Sleeping poorly? Head to the Winter Mountains in Skåbu

Better sleep during the winter: How daylight resets your body clock

Winter can be long and dark for those of us who live in Norway. It is tempting to hibernate indoors, firmly planted on the sofa with the remote control in hand. But there is a better way.

Did you know that your body has a clock that needs to be reset every single day?

Researchers have a word for what sets it: zeitgeber, meaning “time giver”. The strongest zeitgeber of all is light.

Winter daylight in the mountains: Why the light is stronger

Your office provides barely 500 lux. A light therapy lamp gives 10,000. A sunny winter day in the mountains gives 50,000 or more. That is a serious dose of light!

The mountains are where winter light is at its strongest. Snow covers the ground all winter and reflects 85 to 90 percent of the sunlight, so you get light from above and from below. The landscape is open, and nothing blocks the sun. You are often above the fog and the grey of the valley. In the evening, it gets truly dark, far from city lights and screens.

Sleep better and feel more energised after a weekend in the mountains

Bright light by day and darkness at night is the clearest signal your body clock can receive. This big dose of light recalibrates your internal clock. The result is better sleep, a better mood and more energy. Research shows that a single weekend can help bring your circadian rhythm back into balance. Even without direct sunshine, this wonderful transformation happens in the daylight of the mountains.