10 unexpected ways that living in Norway has changed my everyday habits
When I first arrived in Norway, I thought the biggest changes I would experience would be the weather or the language. I didn’t necessarily expect how much I would change, too.
But the longer I’ve lived here, the more I’ve noticed myself doing things I never would have imagined. Not just big life shifts—tiny, everyday things that slowly crept into my routine until they felt completely normal, from the activities I find fun to new tastes I’ve acquired.
Hear from Unlock Norway’s creator, Gabriella, on how her everyday habits have changed since moving to Norway.
Want to share your unique perspectives from living in Norway? Reach out!
I eat way more candy than ever before
I haven’t ever had much of a sweet tooth before, and I thought candy was mostly for kids before I moved to Norway. But here, the candy culture is strong, and structured.
The sacred concept of lørdagsgodt (Saturday candy) is a ritual, though in practice I usually prefer it on Fridays. Picking out a bag of pick ‘n mix on a Friday afternoon is one of those tiny pleasures you start to genuinely look forward to.
I willingly submit my body to extreme temperatures
This one still surprises me. I’ve become someone who strips down and climbs into near-freezing water... willingly!
Maybe it started with peer pressure—those people who do it seemed so tough and cool! But now, it’s just what happens when you live in a country with fjords on every corner and a nationwide belief that cold water “builds character.” Either way, it’s become almost a weekly habit for me through the winter, and I absolutely love it!
I wear reflectors!
There’s no faster way to spot a Norwegian winter rookie than someone walking around in all-black at night with no reflectors in the dark.
Once you’ve been here long enough, those reflective clips and bands go from seeming a bit excessive or even ‘uncool’ to “how did I live without this?”
Reflectors are everywhere: on backpacks, jackets, keychains, even shoes. I’ve even seen reflective thread being sold for embroidery projects! And honestly? It makes sense. You get used to the idea that being visible in the dark isn’t just smart, it’s part of the seasonal dress code. And I wish more countries adopted this safety practice as well!
I stand in the sun like it’s a survival instinct
You know those lizards that sit on warm rocks? That’s me now. :’)
The moment the sun comes out, especially after a long winter, you’ll find people standing completely still on sidewalks, benches, or leaning against buildings, eyes closed, just soaking it all in.
There’s even a word in Norwegian that I’ve picked up: solveggen (the sun wall), the wall of a building (usually south-facing) that receives direct sunlight and is a warmer place to sit outside on a sunny day, even in the winter.
And after your first dark Norwegian winter, you’ll understand exactly why this is such a thing.
I drink black coffee
No sugar, no milk… just straight up brown bean juice delivering caffeine to my system, the proper Norwegian way. Coffee is a big part of Norwegian culture, and it’s mostly drank black.
Before I moved to Norway, I only drank sugary, creamy concoctions. But when I got here, I was constantly offered coffee (which I’d readily accept), but when I asked for milk or sugar, I was often greeted with an “oops, we don’t have any!” So, I went from sweet lattes to strong, bitter black coffee, and now it’s actually my preference!
I now prefer the taste of sugar-free
Before Norway, I thought it was a good thing to drink soda with real sugar. But now, with the country’s absolute love for Pepsi Max and all things sugar-free, I’ve developed a taste for the artificial sweetener! Here, you can find a sugar-free version of basically everything, from soda to energy drinks to iced coffee.
Read more: Traditions that make Easter in Norway totally unique
I spend so much more time outdoors
Living in Norway has changed my relationship with the outdoors completely. I spend much more time outdoors, enjoying hikes through the Norwegian woods, camping, and swimming in the fjords. You really get an appreciation for all the moments you can get in the sun, and a taste for the fresh Norwegian air.
Because I live in Oslo, which is a great car-free city, I spend a lot more time using public transportation and walking. Forty minutes to get somewhere on foot? Totally normal. Actually preferable. Before I moved here, that would’ve been a situation to call a taxi. Now, it’s the perfect time for a podcast, stretching my legs, and fresh air. Norwegians walk a lot, without framing it as exercise. It’s just how you get places. And once you get used to it, the idea of driving feels completely unnecessary!
Read more: How to enjoy cabin life in Norway (and where to start for newcomers)
Recycling has become a game
Pant is Norway’s bottle deposit system, and once you understand how it works, you will never throw out a bottle again! Every can or plastic bottle has a deposit value—usually between 2 and 3 kroner—which you get back by returning them to a reverse vending machine.
It’s recycling, but with a small hit of dopamine every time that total climbs. Some people casually drop off a few bottles. Others arrive with trash bags full and you know they’ve just had a party!
Now, if I see someone crinkle up their can and throw it in the trash, it feels like sacrilege.
I eat way more frozen pizza, and use pizza dressing!
This one crept up on me and converted me almost unwillingly. Before, I would scoff at people who put Ranch dressing on their pizza, and now I can’t live without garlic sauce on top of my Grandiosa! It’s just what you do here.
Frozen pizza is practically its own food group in Norway, and while I still love my own homemade meal, sometimes there’s nothing better than popping a frozen pizza in the oven and dipping it in your favorite sauce.
I’ve started trying to win the lottery!
And not just because Norway is expensive, but I can’t say that a few million kroner wouldn’t be nice…
I don’t believe I’ll win, but that’s not the point. Buying a flaxlodd (scratch card) at the grocery store checkout around holiday periods (Christmas time, Easter time, birthdays, etc.) is almost a ritual now. I scratch it with vague hope, fully aware that my odds are microscopic, but still enjoy the moment of possibility. It’s cheap entertainment, and a surprisingly common habit across generations here. I even receive it along with a card for birthdays, etc.
Norway changed me, and I’m not mad about it!
These might sound like small things, but they sneak up on you. One day you’re walking home from the store with reflectors clipped to your bag, a sugar-free energy drink in one hand, and a scratch card in the other… and it feels perfectly normal!
Some of these things may seem more unhealthy, from candy to frozen pizzas, but overall I think that I’m healtheir in Norway than I ever have been…
That’s the thing about living in Norway. There’s no immediate demand to change, but over time you just might find yourself doing things you never used to do.
