Coping with Homesickness in Norway: Practical Tips

Published on November 13, 2025 and written by Cyril Jarnias

Moving to Norway can be a rewarding experience but also a real challenge, especially when homesickness sets in. This often intense feeling, exacerbated by cultural and climate differences, can affect your mental and emotional well-being.

Fortunately, there are various strategies to ease this nostalgia and better appreciate life in this Scandinavian country. In this article, discover valuable tips for overcoming homesickness while fully immersing yourself in Norwegian culture, from outdoor activities to ways of connecting with locals.

Building a Comforting Routine

Building a comforting routine inspired by Norway

Creating a welcoming living space means embracing the koselig spirit, a true pillar of Norwegian daily life. This concept encourages prioritizing simplicity, human warmth, and well-being in your home. To achieve this:

• Opt for soft lighting, candles, natural materials, and cozy blankets.
• Declutter your space to promote a serene atmosphere.
• Take care of your home’s cleanliness, turn tidying up into a meditative moment, and invite gentleness into every action.
• Invite friends over to share coffee or cook together, not seeking perfection but savoring the moment.

Concrete Elements for a Koselig Interior

Element	Concrete Examples
Soft Lighting	Candles, string lights, accent lamps
Warm Textiles	Throws, cushions, wool rugs
Natural Materials	Wood, linen, wicker
Minimalist Decor	Few objects, light colors
Scented Ambiance	Herbal teas, baked goods, wood fire

Incorporating Norwegian Cultural Activities into Your Routine

• Practice friluftsliv: allow yourself outdoor excursions in all seasons for walking, hiking, biking, or skiing.
• Explore local museums to better understand Norwegian history and culture.
• Discover Norwegian cuisine: cook or enjoy traditional dishes like gravlax salmon, smørbrød, or brunost (brown cheese).
• Try the sauna tradition after outdoor activities to relax and share a friendly moment.

Morning and Evening Rituals to Establish Serenity

• Take time to enjoy Norwegian coffee (black, filter) with a local pastry.
• Listen to Norwegian music, traditional or contemporary.
• Practice meditation or reading by the fireplace.
• Start or end the day with a walk in nature, even a brief one.

Sample Daily Koselig Schedule to Promote Integration and Ease Homesickness

Time of Day	Norway-Inspired Activity
Morning	Cold shower to wake up, Norwegian coffee, soft lighting
Midday	Hearty lunch (middag) with local products
Afternoon	Walking break or museum visit
Late Afternoon	Preparing a traditional dish, gentle tidying with music
Evening	Reading, meditation, sauna, or social time with loved ones

List of practical tips to strengthen the sense of belonging:

• Change into comfortable clothes upon arriving home to mark the boundary between outside and inside.
• Get involved in local activities: hiking clubs, cooking workshops, cultural events.
• Stay connected with nature even in the city by visiting parks or growing some plants at home.
• Adopt punctuality and discretion in interactions, values dear to Norwegians.
• Regularly share a meal or coffee, even a simple one, with neighbors or colleagues.

Embracing the koselig philosophy and friluftsliv in daily life means giving yourself a routine that comforts, promotes integration, and reveals the beauty of Norwegian culture.

Maintaining Strong Connections with Loved Ones

Maintaining strong bonds with loved ones when living abroad, especially in Norway, is essential for preserving emotional balance and combating homesickness. Current digital tools greatly facilitate these connections despite the distance.

Preferred Communication Methods:

• Video Calls: Apps like WhatsApp, Skype, FaceTime, or Zoom allow face-to-face conversations, ideal for feeling visual and emotional closeness.
• Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, or Messenger are effective for quickly sharing news, photos, and messages while maintaining daily informal contact.
• Regular Emails: Sending emails allows for more detailed messages, sharing anecdotes or personal reflections while keeping a written record of exchanges.

How These Tools Alleviate Homesickness:

• Promote a Sense of Belonging: Maintaining regular communication helps you feel supported and understood, even from afar.
• Sharing Experiences: Sending photos, videos, or stories of daily life in Norway involves loved ones in your adventure, reducing feelings of isolation.
• Moral Support: Frequent exchanges allow you to receive encouragement during difficult times or express your achievements, strengthening emotional bonds.

Tips for Maintaining Strong Bonds:

• Schedule Regular Visits (if possible): Plan family or friend visits in advance, or arrange for them to come to Norway, creating anticipated events that motivate you through lonely periods.
• Celebrate Special Events Remotely: Organize group video calls for birthdays, holidays, or other important moments to share precious times despite the distance.

Tools	Main Advantages	Usage Tips
Video Calls	Visual and emotional closeness	Schedule according to time zones
Social Media	Instant sharing, varied interactions	Create private groups
Regular Emails	Detailed messages, personal touch	Write once a week
Photo/Video Sharing	Involving loved ones in daily life	Use shared albums

Precautions and Best Practices:

• Consider Time Zones: Schedule exchanges considering the time difference between Norway and your home country to avoid disturbing others and respect everyone’s rhythm.
• Honor Commitments: Keeping virtual appointments or planned exchanges shows the importance you place on the relationship and builds trust.
• Be Mindful of Contact Frequency: Prefer frequent, short exchanges over long silences followed by intense conversations.

Involving Loved Ones in Your New Norwegian Life:

• Share Concrete Elements: Send photos of Norwegian landscapes, share anecdotes about local culture or lifestyle differences, introduce the language through typical expressions.
• Invite to Virtual Experiences: Offer virtual tours of your home, show your culinary discoveries, or organize remote Norwegian cooking workshops.

Key Takeaways:

Maintaining strong bonds with loved ones from a distance requires regularity, attention, and adaptation to digital tools. Sharing experiences and celebrating important moments, even virtually, are essential for preserving a sense of closeness and belonging, thereby easing homesickness and enriching your life experience in Norway.

Immersing Yourself in Local Cultural Life

Immersing yourself in local cultural life in Norway allows for a deep understanding of society while facilitating integration and reducing feelings of isolation.

Participating in Local Cultural Events

• Festivals and art exhibitions are prime opportunities to discover the diversity of Norwegian culture.
• Some emblematic examples:
  • Bergen International Festival: dance, music, folk performances, gathering Norwegian and international artists.
  • Constitution Day (May 17): parades, traditional costumes, celebration of Norwegian identity.
  • Northern Lights Festival in Tromsø: Arctic music and natural phenomena experiences.
  • Sami National Day (February 6): immersion in indigenous culture through music, traditional attire, and cuisine.
• These events offer moments of sharing, allowing you to build connections with locals and better grasp local values and history.

Joining Clubs or Interest Groups

• Sports, arts, or leisure clubs regularly organize social and cultural activities accessible to newcomers.
• Joining a hiking club, photography workshop, or choir facilitates meeting Norwegians and other expatriates sharing similar passions.
• These groups often offer outings, workshops, themed evenings, or participation in local events.

Discovering Traditional Cuisine

• Community gatherings, markets, and festivals are perfect for tasting typical dishes (rakfisk, lutefisk, lefse, salmon, etc.).
• Local restaurants offer opportunities to savor Norwegian cuisine in a friendly atmosphere.
• Participating in communal meals or cooking workshops not only lets you taste authentic flavors but also exchange with locals about their culinary heritage.

Benefits of Cultural Immersion	Examples of Experiences
Enhanced Understanding of Society	Participation in Constitution Day, music festivals
Building Social Connections	Joining a hiking or art club
Reduced Feelings of Isolation	Sharing a meal at a market or festival
Discovery of Living Traditions	Craft workshops, exhibitions, local concerts

Impact on Feelings of Isolation and Integration

• Actively experiencing local culture breaks loneliness, especially during long winters or the first months of settling in.
• Integrating into social and cultural networks helps develop a sense of belonging and better understand Norwegian social codes.
• These experiences promote language learning, open-mindedness, and adaptation to the local lifestyle.

Inspiring Anecdotes

Marie, a French expatriate in Oslo, shares that participating each year in the May 17 parade with her neighbors helped her feel “truly Norwegian” and build lasting friendships.

Lucas, who arrived alone in Bergen, joined a photography club. Through organized outings to capture Norwegian landscapes and collective exhibitions, he not only improved his art but also found a new family of friends, easing his homesickness.

Sara, of Italian origin, discovered Norwegian cuisine through community dinners and cooking workshops. Preparing and sharing a typical meal with her neighbors helped her better understand local culture and feel welcomed.

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Immersing yourself in Norwegian cultural life is one of the most effective keys to transforming an expatriate experience into a rewarding adventure while finding your place in the host society.

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