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Do you want to transform your winter blues into feelings of warmth and contentment? Take a page out of the book of the happiest country in the world. Cozy up this winter with the Danish art of hygge.
The Danish word for “cozy”
“Hygge,” which has gained popularity in the United States over the past year, is a Danish word that has no direct translation into English. I’ve heard it pronounced HOO-GA and HUE-GA. Hygge encapsulates a feeling of warmth, comfort, contentment, well-being and connection. It is a noun. It’s a verb. It connotes enjoying simplicity, savoring life and a way of living that is more about being than having.
According to recent studies, Danes are the happiest in the world. And Americans, including this one, want to participate. Personally, I’m not going to put down roots in Washington and move to the other side of the world. But I have a library card and I’ve been reading about how the Danes live and discovering ways to incorporate more hygiene into my life.
Winter and me: a combination made in Canada
When I woke up yesterday, I could see my breathing. Winter is coming. And it always gives me a shiver of joy when I can feel it in the air. It may just be my Canadian upbringing, but I LOVE winter. And I live near Seattle, home to one of the grayest, wettest winters around. For me, winter is not about darkness and cold. It’s about the light of my house and the warmth of my fire in contrast to the darkness and cold outside.
When the weather is bad, the respite from my little corner of the world is sweeter. So when I first read about Hygge, I was shocked. One of the pillars of hygge is contrast. The inner world versus the outer world. Heat versus cold. Light versus shadow. Relaxation versus work. In that contrast, and in the ability to find joy in it, we experience hygge.
Hygge is enjoying the simple aspects of your life. It’s about being present and connecting with your world and the people in it. It’s not easy to explain but you know it when you experience it. And I believe we can all add more hygiene to our lives with small changes of intention.
Ways to Add Contentment to Your Life This Winter with Hygge:
Tighten
In the colder months, we bundle up a little more. My kids climb on the couch with me when I read or Dan and I go back to bed for half an hour to snuggle under the warm covers and sleep next to each other. Take time to snuggle. Maybe this means getting up 10 minutes early so you have time to slow down and be together. Try placing a cozy blanket over the arm of the couch to wrap you and your child up as you plan your day.
Incorporate soft textures
We spend a lot of time thinking about the look of our homes. How often do we focus on the sensation? Do the furniture, rugs and details in your home convey a feeling of warmth and comfort? Try adding a soft blanket or plush pillow to your seating area. The next time you buy furniture, think about the feeling it evokes. Do they match the feel you want for your home?
Put away electronic devices
This is actually the answer to everything. I really feel like I could copy and paste this cartoon into any post I’ve ever written on any topic. There is no connection with people when we are connected to devices. When you are having dinner, talking, or even just being together, turn off your phone and turn on your human relationships. Consider having a basket for devices. When you’re ready to cleanse, fill the basket.
Fill your home with delicious aromas
Whether it’s muffins baking in the oven, essential oils diffusing, or spices simmering on the stove, make your home smell warm and inviting. When my mom was young, my grandmother would sometimes sauté onions on the stove just to make the house smell like delicious food was on the way. Try simmering 6 cups of water, a sliced orange, 5 to 10 whole cloves, 2 cinnamon sticks, and a bay leaf to give your home a warm, spicy aroma.
Lower the lights
Candles aren’t just for vacations or romantic interludes. You can do hygge when you light a candle just because. I like to turn them on in the afternoon, when the kids come home from school, or at night, as we approach bedtime. The twinkling lights also do the job well, creating an atmosphere of joy and comfort.
Prepare and Share Comforting Foods and Drinks
Simple and nutritious food always fills my soul with a feeling of well-being. It should be shared. When a friend stops by to say hello or pick up the soccer cleats you’ve borrowed, invite her over for a cup of tea or a muffin. It doesn’t have to be sophisticated. Even offering a visitor a glass of water can be hygge. It is the warmth and welcome behind the gesture that makes the difference.
Savor the moments
Driving my daughter home from school can be hygienic as we shred leaves, hold hands, and really listen to each other. You can infuse this feeling at any time when you give it your intention and focus.
Bring nature indoors
One way to bring a greater sense of well-being into your life is to find the beauty in nature in every season and reflect it in your home in simple ways. Place a potted plant on your side table or fill a vase with curvy willow branches.
Wear comfortable clothes
This one may seem silly. Of course you want your clothes to be comfortable, but sometimes we sacrifice comfort for style. I’m not saying that sweatpants can buy you happiness, but they can calm a bad mood.
The best thing is clothes that look great but also feel amazing. What attractive clothes do you have that also make you feel warm and cozy? Is there a cardigan or scarf that fits your needs? This winter, wear clothes that are easy to wear, that feel natural to you, and that increase your feeling of warmth and comfort.
How do you cleanse yourself?
There are a million more ways to do this. Take time to be with friends. Savoring a good book. Spend time in nature. Drink a cup of hot chocolate, read a story by the fire, put on a warm hat before heading outdoors.
Look around your life. What simple pleasures and routines do you practice regularly? Thinking about them, savoring them, and executing them with a sense of ritual and purpose can make your everyday life extraordinary.
For more ideas, check out The Danish Year of Living by Helen Russell, The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking, or The Cozy Life: Rediscover the Joy of Simple Things through the Danish Concept of Hygge.
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