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Every time I read these things I'm surprised at how one sided and narrow minded these are! People in the nordics have existed for centuries with periods of 24 h

Every time I read these things I'm surprised at how one sided and narrow minded these are! People in the nordics have existed for centuries with periods of 24 hours of daylight. The concept of natural light and sleeping with the sun is excessively stupid.

ginko 5y ago
As someone living in Norway I can tell you that heavy blinds are pretty much standard in every bedroom.
- HaoZeke 5y ago
  Yup, where I live as well. However it's fairly common to see people play outside at around 11pm during the summer which is what I meant. Additionally, from your comment, I wonder if you grew up there. There is of course a difference between moving to a country with "abnormal" lighting and growing up in one. EDIT: Updated to elide personal information
antris 5y ago
As a person who lives in the Nordic countries, the sun is a major problem in here when it comes to sleeping and seasonal mental health issues. Yes, we do get by, but not without a cost. It is a serious interference with grave consequences for some people, and minor consequences for others, but nearly everyone is affected at least in some way.
- HaoZeke 5y ago
  That's true, I've heard of more people complaining about seasonal mood swings. It'd be interesting to read something in the "mainstream" which at least acknowledged people in "unnaturally lit" areas though.
- zero_iq 5y ago
  A few years ago, in the architecture and design museum in Stockholm, I saw an exhibit of a bus shelter that had been fitted with bright daylight lamps for use in a northern Swedish city. It apparently had a measurable impact on depression and suicide when they were deployed.
tallanvor 5y ago
This article talks more about genetics rather than light, so I'm not sure where you're coming from here. They also cover the fact that there are multiple processes that affect the onset of sleep, and daylight is just one of them. It's also possible that Scandinavians have some genetic differences that reduce the effect of long days on their ability to fall asleep.
piva00 5y ago
Just repeating all the other comments from people living in the Nordics: it's a hassle now during summer to sleep anywhere you don't have good blinds to get near-complete darkness. Not only that but you feel that your body doesn't relax at night time, here in Stockholm right now there is sunlight up to 21-something, never getting completely dark after that until the sun is up again around 03.00, my body is still fully awake with energy until way past 23.00 when usually during winters I'll feel tired by 18.00 as it is dark since around 14.30-15.00. I'm not Swedish but every Swede I know go through these cycles around the year, living here for 6 years hasn't changed much in terms of adaptation except that I just know that's how it works.
timonoko 5y ago
I always sleep with bright light on. Dreams become more summerly and happy. Also I discovered recently that when tenting in mid-winter it is advisable to leave small ledlamp on. If you wake up in utter darkness, and you cannot remember where you are, panic attack can cause sever damage to the equipment. -- Double sleeping bags are the worst when zippers are not aligned anymore. And yes. I have had a black bear stomping on my tent in Haida Gwaii. Yelling chased it away.

ginko 5y ago

As someone living in Norway I can tell you that heavy blinds are pretty much standard in every bedroom.

HaoZeke 5y ago
Yup, where I live as well. However it's fairly common to see people play outside at around 11pm during the summer which is what I meant. Additionally, from your comment, I wonder if you grew up there. There is of course a difference between moving to a country with "abnormal" lighting and growing up in one. EDIT: Updated to elide personal information

antris 5y ago

As a person who lives in the Nordic countries, the sun is a major problem in here when it comes to sleeping and seasonal mental health issues. Yes, we do get by, but not without a cost. It is a serious interference with grave consequences for some people, and minor consequences for others, but nearly everyone is affected at least in some way.

HaoZeke 5y ago
That's true, I've heard of more people complaining about seasonal mood swings. It'd be interesting to read something in the "mainstream" which at least acknowledged people in "unnaturally lit" areas though.
zero_iq 5y ago
A few years ago, in the architecture and design museum in Stockholm, I saw an exhibit of a bus shelter that had been fitted with bright daylight lamps for use in a northern Swedish city. It apparently had a measurable impact on depression and suicide when they were deployed.

tallanvor 5y ago

This article talks more about genetics rather than light, so I'm not sure where you're coming from here. They also cover the fact that there are multiple processes that affect the onset of sleep, and daylight is just one of them. It's also possible that Scandinavians have some genetic differences that reduce the effect of long days on their ability to fall asleep.

piva00 5y ago

Just repeating all the other comments from people living in the Nordics: it's a hassle now during summer to sleep anywhere you don't have good blinds to get near-complete darkness. Not only that but you feel that your body doesn't relax at night time, here in Stockholm right now there is sunlight up to 21-something, never getting completely dark after that until the sun is up again around 03.00, my body is still fully awake with energy until way past 23.00 when usually during winters I'll feel tired by 18.00 as it is dark since around 14.30-15.00. I'm not Swedish but every Swede I know go through these cycles around the year, living here for 6 years hasn't changed much in terms of adaptation except that I just know that's how it works.

timonoko 5y ago

I always sleep with bright light on. Dreams become more summerly and happy. Also I discovered recently that when tenting in mid-winter it is advisable to leave small ledlamp on. If you wake up in utter darkness, and you cannot remember where you are, panic attack can cause sever damage to the equipment. -- Double sleeping bags are the worst when zippers are not aligned anymore. And yes. I have had a black bear stomping on my tent in Haida Gwaii. Yelling chased it away.