Hey everyone! I come from a very sunny side of Mexico where the coldest winter is 5 degrees and lasts 6 days...imagine that!

I have been her for three months and I find myself "kraftlos" without energy whatsoever and I am quite a hyperactive woman. Oh yes, and I find myself with huge chocolate and bread cravings (Ok, maybe that's an excuse).

But please, if you have been living here for longer and know about this, I will gratefully welcome your suggestions...

How does one survive the winter in Switzerland?

Wear warm clothes and go to the mountains to get some sunshine. It may be cold but brightness is wellknown to make us all feel better

When it is really cold, I like to wear a down jacket.

I understand how you feel DFranco. I've been in CH for only six months and it will be our first winter here. We lived in Malta for almost four years, New Zealand before that and Florida before that. It's been almost 10 years for me without winter.

I really don't like snow or the cold and already feel a bit depressed about being inside so much, and winter hasn't even started yet.

I will surely spend a lot of time in the sauna and watching movies and will try to get away for a nice warm vacation during the worst part of winter.

You will survive. It just takes a bit of getting used to.

Perhaps you'll enjoy some outdoor activities, like skiing. Try to see this as a new exciting experience.

I lived in a very cold part of Canada so winter seems quite mild to me here. But it is all a question of what you are used to. The best advice I can offer is to dress properly, especially wear a hat, scarf and gloves. Don't forget about warm footwear. Long underwear can be worn under jeans (unless they are skin tight).

Don't forget to use moisturizer on your face, and if you are going for a walk and it is sunny, sunscreen too.

The first summer I lived in Japan I had a very difficult time coping with the extreme heat and humidity as I was not used to it. Each summer I coped better so I think my body adapted to the new climate. Perhaps this will be the case for you with the winter here.

Yes, warm clothes and plenty of hot drinks, all sorts of lovely hot drinks to keep you warm

Warm clothes are okay, if you MUST go outside. Do that as little as possible. No matter what they say, warm clothes and all, outside in the cold is not pleasant for many of us.

Get yourself a Gro Lite, a wide spectrum light that is supposed to be similar to sunlight. It'll help keep the winter blues at bay! I think you can get them at Media Markt or Fust for around 400chf. I've heard you can rent them cheaper, but have not confirmed it yet.

The Gro lite, a few good bottles of wine, and some good company. The winter will be just about bearable!

q

Visit spa's / thermal baths / water paradise type pools,
what also works for me is a holiday break to Tenerife or just
go get some sun at Flumserberg

Holà DFranco!

We all can like each and every season if we want to. Why not make of winter a new and great experience, why not making it "your friend"?
I like winter because:
- I can optimise the lights in my house, buy lots of candles and make a cosy and warm home
- The smell of cinnamon I put as decoration
- Enjoy again a hot cup of tea, different every day (here they use to sell X-Mas tea, especially made for that season and other kinds of spicy or very nice "Winter -Tee", a warm blanket and a good book- that's nice
- I eat again more "heavy" food , game, fondue, raclette
- I go often to the sauna
- Watch DVD's or listen to CD's I never had time for during the warmer months
- Invite friends to play (cards, etc...) at home
- Go out when the sun is shining, enjoy the fresh air - and afterwards your favorite hot drink when back home
....prepare or book the next vacations in the sun

The list is long , make the most of it, I'm sure you can even like winter here..
Already in one month, daytime is getting longer again...

Don't give up!

What go outside as little as possible? That's a great way to get even more depressed and sick!!! Fresh air is good for you no matter what the weather is! Yes winter sucks here, but make the best of it don't hide from it!!

The worse thing about winter is the central heating indoors.. just awful. The healthiest way to enjoy winter is wrap up warm and get lots and lots of fresh air. I haven't been getting out that much lately as my 7 month old daughter's been sick and so having been indoors a lot I'm now down with a sinus head cold and fever which has more to do with heating than winter cold outside.

Buy yourself a pair of Odlo thermal pants which will keep your legs warm when you go outside. Even though it is cold in winter I strongly recommend you do some outside activities like walking everyday if you can just so you get fresh air (otherwise I find you get more depressed) . Odlo thermal underwear are available from Migros, sportshops not cheap but they're worth it.

Get into the spirit of the season! Warm clothes, brisk walks, mulled wine and comfort food!

I think if you try making winter as much as summer as possible- you're only going to get more depressed by it. No matter what you do, you cannot alter the effect of it being below freezing outside. So you might as well appreciate this as a completely different experience, and enjoy it at such.

Most heat escapes through your extremeties. So warm socks, waterproof shoes, waterproof gloves and a hat that covers your ears as well. Also a nice snuggly scarf, and you'll be set to go.

Oh, and have another mulled wine. They're seriously delicious

Don't fall into that trap!

It's cold and dark outside! It's warm and cozy inside! All you need is some artificial sun. Heck, even the right vitamins can help with that for a few months, and you'll be good to go!

People from cold grey places will tell you about the benefits of going outside in the winter. Don't listen to them! It's a trap. They probably even think a pink nose is "cute".

All you need to survive the winter is in your room. and maybe an electronics store. and possible the pharmacy. ;-) But definitely not outside!

Exactly! (apart from winter sucks) - I've never liked the cold but up here when I'm out feeding the animals at 6am it can be as low as -18 in Jan but then the sun comes up (usually) and even though the air temperature rarely gets above freezing, if I'm working outside I often have to get down to a T-shirt.

Head out of town and get above 1000m. Just wear warm socks and boots and carry emergency rations, whisky (or tequila) will do!

I used to hate winter, but now I look forward to the seasonal foods and the Christmas markets! Cold isn't really my friend, and I'm usually the girl wearing the most clothing when out and about, but I have really come to enjoy this time of year.

Go ice skating on the lake, get up to Germany, ski or go sledding, etc! Just being out and doing things will help with the doldrums.

Just remember, it is OK to wear 10 layers of clothing, don't let those "looks" bother you...

Nooooo! Have you never built a snowman, threw snowballs and made angels in the snow?.. crisp air of winter is rather beautiful. My late, rather wonderful Father-in-law, use to always say that winter walks by the sea or in the snow takes away the cobwebs and cleans your airways..

My cousin gave me her best advice - buy a really good pair of wool-lined boots - she said she did two winters without them, and couldn't believe what a difference it made when she did finally get a pair...I picked myself up some double-layered, real leather shoes yesterday second hand for 16chf and realised today that my feet actually felt warm and comfortable when I went outdoors..and it made me feel a lot more pleasant...

Warm socks, thermal underwear, and seek the sun - I'm at home now with our third bubs during the day, and I text my husband at work when the sun comes out to remind him to see it! - otherwise he leaves in the dark and gets home in the dark...We need the vitamin D! - 5-10 minutes in direct sun on the face and hands/arms is enough to lift the mood....

We are starting to get used to the layering thing and changing shoes for indoors/outdoors...especially since my 6 year old was coming home after playing in the garden and treading the mud through the apartment...

A hat makes an enormous difference to keeping warm, and the more you get out into the cold the more you will acclimatise to it...

Learn to ski. Then winter becomes fun. Just ask any passionate skier. They are all waiting eagerly for colder weather and much snow.

It gradually gets better each year you are here - this will be my 4th winter and like you I came from a much warmer climate (over 8 years in the Middle East).

Wear a hat, scarf and gloves whenever you go out - I caught frostbite on my little finger the first winter and it still causes me trouble now.

And if you can get out of the country for a vacation during the winter, I strongly recomend that too - it helps to have a break and be in a warm sunny swimwear environment.

Soup - always have lots of soup :-)