The days of bright blue skies and sun are officially over in Copenhagen. We are now fully into cold, dreary and gray days and its all my friends and I are talking about. We are all struggling to deal with the cold days where the sun sets only a little after 4:00 pm. And most of us are missing our families, friends, and pets and we could all go for a home cooked meal. So how do you deal with it all? I’ll start by saying it’s not easy and that I myself I’m still struggling with homesickness but I hope this list can help some of you!

Vitamins, vitamins, and more vitamins

The lack of sunlight doesn’t just affect your mood, it affects your health too! Without access to sunlight our bodies aren’t able to produce enough Vitamin D. Some foods like salmon and mushrooms naturally have high levels of Vitamin D while other foods can be fortified with it like orange juice and some cereals. You can also pick up supplements and vitamins from the Apotec (pharmacy) to get more Vitamin D! Making sure you’re getting enough vitamins and that you’re eating relatively healthy (which is so hard to do abroad) will keep your immune system strong to fight off all the colds and flues that come with winter time.

Do one small activity at night

By the time I finish my classes at 5:45 now it is always pitch black outside. This makes me want to run home, curl into my bed, and go straight to sleep – at 6 pm… I’ve started to try do one small activity that requires me to leave my room and my RC every night or so. Whether it be grabbing a drink or dessert with a friend or even going grocery shopping, just the simple act of leaving my room makes me feel less gloomy. And I’ve started to notice that the streets of Copenhagen itself are trying to cheer me up – with Christmas lights! All the shops, grocery stores and even the restaurants near me have gotten into the holiday spirit and have hung up beautiful Christmas lights. Just remember to bundle up properly before venturing out! Which leads me to my next suggestion

Go to Cute Cafes

Copenhagen cafes are a life saver, especially the cheap ones. Most cafes near DIS and center city are cozy and filled with comfy seats, soft lighting and of course lots of hot coffee. Perfect just for sitting and eating a pastry in (Spandeaur are one of my favorites) or for doing some homework with friends. Some of my favorite cafes are Buzzkafe (get the Danish waffles!), Studenterhuset (cheap coffee) or Meyers Baggeri! I promise a cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate does wonders to warm the downtrodden soul!

Get Hygge with it

Sometimes its just too cold and too dark to even possibly consider leaving your room. In that case, you want your room to be hygge! Hyggee means, as the Danes define it, “creating a warm atmosphere and enjoying the good things in life with good people. And making your room hygge doesn’t have to be expensive thanks to everyone’s favorite Danish store Flying Tiger. If you head over to one of the 5,000 Flying Tigers in Copenhagen you’ll have your choice of throw pillows, cozy blankets and of course the hygge essential Christmas lights. Making your room a warm and relaxing oasis is the perfect way to survive dark Copenhagen days.

Bake (or buy ) some comfort food

At this point in the semester, I’m pretty out of new/interesting ideas for dinner. That’s why its a perfect time to finally get that recipe for your favorite dish from your mom, dad, or grandma and treat yourself to some comfort food. Whether it be mom’s Mac and Cheese, dad’s chocolate chip pancakes, or grandma’s roast beef, comfort food and a taste of home goes along way in improving your mood. And if cooking isn’t your thing, take-out works too! Pick up a pizza or grab some sushi and enjoy!

Call your mom/Facetime your dog/message your friends

Nothing helps fight homesickness and the cold like a call with Mom, a Facetime with your pet (you know they can understand you) or a chat with your friends from home. Update them about your travels, complain about the horrible weather to them, but reassure them you’re still having the time of your life. You’ll be back home with them sooner than you think.