how to survive a long and dark winter on the backside of a mountain

Even if I have moved far north compared to where I come from, it is not exactly far north in Norway. But then I live on the backside of the mountain behind which the sun hides for 5 months. I think that something that makes it extra difficult sometimes is that the sun does not hide from everyone equally here. I look straight out on the other side of the valley from my living room and kitchen windows and there it shines jolly almost all year round. The advantage is that I don't have very far when I want to "visit the sun" as I call it, but I won't deny that it feels unfair at times. And this leads directly to the first tip on how to survive the dark ages:

don't focus on what you don't have - try instead to see the benefits if you can

It's very easy for me to get carried away with my emotions if I'm not careful. It can be both for the good and bad. So if I'm sitting here in my swing chair and fretting over how awful everything is, it doesn't take long for my feelings to adjust to my thoughts and if it's been like this for a little while, I start to believe that it's the (only) truth and gradually become depressed and bitter - have been there. Fortunately, I have learned to recognize these black holes that suck out all joy and energy and can mostly avoid them.
Og det gjør jeg ved å fokusere på de fine aspektene av mørketida - og jo oftere jeg retter blikket mot det positive jo flere ting finner jeg og i år har jeg faktisk gledet meg ordentlig på den.

We have a short and intense summer season and this year when I was getting goats and everything that had to be looked after and sown and weeded and harvested and gathered, the summer flew by in a flash and I was very busy in the autumn. I think that even though the weather hasn't been particularly nice, it's been a great summer this year, but I often find it difficult to relax properly because there's always something that can, should, might and has to be done and than it's bright around the clock, too. In the winter, when it's really cold and dark outside, I find it much easier to take time for myself and quieter projects. Then I read in front of the fireplace, listen to an audiobook while making cheese, try out new hobbies (last winter it was needle felting), read about all kinds of fun things, take a bubble bath, play board games with friends, reflect on the last gardening season and plan and dream of the next one. Everything that I don't have peace and quiet for in the summer.

Focusing on positive aspects is easiest for me to do if I have collected the ideas already in the summer. Then I fantasize about all the recipes I'm going to test out and books I'm going to read while I put up fence posts or raise hay. But it's not too late now - Is there something you wanted for a long time but didn't get around to? Or is it a language you want to learn? Is there a creative project that you would like to get started on? Do you want to try out some recipes, invite friends over for dinner or board games or look forward to reading more on my blog? 😉 And if it feels too big to think about what you want to do all winter, just think about what you want to do today or tomorrow. It can be as little as taking 5 minutes with a cup of tea or listening to your favorite song or an audiobook on the way to work, or sleeping a little longer/extra.

find something meaningful for you - but take it easy

It doesn't have to be as big as finding the meaning of your whole life. In fact, it was precisely aiming too high/far that made me feel like I could never reach anything. It felt way too big and then I couldn't even take a single step. I had to take one step at a time and I still try to do so - then I get much further and don't get frustrated and give up so quickly. It's good to know where the road is going, but if I focus on the long way ahead, it's easy to lose heart along the way. So instead of setting myself the goal of being self-sufficient in food, which would be too big a step for me, I will try to be self-sufficient in one or two types of vegetables for next year. This is a realistic goal for me and if I have some surplus then maybe I can achieve even more, but it is not a requirement and no crisis either. And if there should be a bad gardening season or something else should happen, it still doesn't feel like I should forget the whole self-sufficiency thing.

Nevertheless, I have had periods in my life where I did not know at all what I wanted and where the road should go. I have three suggestions how you can try to find some meaning wheneve you feel this way.
1. Help others. In my experience, giving is very rewarding (not sacrificing). In what way you want/can help, you have to decide for yourself, but some suggestions are to volunteer, donate money to an organisation, give your time and attention, teach something you can, give a compliment, a smile or a hug.
2. Take care of something. I think that taking care of something automatically feels meaningful. It can be anything from an animal that needs extra care to art and skills that are about to be lost. Help preserve something that is beautiful, meaningful and/or useful - or you may find your own value in it. You set the limits yourself - start here too with small steps. You don't have to save the entire rainforest alone, but maybe you can sign a petition. You can also learn how to save seeds from your favorite flower and vegetable varieties to preserve them for next season or for the future.
3. Take care of yourself. Do it in general but especially when you have nothing left to give or find nothing meaningful in your life. Sleep and rest, say "No" when needed, be kind and patient with yourself and ask for/get help if you can't do it alone - there's no shame in that!

do it with a friend

Whether you knit or watch TV, do it with friends, family or a neighbour. Invite people to visit, play (board) games, cook together. There is probably someone around you who would appreciate some company. You can also join a crafting group, a chess club or a sports team. And if there isn't the type of social event you want, consider starting it yourself.

hibernate

Save energy by stepping down a bit. Winter in nature is a time of rest when animals and plants either go completely dormant or do only what is necessary to survive - everyone conserves energy as much as they can. Our internal clock has not forgotten this mechanism either, we just often ignore it. You can hibernate by sleeping a little more, doing things a little slower, lowering your expectations of what you should, ought and must get done and taking an extra break.

additives

Vitamin D
Did you know that vitamin D is not a vitamin but a hormone? The body can form it itself with the help of sunlight, but in winter the sun is not strong enough and here it is gone for almost half the year as well. You can get vitamin D through various foods such as mushrooms, eggs and fish or supplements. I have written "sunrays" on my packaging and imagine that there is a small ray of sunshine caught on a beautiful summer day in this capsule.

Daylight lamp
An absolute game changer! First, I have to admit that I didn't want to use one - I don't really know why. I'm assuming it was a mix of it feeling unnatural, not wanting to invest money in "just a lamp", probably not wanting to admit I was struggling and not knowing anyone who used one. (it turned out that I knew some, I just hadn't asked people what they do to cope with the dark before) . But after a winter when I struggled a lot, I was ready to try. It cost me around NOK 500 (there are also places where you can borrow one) and it has been one of the best investments for my mental health.
I was not fully aware of how extremely bright it shines and that I must hold it quite close to my face (depending on the strength and size of the lamp it varies from 10-60cm - the closer it is, the less time needed to sit in front of it). I try to turn it on right after I wake up, otherwise I put it at eye level in a kitchen cabinet when I'm doing the dishes or making cheese. I have lost much of the dullness in the winter since I'm using the lamp. Highly recommended.

Herbs

But St. John's wort is known to be able to ease depression and it gave me a good feeling to "harvest rays of sunshine" in the summer from my garden to make it brighter in the dark. You can read everything you need to know about St. John's wort at rolv.no and pay particular attention to the contraindications if you take medication (including the birth control pill)!

Other herbs that can be supportive in darker times are rose petals, lemon balm and verbena, lavender, linden blossom, hops and passion flower. Which herb is best for you depends on your individual situation and condition. If you want to try to brighten up the winter with herbs, read up or go to an herbalist or another knowledgeable person.

the road ahead

For mental and physical health, diet and exercise (preferably outdoor activities) are also always important factors, but it would go beyond the scope here to go into details. I also wanted to give suggestions for measures that are easy to implement even when you already feeling low. Then it may feel a bit much to think about changing your entire lifestyle. Feel free to go out for a walk, maybe you want to try some winter foraging? Or you can read up on something you can/want to change in your lifestyle for spring (I think spring is a much better time to start or change something than the new year).

Regardless of what you choose to do, I hope you make it through the winter safe and sound and wish you Happy Goating <3