. INSTEAD OF SUCCUMBING TO THE WINTER BLUES, USE THE FOLLOWING TIPS TO THRIVE IN DANISH WINTER.
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PHOTOGRAPHS ISTOCK PHOTO
TEXT BAILEY JENSEN
YOUR IMMEDIATE SURROUNDINGS in your home actually have an impact on your mood. Invest in some candles, lanterns, fuzzy blankets, and all things that emulate cosiness. Beginning and ending your day in a comfortable environment can be a nice contrast to the difficult winter. While the weather may be terrible outside, try to do a variety of indoor activities. Meet a friend for coffee or tea at a hyggeligt café, try a board game café, go to the cinema, see a play, or check out the latest exhibits at a museum. You can also host a dinner at your home for friends, have a game night, or a sushi-making party. Take the time to be present with your friends and family, to facilitate an environment of hygge and meaningfulness.
VITAMIN D AND SUN LAMPS Acquire a sunlight or light therapy box, which is a special light that mimics natural outdoor light. Denmark is notoriously darker in the winter, with very limited hours of sunshine and early sunsets. To combat seasonal depression due to the lack of Vitamin D, consider taking a Vitamin D supplement and buying a sun lamp. Sun Lamps have a positive effect on serotonin and melatonin, which helps to improve your mood, reduce anxiety while helping your sleep and wake cycle.
WINTER BATHING Considering trying Vinterbadning (winter bathing), a classic Danish winter activity. Basically, this involves briefly swimming in the ice-cold ocean naked and then warming up in the relaxing sauna. While in the moment, the water is frigid and punching, afterward, the sauna leaves you rejuvenated. People usually repeat the pattern of ocean and sauna while ending the cycle with the cold sea. There are endless benefits to winter bathing including an increase in energy, surges your endorphins, pain relief promotes weight loss, enhances circulation, lessens stress, and boosts your immune system.
JOIN A CLUB OR ASSOCIATION Denmark has consistently been highly ranked for a good worklife balance. Part of this balance is reaching an equilibrium between family life, professional life, and personal life. Denmark is a “nation of associations,” and there are countless clubs and associations you can participate in. Join a club for running, soccer, tennis, fencing, roller skating, rock climbing, or cross-training. Participating in a club or association creates a deep sense of community, consistency, social opportunities and guaranteed endorphins with exercise. One prime way to gain more Danish friends is to join a club
JANUARY 2020 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM
BAILEY JENSEN BLOGGER & STUDENT Bailey Ann Jensen is an or association, for the majority of Danes belong to one. This is a great chance to connect to the seemingly distant Danes and can facilitate a fulfilling feeling of belonging, which is vital for expatriates. A final way to thrive in Danish winter is to boost your levels of wellbeing by learning a new hobby. Take an evening or weekend class on pottery, candle making, or baking. For expatriates, try going to international meet up groups such as some offered by Internations. There are often weekly meetups where you can socialise with others from countries all over the world and connect with one another about the commonality of living in Denmark. This type of connection can truly decrease the ever-present sense of loneliness as an expatriate in Denmark, especially in the winter time. THE-INTL
INVEST IN SOME CANDLES, LANTERNS, FUZZY BLANKETS, AND ALL THINGS THAT EMULATE COSINESS.
American expat in Aarhus, Denmark since 2013 and is from Helena, Montana. She originally came to Denmark as an exchange student at Aarhus University for one year, where she met her Danish husband. Now living in Denmark permanently, Bailey is getting her bachelor’s degree in political science and is an international nanny for families in Aarhus. In her free time, she makes sense of her multicultural life around her with her blog about becoming a Dane: Dane in Training. For frequent new blog posts, check out her website and daily pictures on Instagram www.daneintraining.com @daneintraining