Get Hygge with it this winter! Hygge (pronounced hue-gah) is at the core of Danish culture. Merriam-Webster dictionary defines it as a quality of coziness that makes a person feel content and comfortable. For the Danish, it’s about purposefully slowing down to recognize and enjoy the present moment.
You’ve experienced hygge if you light candles while soaking in a warm bubble bath, or drink hot cocoa while reading in front of a roaring fire. If you regularly have family dinners, or spend time with your friends sans electronics, you are practicing hygge. It’s about being present in the moment, whether you’re getting together with loved ones or alone.
Ways to Get Hygge
Chilly days and wintry weather may have you spending more time indoors. It’s the perfect season to embrace the hygge lifestyle. While fire and candles are traditional elements of getting hygge, here are a few more ways to get you through the rest of winter.
Creating a Cozy Atmosphere
Whenever I light a candle, it instantly changes my mood. Lighting is key in creating atmosphere. Not just candles, but low-wattage light bulbs, the fireplace, or a string of lights can give you that cozy setting. Scent is also another great way to alter your feelings. Scented candles or a diffuser of essential oils, like lavender, vanilla, or jasmine, are calming.
Additionally, playing relaxing music, soft bed sheets, a fluffy down comforter, or a fuzzy throw, and pillows all evoke coziness. Create a cozy nook. The Danish call it a hyggekrog, curl up on the couch, lie around in bed and enjoy yourself.
Get Back to Nature
You don’t have to let the cold temperatures keep you inside. I love a good walk in the snow. Even in the middle of the city, it can feel like you are all alone. There is a hushed quietness after the first snowfall. Pause to take in the snow's beauty hanging heavy from the trees.
Remember how it felt when you were a child, build a snowman with your family or grab some friends for an epic snowball fight. Getting outside in the winter will boost your mood.
Warm Up With Food
Of course, tea, coffee, and hot cocoa are essential for hygge. Spiced hot cider and mulled wine are also great beverages to warm you from the inside out. Enjoy it in front of the fire, or better yet, meet up with friends for a cappuccino.
Nothing makes me feel more like cozying up than the smell of cookies baking in the oven. Whatever foods invoke that feeling for you is perfect to include. Bring hygge into your kitchen with baked casseroles, pies, stews, and soup. Take time to savor the flavors.
Dress Warm
I am sitting in my home office wearing a comfortable hoodie and soft leggings. When it’s cold outside, warm clothes are the answer. So pull out your sweaters, throw on a pair of fluffy slippers, or fun socks and your set.
Hygge is not just about making sure you have all these elements. It’s about being present in the moment. So if winter has left you feeling cold, give hygge a try. It will definitely warm you up and get you through the rest of the season.