I was pleasantly surprised to come across this Fast company article that discussed a research study on how residents of Norway view their long winter as something to celebrate.
Lessons on enjoying a long winter
1. Norwegians celebrate the things one can only do in winter. “People couldn’t wait for the ski season to start” Getting outside is a known mood booster, and so Norwegians keep going outside, whatever is happening out there. Notes Leibowitz [author of the study]: “There’s a saying that there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.”
2. Norwegians also have a word, koselig, that means a sense of coziness. It’s like the best parts of Christmas, without all the stress. People light candles, light fires, drink warm beverages, and sit under fuzzy blankets. See Visual koselig journey
[Danish refer to a similar concept as Hygge]
3. There’s a community aspect; it’s not just an excuse to sit on the couch watching Netflix. Leibowitz reports that there were plenty of festivals and community activities creating the sense that everyone was in it together.
4. Mindset shift: “One of the things we do a lot of in [North America] is we bond by complaining about the winter,” says Leibowitz. “It’s hard to have a positive wintertime mindset when we make small talk by being negative about the winter.
This is easy enough to change; simply refuse to participate in the Misery Olympics. Talk about how the cold gives you a chance to drink tea or hot chocolate all day. Talk about ice skating or building snowmen. Bundle up and go for a walk outside, knowing that you’ll likely feel warmer and happier after a few minutes. Better yet, go with a friend. Social plans are a great reason to haul yourself out from under the covers.
Here at Organic Lifestyle, in addition to sparking mind hacks, we can offer you ways to feel warmer and happier (now known as Organic Lifestyle koselig! )
FLANNEL IVORY BEDDING SET
Just right for couples – you can have different comforters thickness, matched to your individual preference
or consider 2 x twin size comforters; one for each resulting in fewer fights over who hogged the comforter all night!
In the Bathroom:
Beeswax candles – made with organic cotton wick, no petroleum base and fewer allergens in the air
2 Responses to “The Norwegian Secret To Enjoying a Long Winter (its about mindset & organic Flannel)”
Ditto what Alina said!
Love your letter! So sweet and inviting. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the word koselig and loved seeing the visual representation of it. That’s where I belong! Minus the Brussel sprouts:)