When I was in Bali, I wondered about Scandinavia countries, heard about Norway from friends working here, knew few Swedish people as my friend was married to a Swede, and heard nothing about Denmark. It did happen very infrequently to meet tourists from these countries since I lived in Bali or Jakarta. Luckily, in this high-tech and modern life, we can find further information about those countries or any countries We like to know about it through the Internet without self-experience by going or living there.
You might have curiosities about Scandinavian life. Such as the wonders if you can survive in their extreme winter season or if you would get fun or even be depressed. And so on, more questions running through your mind that you need to find out. Let’s check what we need as Asians to prepare for winter in Scandinavia so we can survive and pass the cold time.
You may have known and decided which season you would like to visit these countries or even if you plan to stay longer for some reason and your arrival time is fit in wintertime. Here there are, below are some clues I can share with you so keep reading on to get some tips and be ready to enjoy winter without suffering.
Layered Clothes
Yes, here we go!!! You need to cover yourself with many layers to go out, it might be a little bit annoying with thicker layered clothes on your body, you might feel a bit heavy to carry things more than your own body but hey, it helps you so much for not getting cold and freezing. Stay warm is a must. – “There is no such thing as bad weather. Only bad clothing” – Scandinavian wisely advised.
The tips and steps for Indoor outfits :
- The first layer as a base should be the thin and tight material of the shirt, to facilitate the absorption of sweat and reduce air directly into the body, the textile can be polyester, mixed textiles, or cotton, make sure your top body is well covered. Don´t forget your legs need to be covered with a stocking with a thickness of at least 60 deniers, the higher number the better as it is thicker, more durable, and warmer, or you can wear the thermal leggings that you can find in online shops or at the stores. The first layer sounds nice, doesn’t it? At this first step, you know you will be ok.
- Following, the second layer of cloth insulation is a t-shirt that can be a short or long sleeve shirt and the textile can be cotton or mixed materials or synthetic are fine as long as you are comfortable and warm enough, for your legs, the second layer is a long pant, a little bit lose are fine, the materials could be cotton, or mixed materials or jeans are acceptable too.
- The third layer is the addition, you can wear a sweatshirt or a hoodie or a wool sweater, or a knitted sweater, and if you are more into a dress, all good too. The layers you wear on is depending on how low the temperature is or how your body can handle the coldness.
- Last but not least you need socks in the house, the usual socks, and warmer and thicker socks when and home sandals or slippers, to protect your feet for not getting cold.
The tips and steps for Outdoor outfits :
- Time to go out, either you wanna do your daily routines or just a quick grab of food from outside or groceries shopping or take your pet out or stroll around the blocks or enjoy the countryside views, please don’t forget to wear your winter jacket on to prevent you from the coldness. What I could advise to select the winter coat is:
- Windproof, waterproof, and wear-resistance material – That´s very useful to choose a winter jacket. The winter jacket looks fluffy and bulky because It is filled mainly with goose down or duck down or a mix of goose and duck down so that the production cost is reduced, and a filled faux fur coat is even cheaper, as long as it works for giving warm, comfortable, and light. The materials can be wool material is a nice fabric for layering and giving warmth and comfort. Unfortunately, for you who have allergic to wool material, this is the main lack as wool is quite itchy and irritates the skin, so just choose the ones which match your comfort, activities, and lifestyles.
- Choose a winter jacket with two-way zippers, that can be unzipped on the bottom, easier for sitting down or climbing the stairs, and can be unzipped from the top too. Having buttons on the winter jacket is not the best idea as the wind still can get into your body.
- Hoodie. The hoodie can be attached to the jacket or can be removed hoodie, covering your face from the wind blowing from the other sides and protecting your head, and keeping the heat up.
- Shape and color. I am against mainstream so I go with a bright color for my winter jacket, so easy to be spotted when I walk outside. The winter coat also should be in a good shape on you so you still feel pretty even on many layers.
- The sleeve cuff is tight and covered enough even after the hand gloves are worn so the fingers, hands, and arms are perfectly protected.
- The drawstring hem on the bottom of the jacket and also on the neck, tight it up, to keep the heat on and loosen it up, to give air when you need it.
- Don’t miss your winter boots or snow boots. Depending on the situation, or roads condition we will pass. Choose a waterproof material such as leather, size up one or 2, giving more room for your toes to sway when you have thick socks on, and a rubber sole with deep lugs for not slippery walking on the snow, the taller boot is better to cover your feet more.
- Scarf, giving you warmth around the neck, shoulder, or head.
- Hand gloves are made of fleece material, cotton, or woolen if the weather is way too cold, then leather weather gloves as a second layer or a mitten (no separate finger openings but still separate the thumb from the other four fingers).
- Yes, a winter hat or beanie or skully or skull cap or wooly hat, or toboggan, or may call it any different name as long as it covers your head, giving warmth and comfort than wear it, so you don’t get a headache from the coldness.
“I love winter because I do not look fat in winter clothes“
Warm house or rooms
Most houses, apartments, or buildings are well insulated, due to the four seasons, the insulation systems are giving resistance to heat flow, and lower heating and cooling expenses but also give better comfort. The rooms can be heated by a regular electric heater, district heating, a wood stove, heat pumps, or a fan heater therefore you will survive in the room or house. Do you want to make your house even warmer and cozier? Place a nice rug or thick carpet, and blanket on the sofa, a warm duvet on the bed, really you will be fine.
Eat well
Sun oh sun, where are you? The sun shows up rarely during the winter, and our Asian skin and bones need more sun exposure at least close to daily needs as we have in the tropics. Uptaking good foods with higher vitamins and minerals is necessary, and even more important, especially vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiency can make our bones weak. The sources of vitamins and minerals can be found in vegetables, fruits, fish, milk, eggs, and cheese, In case, you cannot fulfill your daily needed intake, you can take vitamin D tablets, multivitamins, and minerals as supplements because our body works harder and spends more energy just trying to keep us warm in the winter.
Workout
Exercise, exercise !!! Yes, it is very understandable if some of us are very lazy to exercise in cold weather which makes us want to stay in bed longer and chill a bit, check our fridge all the time, and crave sweets, making us gain weight. Especially during the holidays when plenty of sweets and Christmas cookies and foods are served, and available at the stores and bakeries, this calorie intake needs to be burnt, to avoid our body looking like “Santa Claus” and it would not be easy to get our tracks back after a holiday season. Put levels up of physical activity by doing exercises, motivating yourself even stronger, getting up from your bed, going outside to run, jog, or simply walk, going cycling, using any of the equipment related to sports, downloading any workout applications, and your choice to home workout or go to the gym, at least train your body, and remember in the winter, days are shorter and lesser daylight hours so spend your time wisely.
Me Time
After the daily routines, you would feel exhausted, pampering yourself is helpful for not getting insane, Having a “me time” such as having a new haircut and a new look of you would bring your good moods and confidence back, go to the sauna refreshing yourself, doing a pedicure manicure, do nail polish with brighter colors, listen to the music, try new recipes, do baking, watch movies, and learn or get more new ideas on the internet, play jigsaw puzzles, read a good book or write some journals, lit the candles with aromatherapy smells, turn the decoration lights on, grab your hot tea, or coffee or chocolate or even ginger drinks, buy plantation to decorate your rooms and soon, you will feel relax and fresh every single day.
Manage to meet up with friends and families
As social beings creature, the need to meet and engage with friends and family is important, have a chit chat, get some fun and laugh together, or share and develop each other thoughts by sharing your thoughts, you get a new insight into your ideas, that’s a good thing, the further benefits to meet them up is to receive supports and strengthen your minds and soul. Does not matter whether you meet them up outdoors or at home, sharing is caring.
Go outside and enjoy outdoor activities
Go outside and enjoy the sunlight whenever there is a chance to get it directly exposed to your skin because your skin manufactures itself the Vitamin D and sunlight through the window glass reduces significantly vitamin D production. There are many ways to take part in winter activities, skiing, ice skating, snow scooter, walking or running at the park or forest, fishing, dog sledding or simply building snowmen.
Money/Uang/Pera/Duit/Ngein/Pitesan/Louy/Tiền bạc
The last and most important thing to fulfill and to provide human basic needs is money whatever you name it but its very essential to get daily beverages, clothing, and shelter. You have no chance to stay outside in the winter with not having one of them.
Hopefully, this article answers your curiosity about how can you survive in wintertime in Scandinavia.
Wintertime is not bad at all !!!
Please follow me for more newfound experiences in Scandinavia …