I’ve lived in the Arctic Circle for 9 years and swear by 5 ways I stay warm
A GLOBETROTTER who lived on the Arctic Circle for nine years has revealed her top tips for staying warm, even in sub-zero temperatures.
Cecilia Blomdahl, 34, planned to stay in Arctic Svalbard for just three months, but “ended up falling in love with the lifestyle” when she was there nine years ago.
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Located between mainland Norway and the North Pole, Spitsbergen is one of the northernmost inhabited islands in the world.
Cecilia has collected 892,000 YouTube subscribers and wrote the New York Times bestseller Life on Spitsbergen by sharing her experiences there.
She said her friends and family weren’t surprised when she moved to the frigid island from Gothenburg, Sweden, because she enjoyed experiencing different countries from a young age.
“When I was 16, I went to a Swedish school in Spain and lived with a Spanish family,” Cecilia told The Sun.
“Then when I was twenty, I moved to Australia for a year with my older sister. I am very grateful for the opportunities I had at a young age to explore so much of the world. These experiences have truly shaped who I am.
“My parents thought this destination was a bit unusual and never imagined that I would eventually call it home.”
Cecilia said she was ‘longing’ for discovery and would think about her next adventure while working in the Swedish hotel industry.
When she planned a trip to Spitsbergen, it would be a few months before she found a new place to visit.
“I didn’t think this was the kind of place I’d settle in long-term, but I couldn’t have been more wrong,” she said.
“I ultimately fell in love with the lifestyle here, where everything revolves around nature and being outdoors.
“Every day feels like an adventure, thanks to Svalbard’s wild climate and dramatic seasons.
“Plus, the village is full of like-minded people from all over the world, making it such an inspiring place to call home.”
She said it can be difficult to find housing, but she was fortunate to get a job that came with housing.
No visa, work or residence permit is required for Spitsbergen.
“I arrived in November, in the middle of the polar night, when it’s dark 24/7, so I couldn’t really get a sense of where I had moved to,” she said.
“It wasn’t until the first full moon that I discovered that there was a fjord at the end of the village.
“Reindeer roam the streets, you have to wear polar bear protection when you leave the village, and there are seasons when you experience continuous daylight or total darkness. It’s different than anywhere else.”
Cecilia revealed she had to learn tricks to stay warm due to the cold weather.
“The first is that wool is your best friend in the cold,” she said.
“Start by layering wool thermals as a base and then add a wool sweater. If it’s windy, a windproof jacket under your big puffer coat is perfect for extra protection.
5 ways to keep your house warm in winter
Real estate expert Joshua Houston shared his tips.
1. Curtains
“Windows are a common place for the cold from outside to enter your home, this is due to small openings that can let air in, so always close your curtains as soon as it gets dark,” he said.
This simple method gives you an extra layer of warmth because it can provide a kind of “insulation” between your window and curtain.
2. Rugs
“Your floor is another part of your home where heat can be lost and make your home feel cold,” he continued. “On cold days you may notice that your floor is not pleasant to walk on because your feet are freezing.
“Add rugs to areas that don’t already have carpet. This will provide a layer of insulation between your bare floor and the room above.”
3. Check your insulation
Check your pipes, attic space, crawl spaces and under floorboards.
“Loose insulation is great for this, and it is a more affordable form of insulation, with a large bag being picked up for around £30,” explains Joshua.
4. Keep your interior doors closed
“Household members often congregate in one room in the evening, which is usually the kitchen or living room,” says Joshua.
“This means you only need to heat a small part of your home and closing the doors keeps the heat in and the cold out.”
5. Block drafts
Don’t forget to check cat flaps, chimneys and mailboxes as these can let in cold air if they are not properly secured.
“There is a game-changer for your feet: wear shoes that are at least one size larger than normal.
“This extra space traps air, which warms it and keeps your toes cozy. These layers and tricks will keep you comfortable even in the coldest weather.”
The content creator said she was surprised by how “exhausting” she found the polar days with continuous daylight.
She has learned to look forward to the months of darkness when she can get “some much-needed rest.”
Cecilia described the polar night, which takes place from November to February, as transforming her village into a ‘winter wonderland’.
“The northern lights and starry skies are breathtaking,” she said.
“Then comes the sunny winter (March to May), which is also a fantastic time of year.
“The island is completely covered in snow, so we can spend our days exploring on snowmobiles, entering ice caves and skiing. Summer is beautiful too.”
Cecilia said there is more to do in her small town of just 2,400 residents than outsiders think.
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It’s filled with hotels, bars, restaurants, sporting events, pub quizzes and even weekly knitting groups in the cafe.
“With so many people coming and going every year, there is always a new influx of newcomers and new businesses popping up,” she said.
“Plus, Longyearbyen has a fantastic food scene, with lots of great options to enjoy.”
She said most people live in apartments in the village, which is what she did in her first year in Spitsbergen.
However, she now lives in a hut with her partner Christoffer and their dog Grim.
They had to set up special systems because the hut is not connected to the village’s water or sewage pipes.
“I absolutely love living here, so I can’t imagine why I would want to leave,” she said.
“I’m not really the type with a five-year plan, so I can’t say exactly how long we’ll be here.
“In the near future, however, we are happy that we can continue to enjoy life in Svalbard.”
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