How to Survive an Alaska Winter

Alaska in winter is beautiful, but getting through your first Alaskan winter can be torture.

Even for those who generally love the winter months, getting through your first Alaska winter can be trying on even the hardiest of souls. Alaskan winters are rough on everyone, and even if you are a winter person and night owl, you're still going to get hit with some form of Seasonal Associative Disorder (SAD). Knowing this ahead of time makes it much easier to deal with when the sun disappears for weeks on end.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Sun lamp
• Uplifting movies/CDs
• Vitamins
• Very warm clothes
• A support plan

1. Get a sun lamp. These are often referred to as "happy lights" in Fairbanks, and are essential to many people for making it through a Fairbanks, Alaska, winter. These lights simulate sunlight, and sitting in front of one twice a day for 20 minutes can really up lift you emotionally.

2. Maximize positive influences, minimize the negative. "Schindler's List," "Saving Private Ryan," and "Braveheart" are all great movies ... but not the kind you want to watch during an Alaska winter. Same with music. Be very careful not to get into a funk, since the lack of light and the extreme cold can exacerbate any negative or sad feelings.

3. Get out when there is light. Unless you're north of Fairbanks during winter in Alaska, you get at least 45 minutes of a dawn/dusk type of light. Get out for it. Every little bit helps.

4. Find company. Hang out with others, find excuses for social get-togethers, visit an author reading at the local university or bookstore just to get out and around people. If you're not much of a people person but love animals, dogs make great companions during an Alaskan winter, and during the rest of the year, as well.

5. Figure out what works for you. Going out to eat whenever you can afford it may not make you happy, but it can level out when you are down. Take the advice of any longtime natives of the area, and you might even find your first Alaska winter reallyisn't so bad after all.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid the bars if you have any drinking problems at all. In winter, alcoholism runs rampant, and some areas get pretty rough as a result.

• Find excuses to be around people.

• Remember that spring does come eventually, and there are always help lines to call if you really need it.

• Don't assume because you're a night person or winter person that you're fine.

• Even if one winter barely affects you, the second could wreak havoc, so always go in with the right mindset.

• Be careful. When it's 40 degrees below zero, a lack of preparedness can be deadly.