Student blogs

It’s already November, which means winter is coming, and with it, daylight is decreasing steadily. I come from a tropical country close to the equator, which means we don’t get that much variation in day and night hours across the seasons. Experiencing low daylight here has been an interesting experience for sure and requires an adaptation.

The first few days felt strange, I was inside buildings all day, and when I stepped outside around 17:00, it was already pitch black.  When that happens, your body tricks you into feeling like the day is over and you are ready to take a shower and go to bed, even though there are still many hours left and plenty to do. However, I believe it is a matter of perspective and how you allow yourself to experience and adapt to change.

One great way to deal with the darkness is to find cozy indoor activities. Fortunately, Karolinska Institutet (KI) and Stockholm offer ways to deal with that feeling.

KI library activities

The KI library promotes free cultural activities during the week:

• Craft nights: every Tuesday from 16:00 to 19:00

Every Tuesday during the semester, the KI library hosts Craft Night, a free and open-to-all event (no KI affiliation required). We can use free on-site materials for collage, crochet, and watercolor, or bring our own projects, with no registration needed. It was a really relaxing experience after a busy day of classes!

• Book club

The library also organizes book clubs. In the fall group, we read Beckomberga by Sara Stridsberg. The novel explores the history of the famous Stockholm psychiatric institution from the perspective of fictional patients. Our group included three meetings, a free copy of the book, fikas, and a guided walking tour of the old hospital area.

Even though this round is over I think is interesting to know about the opportunity. Stay tuned to their channels for upcoming groups.

• Academic activities

Beyond cultural events, the library offers different types of workshops for writing support, reference management, how to navigate search tools, giving oral presentations, etc. Make sure to check the calendar to see upcoming events and talks.

The library is also a really nice, welcoming, and warm environment for you to study or read.

KI gym

Keeping active is another great way to keep your energy up when the sun goes down early. Both the Flemingsberg and Solna campuses have gym facilities where you can sign up for a variety of classes—such as yoga, dance, and circuit training—or simply use the space for your own individual workout.

Free Museum Nights in Stockholm

Exploring Stockholm’s cultural spaces is a good way to get out of the cold on a budget:

• Nationalmuseum: they offer free drop-in activities in the studio on Thursday nights; no registration is required. They also have free admission on Thursdays from 17:00 to 20:00.
• Stockholms stadsmuseum: showcase of 500 years of the capital’s history, with free admission every day.
• Moderna Museet: The modern and contemporary art museum offers free admission on Fridays from 18:00 to 20:00.
• Accelerator: a contemporary art space connected to Stockholm University with free admission every day.
• Kungliga biblioteket – National Library of Sweden: is a good study spot but also allows free admission to its historical exhibition halls and rare collections.
  

What other activities do you think are good for getting through this season?