Recently, extremely cold weather permeated a wide swath of the nation, including where I live outside of Chicago. So cold, in fact, that school was closed one recent Friday. Meaning, I had three girls to entertain and very little options for going outside. Regardless, I bundled them up and insisted they help me walk the dogs. Whenever their energy levels start elevating, I send them outside. Because that’s what my mom did.
Many people aren’t aware: Minnesota is the state with the most extreme weather fluctuations in the country. This means that while the summers are very hot and humid, the winters are among the coldest.
I grew up in Minnesota. I remember being trained in how to shovel properly. I remember being trained in warming up your car for what seemed like an excessive amount of time prior to leaving the house. I also remember being trained in how to physically plug in your car so it will start again after a long winter night. And what about snow days growing up? They rarely happened, but frost bite was a constant threat if you weren’t properly dressed. Minnesotans are a tough breed, and with reason.
When you grow up in Minnesota, you become accustomed to working around the weather, not avoiding it. Being Minnesotan means you embrace life outdoors, no matter what the weather is doing.
That is why I am here to proclaim: winter is amazing, and any time spent outdoors is beneficial, but you must play by its rules.
Skiing, hiking, cross country skiing, sledding, snow forts — you name it, we did it growing up. We would bundle up in many layers of clothing and carry our sleds 7 blocks to a park with a monstrous sledding hill. At the base of that hill was an ice-skating pond where my dad and I would ice skate, and where I would practice cheerleading stunts (I was a hockey cheerleader — one of only a few states to have such cheerleaders).
But it makes sense that Minnesotans embrace life outdoors, as many are of Scandinavian descent.
The Minnesota Scandinavia Connection
Minnesota is the state with the highest population of Scandinavians in the country, with 1.6 million Scandis living there. With a total state population of 5.7 million, that means more than 1 out of every 5 Minnesotans are of Scandinavian descent. It is these Scandis that taught Minnesota how to embrace winter.
In much of Scandinavia, there is a deep cultural reverence for nature, but in Norway, that reverence is akin to a national religion. And that national religion is called friluftsliv.
Norwegian Friluftsliv
The word friluftsliv (pronounced free-loofts-liv) is an amalgamation of the Norwegian words for free, air and life, and is best translated as embracing an outdoor lifestyle. At the heart of the philosophy is the belief that one should connect with nature every single day, no matter if it’s raining sideways or snowing or bitterly cold. The Norwegians are truly obsessed with the outdoors. It’s a concept that permeates every aspect of life in Norway; even family vacations are often planned around friluftsliv.
Although the term friluftsliv was first coined by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen in 1859, it’s been part of Norwegian culture for hundreds of years. It affects and influences day-to-day life: including urban planning and education. In fact, those with a passion for this concept can earn a degree in friluftsliv to help others live their best lives outside…
It’s no wonder that Norway — in addition to many other Scandinavian countries — has been considered one of the happiest countries on the planet for years (as reported by Forbes).
Eight Benefits of Spending Time Outside
What exactly are the benefits of spending time outdoors? According to Healthline, there are 8.
Better breathing - Air pollutants are 2-5 times higher indoors, sometimes even more, depending on the age of the house.
Better sleep - Direct sunlight has 200 times the intensity of office lights in a closed room. Sunlight greatly affects your circadian rhythm.
Reduce depression symptoms - Low mood and fatigue depressive symptoms can be reduced.
Increase intent to exercise - Any physical exertion is beneficial, even taking a walk or gardening.
Mental restoration - Ongoing overstimulation (digital, in particular) may raise your stress levels without you even realizing it.
Boosted immune function - Air circulation can dilute the presence of viruses in the air.
Protection from short-sightedness - There’s some evidence to suggest children who spend plenty of time outside have a lower chance of developing myopia, or nearsightedness.
Improved emotional well-being - Outdoor time can do more than help relieve unwanted or painful emotions like fear, worry, and sadness. It may also boost happiness, peace, and optimism.
Another perk of living in a colder temperature — studies show it might actually help you live longer.
Colder Temperatures Might Lead to Longer Lifespan
Studies show that moderately cold temperatures increase a person’s longevity and decrease susceptibility to age-related diseases. This is because the cold prevents proteins from clumping together. In research compiled as recently as two years ago, it was determined that people living in cooler regions of the world may live an average of 2.2 years longer than those who don’t. Cold temperatures encourage cell growth, which is essential for longevity.
However, not all experts agree that living in colder climates could contribute to a longer life. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention consistently shows that excessive cold presents a greater threat to life than excessive heat. Recent research into aging has revealed that genes determine the extent to which low temperature can influence an individual’s lifespan.
But again, it should be emphasized that improper clothing is a huge factor in the dangers associated with cold weather.
Even now as an adult, I tend to gravitate outdoors quite frequently. In addition to greatly looking forward to walking my dogs multiple times a day, I also encourage my kids outside frequently — even when it’s below freezing outside. I’ve learned that with children, encouraging them to go outside reduces the likelihood of them on their devices. Plus, if their energy is too high, or is amping up, it helps them calm down a bit.
As they say in Norway: Det finnes ikke dårlig vær, bare dårlige klær (translation: There is no bad weather, just bad clothes).
So put on a good coat and gloves and get outside!
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