Surviving the Dark Winters in Sweden (Without Becoming a Hermit)

Let’s just get this out there: winter in Sweden is dark. And not like “oh, it gets dark early” kind of dark. I mean pitch black at 3:30 p.m. dark. The kind of dark that makes your brain whisper, “surely it’s bedtime,” when in reality it’s... 6:02.

The first year I lived here, I was completely thrown off. During one of those early weeks of total darkness, Ramesh and I were out running errands. It was already pitch black, so without even checking the time, we decided to grab dinner. We finished, started walking home, and I glanced at my phone…it was 4:30 p.m.! It felt like 7, easily. From then on, my body was convinced it was midnight by dinnertime, my motivation disappeared with the sun, and even our dogs were like, “yeah, we’re good! Wake us up in April.”

After a few years of this, I’ve learned that the key to surviving (and actually enjoying) the Swedish winter is leaning into it. You don’t fight it. You cozy the eff out of it.

Here’s how I make it through the dark season without hibernating until spring.

1. Embrace the Cozy : Candles, Twinkle Lights, Plush Blankets

Swedes are masters at cozy. There’s even a word for it: mysigt. Most people know the Danish version: hygge, but across Scandinavia, the idea is the same. Think candles, warm drinks, fuzzy blankets, and lighting that makes everything feel like a soft, flickering hug.

When it’s dark by mid-afternoon, candles become less about ambiance and more about necessity. I light them everywhere and I’m not exaggerating when I say I have at least five going at any given time.

Fairy lights, lamps, and window stars also make a huge difference. Overhead lighting? Absolutely not. Soft, glowy light only, please. There is nothing nice about overhead lighting — it’s never flattering, and it kills the vibe instantly.

2. Stay Busy: Entertain & Try New Hobbies

The temptation to crawl under a blanket at 5:30 p.m. and not emerge until spring is real. The trick is to plan ahead. Make plans you can’t cancel, even when your bed is whispering for you to get cozy under the covers.

I book dinners, trivia nights, or fika dates with friends during the week to keep myself from sliding into full-on hermit mode. Having something to look forward to makes all the difference.

And for nights in? Lean into it. Cook book club dinners, movie marathons, puzzles, mulled wine (glögg, of course), whiskey by candlelight — the works. It’s a balance: half social, half sloth. There’s nothing better than having friends over when everyone’s in sweats. Make it casual. Make it cozy.

Hobbies are also key! Take up sewing, knitting, reading, cooking, puzzles, there are so many creative ways to fill the time so you don’t become one with your couch watching tv all hours of the evening.

3. Get Outside

Fresh air helps, even if the sky is fifty shades of gray. Seriously. Even though we technically get about 6–7 hours of “daylight,” it’s grey daylight. It’s nothing like the Midwest winters where the sun shines so bright it blinds you (ah! I miss those days). Daylight hours are short, but those tiny doses of natural light make a huge difference. And yes, you HAVE to take vitamin D religiously. Consider it bottled sunshine.

I get outside every single day (easy to do when you have a dog to walk!). That fresh air revives you and gives you the energy to plow through the evening.

But another way to to embrace going outside is to hit up the bath house. Sweating it all out and then jumping in the sometimes below freezing sea water? YES! I know it sounds counterintuitive, but this routine really helps me get through the winter. Not to mention it makes me feel badass to say I was out in the water and it had ice on it!

4. Make Winter Your Personality

Want to wear cozy knits every day? Do it. Layers, layers, and more layers. Cozy scarfs. Big knit sweaters. Cashmere pants. The works.

Having a hot drink rotation of glögg, tea, and whiskey (or maybe a hot toddy!)? Absolutely.

Take up an outdoor sport like skiing, skating, or snowshoeing. Granted we don’t get much snow in southern Sweden, but if we did, I would totally pick one or all of these to help me embrace the season.

If you think of the season as an excuse to go full hygge, instead of something to survive, it starts feeling less miserable and more intentional.

5. Plan a Sunshine Break

Our best winter survival trick: leaving. Every year around Christmas, we take a trip south. Not necessarily to somewhere hot, but somewhere sunny (Portugal, Spain, Italy, Southern France, you get the idea). A week of blue skies resets your brain. Even southern Europe feels miraculous when you haven’t seen the sun in a month.

The goal isn’t tanning; it’s remembering what light looks like.

6. Accept That It’s Hard and That’s Okay

Even with all the candles, coffee, and cozy plans, the dark months can still feel heavy. Everyone gets a bit slower, quieter, more inward. And that’s normal.

The beauty of Swedish winter is that it teaches you to slow down too. To rest without guilt. To enjoy small things. To light candles at 2 p.m. and call it self-care. We aren’t meant to be going full steam year-round. Winter is a time to rest and recharge, and the Swedes get that and embrace it!

So yes, the dark winters here are tough — but they’re also kind of wonderful once you stop fighting them.

Closing

If you’re ever in Sweden between November and March, you’ll notice it’s not so much about surviving the season — it’s about softening into it. The darkness makes the light feel earned, the quiet feel intentional, and the cozy feel downright luxurious.

Now if you’ll excuse me, it’s 4:15 p.m., pitch black outside, and time for my nightly “is it bedtime?” internal debate. (Spoiler: it’s always yes.)