itseensasekaantuja

itseensasekaantuja t1_ixyoal5 wrote

About 10 years ago I was hiking in the Finnish Lapland during the summer solstice and didn't really bother with the time since the only difference between the day and the night was that it was a bit colder during the night. I actually spent one entire night just hiking since it was nicer to hike with the lower temps.

But at one point I had a pair of Germans arrive at the same campsite where I was, at maybe 1 am in the morning, and they asked what time it was. They'd had trouble getting sleep because it was bright and I think were just amazed at the weirdness of the situation. My theory is that coming from somewhere south into all that could confuse you especially if you kinda rely on your "internal clock" that's tuned to the amount of light. But, if you live all through the transition from the darkest period of the winter all the way to the summer solstice, it actually doesn't seem that out of place.

Blackout curtains are one of those investments that you almost have to do if you cannot adjust to the constant sunlight. Some also purchase those light therapy lamps that artificially create a sense of sunrise in your bedroom. Haven't tried them myself, but I could see those working.

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itseensasekaantuja t1_ixubvw2 wrote

Heh, I have lived a town that during the summer has only light and during the winter has only darkness. Today that town gets about 3 hours of sunlight. In a few weeks they will start a month long period of no sun at all.

It takes getting used to and if someone comes to experience it during either of the extremes they are visibly confused.

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