Five things on a Friday: winter in Alaska.

The sun woke me up this morning.  Around these parts, this is known as a Big Deal. If you read this post, you’ll remember that my husband set all of our smart lights to change to pink at sunset. This was accompanied by a sweet little chime, which helped us to really savor the moment.  On the shortest day of winter, we received six hours of daylight. Waking up to the sun this morning means I have officially survived my first Alaskan winter. In addition to feeling extra chipper and cheerful, I also feel like the sun gave me the green light to write about what helped me through the darkest months. We still have weeks of snow to enjoy (I can only hope!), but the short days and long nights are over. I’d love to share what helped during my inaugural experience.

1. Light therapy. I had heard about these in the past, but I never tried them before now. Guys! I am a convert. I used my light daily during November and December. I truly believe it helped my mood and my sleep cycle. I also put several residents on a light therapy program at work several months ago, and I’m still tracking the data. We are seeing improved sleep habits and have even been able to wean several folks off of sedating psychotropic medications! In one study I read, daily light therapy worked BETTER than daily Prozac for depression related to seasonal affective disorder. Fine print: it must be a 10,000 Lux light, and you must do it daily for thirty minutes per session. Ideally, light therapy is done first thing in the morning and the light is approximately two feet from you. I developed a nice routine with mine, keeping it with my Bible for use when I woke. Bonus: many insurance plans will reimburse for the cost!
2. Sunless tanner. Who doesn’t want a little color on their winter skin? Chris says I use the word sallow too much, but it’s exactly how I describe my skin tone in the winter months. I don’t just get pale; I tend to emit a little greenish glow. I have used this foam with great results on my face and body. I bought it for myself as a birthday present a year ago, and I still have plenty left. I use it sporadically, when I’m feeling extra green and in need of some bronze oomph. The real MVP,  though, is the gradual face tan. I use this daily on my face, as the last step in my routine. It can go under or on top of makeup, and it doesn’t dye my hands. I use six drops and there is a noticeable difference within a few hours. I also bought the freckle stain, too, because I don’t mind being marketed to but that’s another story for another day. Both of the foam and the oil are natural and free of yucky ingredients.
3. Vitamin D. Keeping in mind that this is a fat-soluble vitamin, it’s important to develop an individualized regimen. The kidneys do not excrete vitamin D like they do Vitamin C, which means overdose and toxicity are a very real risk. If it’s available to you, I’d get lab work before you start. However, the general consensus by the medical community is that a daily dose of 1,000-2,000 units is safe year-round. Most people in Alaska are taking more than that. My mentor physician here advised that I take 4,000u daily, despite my normal Vitamin D bloodwork results. This is because we get such little sun during the winter months. I started my children on 1,000u daily and bumped them up to 2,000u about a month into winter. I can’t prove that my mood is better because of it, because I didn’t risk going without it.
4. The right gear. The saying is very, very true. There is no bad weather, only bad gear. We spent a lot of money on quality items, in hopes that we’d be able to get by with fewer things; I can now testify that it was worth it. My kids each have one pair of snow pants, one pair of snow boots, one hat, and two pairs of gloves. They wear these items daily, on top of their regular clothes, to and from school, and whenever they play outside. They really like these coats, but we also bought these on super-sale last summer. Chris and I would probably agree that our thermal boots were our greatest winter investment. We have taken long walks in deep snow in them, and they consistently keep us warm and dry. I have also been pleasantly surprised by how much I like wool. I have several sweaters and even a boiled wool jacket that I prefer to synthetic coats, because they are both warm and waterproof. I guess it makes sense; wool covers were my favorite when I cloth diapered my babies! I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Noihsaf Bazaar, Poshmark, and eBay. We find great items secondhand on these sites and I always start there before buying new.
5. The outdoors. On the darkest days, I took a walk. On the stir-craziest afternoons, I opened a window. On the rare days when the sun shined through the clouds, I bundled up and stood outside with my face tilted toward it. I’ve grown to respect and cherish the cold.  I love the way the snow sounds beneath my feet. I love the fastidious task of shoveling stairs and scraping off a windshield. The brisk air in my lungs reminds me that I am alive and a small part of a big, vast, natural world. I try to stealthily sneak out onto the deck every time I see a moose, just to laugh at it clomp on by. I cannot get over the two bald eagles that live in the tree across the street; I’ll never grow tire of watching them soar through sunlight and snow alike. Our kids have learned to ice skate, cross-country ski, and ice fish. Their school sends them outside for recess no matter the weather. One day during winter break, we forgot to feed them lunch because they stayed outside all day long. I simply cannot see a way through winter without embracing it.

And there you have it – my tips for thriving in an arctic climate! Being that it was our first winter out of the south, I’d love to hear what works/doesn’t work for you cold-weather experts. Honestly, I’m not ready for this season to pass. I’m hoping for at least one more snowstorm before break-up season (apparently what they call early springtime around here, when the ice starts to break up and we can no longer skate, or drive, on our lakes). Good winter day to you!