Thriving in Norway’s Winter: Quantum Biological Replacements to Beat the Dark This Winter
Winter in Norway brings long nights, cold temperatures and limited sunlight hours, which can impact everything from your mood to your overall health. Luckily, there are things we can do to help.
Our biology craves certain environmental cues that the cold, dark winter strips away—namely, light. The power of red light therapy and photobiomodulation allows you to counteract the negative effects of winter's darkness and “thrive”.
Red light therapy, along with other therapies rooted in quantum biology, use specific wavelengths of light and magnetism to support cellular energy, improve skin health, and aid in muscle recovery. In a country where sunlight hours are reduced to zero in some places for months, tools like light therapy devices and PEMF therapy (Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy), cold thermogenesis, and strategic lighting offer powerful ways to replace the missing benefits of natural sunlight, helping you maintain optimal wellness throughout the season.
The Missing Sunlight and Its Wavelengths
What wavelengths are left are covered by the clothes we wear.
We evolved under the sun’s full spectrum of light in warmer climates. Even during winter, legs, arms, faces, necks were exposed. Understanding that sunlight nourishes us in many ways is important: it regulates our circadian rhythms, boosts serotonin, produces vitamin D, and helps our mitochondria (think of them as your energy producers in the form of something called ATP) function efficiently. In the winter, however, this natural light source is reduced to mere hours—or none at all in the far north.
Without the sun, we lose access to the critical wavelengths of light—both visible light, part of UV light, and some infrared—that influence our biology. Some of this is down to the angle of the sun and other parts are down to the extra layers of clothes we put on which block out the light.
The Red Light Solution
Replacing the Missing Light Spectrum with Photobiomodulation
Photobiomodulation (PBM or Red Light Therapy) through red and near-infrared light offers another quantum biological tool to thrive during Norway's winter.
There are many devices that offer a range of light wavelengths. I have PulseWave Pro devices offering 8 different wavelengths to help make up for the lack of sunlight. If you want specific other wavelengths, I can also add those into the panels for you. But for now, let’s stick to the basics.
One of the simplest and best ways to replace the missing sunlight in winter is through red light therapy. Devices that emit light in the red and near-infrared (NIR) spectrum (600nm range and the 800nm range) can penetrate your skin and support mitochondrial function, which is key to maintaining energy and cellular health during the winter.
Although not a like-for-like swap, bringing a red light therapy device into your home can help supply your body with key wavelengths of light in an environment where you can strip off and expose all of your skin to it.
Red light therapy can:
- Help compensate for the lack of sunlight, boosting energy and mood.
- Stimulate collagen production, improving skin health during the dry winter months.
- Support muscle recovery and joint health, especially if you’re staying active in the cold.
- Reduce inflammation, which can flare up when our immune systems are under more stress in winter.
Tip: The best time to use red light therapy is in the morning! Use red light therapy in the morning to mimic sunrise and “wake up” your cells. Using it in the evening can support wound healing, muscle recovery, or skin health as a recovery mechanism.
Red or Amber Lighting in the Evening
As the days get shorter, the temptation is to flood your space with bright, artificial light to keep going. But this can wreak havoc on your circadian rhythm, making it harder to sleep and recover, as well as ruining sleep quality and eye health. Fixing your evening lighting can be the first step to a healthier, happier you!
Opt for red or amber lighting in the evenings. These wavelengths have minimal impact on melatonin production and mimic the glow of a natural sunset.
By using dim red or amber lighting, you:
- Reduce exposure to blue light, which disrupts sleep.
- Mimic the natural light patterns our ancestors followed, helping your body wind down for rest.
Tip: Use red light in your living spaces and bedrooms after sunset to support natural melatonin production and improve sleep quality.
The Power of PEMF in Winter
PEMF devices are another quantum biological tool that can fill in the gaps left by the lack of natural sunlight and the outdoor grounding we typically get during the warmer, summer months in Norway.
One thing I love about Norway is the outdoor culture, but there is a key difference between summer and winter. In summer, you are connected to the ground with bare skin (feet, hands, etc.), but in winter, you are wrapped up in layers of clothes and probably thick boots—you are cut off! So how might PEMF work to help that?
PEMF Therapy exposes the body to pulsed electromagnetic fields that can:
- Boost circulation and oxygenate cells, offsetting the stagnation caused by less outdoor movement and grounding.
- Improve sleep by regulating your circadian rhythms, which can be disrupted by shorter days and artificial lighting.
- Improve ion exchange, promoting nutrient absorption, waste removal, and maintaining proper cellular function. These mechanisms can help with cellular repair and recovery, keeping your body in optimal condition despite the harsher winter conditions.
- Restore electrical balance: PEMF helps re-establish the body’s natural electromagnetic fields, which can become disrupted in winter due to lack of exposure to natural magnetic fields from the Earth and sunlight.
Tip: Incorporate PEMF therapy during your morning routine to re-energize and set your circadian rhythm or before bed to improve sleep quality.
Grounding Mats: A Solution for Indoor Grounding
When we spend time outdoors in warmer months, our bodies naturally connect to the Earth's electric charge through direct contact with the ground. In the winter, however, the cold weather makes outdoor grounding difficult.
Luckily, we have grounding mats and grounding sheets. These products are designed to simulate the effects of being barefoot on the Earth by allowing your body to absorb the Earth’s natural electrons while indoors.
Although not a perfect replacement—since grounding indoors may be affected by surrounding electrical signals—grounding mats can:
- Reduce inflammation and stress by balancing your body’s electrical charge.
- Improve sleep quality by syncing your body with the Earth’s natural rhythms.
- Enhance recovery from workouts or injuries by lowering stress on your body’s systems.
Incorporating grounding mats or sheets into your routine—whether you use a mat at your desk or sleep on a grounding sheet—can help mitigate the loss of natural grounding during the colder months, keeping your body balanced and connected to the Earth's energy.
Cold Thermogenesis: Embrace the Cold for Longevity
Cold thermogenesis (CT) may seem counterintuitive during the freezing winter months, but it’s one of the best ways to hack your biology! I recently did a video exploring just how much of a “biohack” cold thermogenesis was in the winter months.
Exposing your body to cold temperatures triggers a cascade of health benefits such as:
- Mitochondrial efficiency: Cold exposure encourages your mitochondria to become more efficient, helping you produce more ATP, which is crucial when you’re not getting as much energy from sunlight.
- Brown fat activation: Cold thermogenesis activates brown fat, which burns calories and generates heat, helping you stay warm.
- Anti-inflammatory effects: Cold exposure reduces inflammation, improves circulation, and even stimulates immune function.
- Stimulates hormones: Cold therapy has been shown to stimulate both thyroid hormone and melatonin, which help with metabolism and cellular renewal, repair, and resilience.
Even a few minutes of cold exposure—whether it's a cold shower, ice bath, or outdoor winter swim—can dramatically improve how you feel and how your body performs.
Tip: Start small with cold exposure and work your way up. If you’re cold bathing, always take a friend for safety.
Final Thoughts: Thriving, Not Just Surviving, the Winter!
It may not be the tropics, but we can hack our way through winter to thrive (relatively).
With the right quantum biological replacements—red light therapy, PEMF, cold thermogenesis, and smart lighting—you can keep your body operating at its best even when the sun takes its long rest.
At Home Light Therapy, I offer red light therapy and PEMF devices to help you maintain peak performance or even grow your health parameters during winter. Whether you're looking to boost energy, improve skin, or support muscle recovery, these devices provide the light, energy, electrons, and magnetism your body craves to flourish through the winter season.