Winter can be such a long, cold season for some. We’ve moved away from agricultural lives, where winter was meant for rest, and moved towards constantly needing to stay busy on a different level. Winter brings about that natural force of slowing down and resting, with many being stuck indoors for the season. But that doesn’t mean that winter needs to be so dreary. In fact, the Nordic countries have perfected the art of embracing a positive winter mindset, so what can we learn from them?

People in these wintery areas see the season as a special time of year full of opportunities for enjoyment and fulfillment. Through this mindset, they lead greater life satisfaction and more positive emotions. Since it became trendy, I’m sure we’ve all heard the Danish concept of hygge (/ˈh(y)o͞oɡə/). But for those who still may not be sure on what it truly means, Hygge is a Danish cultural concept and value of warm, happy coziness, and togetherness, which people make time for in everyday life.

Get Outside

You know that feeling where you dread to start your workout, but after you finish you’re so glad you did it? It’s the same thing with rewiring your winter mindset. The idea of going out into freezing temperatures may sound miserable, but once you get out there and get your body moving it will actually feel good. Even Linda McGurk, a Swedish author of “There’s No Such Thing As Bad Weather,” agrees that it’s never too late to cultivate a positive wintertime mindset as an adult. As long as you are wearing the proper gear and clothing, heading out for some fresh air will always leave you feeling better than you thought it would, and maybe a little refreshed. This is the Norwegian concept of Friluftsliv - or “outdoor life”, open air living, and getting outdoors daily for a boost of fresh air and nature.

Getting outside helps:

Boost your immune system, increase circulation, vitamin D, and promote overall wellness.
Promote healthy sleep patterns.
Lower stress (for both adults and children).
Improve mood - especially if there’s sunlight that will give your body a natural boost of serotonin to continue feeling well throughout the winter.

Stay Active

Staying active in winter is another big way to boost that Hygge mindset. Whether you are getting outside for a daily walk, doing a quick Pilates exercise, or organizing some friends to go sledding on your local sled hill, getting your body moving can help strengthen your bones and muscles, lower blood pressure, and keep your mind sharp through winter.

Declutter Your Space & Make It Cozy

Let’s break down the definition of hygge and how it suggests decluttering your spaces. The definition again is: the value of warm, happy coziness, and togetherness, which people make time for in everyday life. Your home is a picture of you and everything you have invited to your life. Get rid of what doesn’t suit your picture of your ideal life. The art of hygge is connection time, so you will be inviting friends and family into your home. What do you want them to see and how do you want them to feel when they come over? Decluttering your home and removing anything that feels overwhelming will allow for a more relaxed cleaning routine and allow you to feel cozy.

Spa Time

If you want to do spa time the traditional Nordic way, try and find a sauna near you or a bath house. Our home actually came with an authentic sauna and I will never go back to a sauna-less winter again. Otherwise, just enjoy some quiet you-time with candles around the tub, maybe add some bubble bath or a bath bomb, face mask, and complete your spa experience with after bath skincare, lotion, and water to stay hydrated.

Saunas are an integral part of the Nordic culture. These steam rooms are designed to make you sweat, to flush out toxins, improve circulation and sleep, and aid muscle recover after intense exercise (such as all those winter hikes). The traditional hot-cold sauna cycle would end with an icy-water shower or dunk in the snow or lake. A regular evening in the bath will prove similar health benefits as well, and you could always try a cold spray or dip afterwards!

Embrace Seasonal Cooking

If your days are busy and full of winter practices, deadlines, school, work, and the like, there will be some days where you just need a quick meal. And that’s absolutely fine. But on the other days, bringing back the joy of cooking and adding the spirit of hygge to your meals can lighten your mood in the winter. Home cooking is just like any other skill, the more you practice, the easier it will become and the faster you’ll be able to do it.

A hygge pantry is filled with shelf-stable dry goods, such as rice, beans, nuts, condiments, and spices. Then you add seasonal fresh goods - this can easily be searched as to what is in season in your area. In the winter, think cold crops: spinach, cauliflower, cabbage, brussels sprouts, carrots, celery, greens, leeks, onions, parsnips, potatoes, pumpkin, and various fruits. Produce that is in season, is typically in abundance and therefore prices are often cheaper. This is a beautiful article on seasonal eating and recipes for it: Calico + Twine. Winter meals are often simple and comforting, which can only help with the feel-good emotions. A few winter meal ideas are: heartwarming stews, creamy mashed potatoes, curries, and chilis.

Enjoy a Hot Beverage

If hygge is cozy, what’s more cozy than a hot beverage cuddled up on the couch? Meik Wiking’s favorite description of hygge is as “cocoa by candle light”, so obviously hygge is synonymous with a warm drink. Whether its a warm coffee, tea, cider, or mulled wine, any warm beverage is an invitation to pause, be present, and rest in the moment.

Encourage Community

Invite Friends & Family Over

When thinking about hygge with friends, it is always done in a very casual way and typically at a private home. It is very seldom that traditional hygge dinner is shared at a restaurant. For this, the dining table is typically the center of cozy, with friends spending hours around this important piece of furniture.

Ideas for hygge in the home with friends:

Hosting dinner

Having game nights

Inviting potlucks

Hosting a puzzle night

Starting a book club

Head To A Local Coffee Shop

Traditional hygge is in the comfort of our own homes, but enjoying company and a warm beverage in a local coffee shop could be a cozy way to bring happiness to winter too.

Plan Regular Group Outings

The winter can be long and lonely. Making time to get friends together can enrich your relationships and your health during the lonely months. Planning regular group outings can prevent isolation and loneliness too.

You can try planning a trip:

To the spa
Skating/sledding
To a restaurant
Meeting for coffee

Enjoy Local Events

Along the same lines as preventing isolation and loneliness, attending local events in winter can enrich your sense of community. Staying connected to our community can boost our mood in a different way than making time for friends can. Planning to head to a local event can also give you something to look forward to and keep you future oriented.

Regular Hobby Time

There’s no secret that life gets busy and takes away from your hobbies. It can be easy to lose yourself in whatever season of life you are in (for me it’s motherhood), but it’s important not to lose sight of what you love. The things you love to do, define you. For myself, I’m not just a mother, I’m a writer, a photographer, a hiker, a dancer, and so much more. Research shows that people with hobbies are less likely to suffer from stress, low mood, and depression. Whatever your hobby may be, putting in an effort to make more time for it this winter can increase your mood throughout the long months.

Read A Book
Pick Up A New Skill
Play Board Games or Card Games
Try Embroidery
Hand-Make Presents
Joining a local hiking group

Random Acts of Kindness

Random acts of kindness can boost your happiness levels and make you more satisfied in your relationships. Kindness is also contagious, and what better time to spread kindness than in the long winter months (though year round is best).

You can easily find a list of random acts of kindness, but if you need some ideas this winter:

Compliment someone you don’t know
Shovel snow for a neighbor
Donate food to the food pantry
Bake cookies for someone
Leave a gift or letter of appreciation for your mailman, neighbor, or local community worker
Buy lunch for a homeless person
Buy a gift card at a local coffee shop and leave it for the barista to purchase others beverages for the day
If you know someone with kids or see someone struggling, offer to help
Volunteer your time

Screen-Free Time

Hygge is about real-life connection and embracing the season, which is easier without screens and distractions. In this time, it is very easy to become addicted to screens and social media - constantly checking your phone, mindless scrolling, video games. It is and will be a tough habit to break, because now we have to retrain our brain to normal levels of dopamine. Studies have found that screen time affects the frontal cortex of the brain similar to the effects of cocaine. Hygge is really about simple, you can do it anywhere, just turn those screens off and connect or engage.

Create A Warm Space

You’ve decluttered, now make the space warm and inviting! Natural materials, such as wood, stone, and wool will help incorporate a natural flair, stimulate our senses, and provide warmth. When paired with neutral and light colors, they make rooms appear friendly and lively. Adding cozy blankets, pillows, and arranging seating as an invitation for family and friends to relax and chat are an essential part of hygge. Another part of hygge is cozying up by the fire. Whether you have a real fireplace, make a winter fire outdoors, or choose to purchase an electric fireplace, making time to spend cozied up in front of it can add that to the hygge mood of warmth this winter.

Decorate With Candles

Warm natural lighting is one of the most essential aspects of hygge. Whether you’re adding twinkle lights or candles, making a change from those harsh bulbs for warmer shades will add another layer of cozy to your home. Candles can cause respiratory issues if you burn too many scented or petroleum-based candles. So it would be best to opt for beeswax candles that burn longer, cleaner, and help detoxify the air in your home! Or, you can always do battery-operated candles too.

Bring Nature Inside

Bring nature into your home by adding live plants. Live plants create a feeling of wellness and calm while offering a sense of accomplishment when they thrive. They also take carbon dioxide and provide our homes with clean oxygen throughout the day.

Practice Being Present

Hygge is literally being present in the moment. To be more present with your emotions, your surroundings, focusing on one thing at a time, and practicing gratefulness for what you have now. Whether you decide to be present in mindful meditation or being more conscious with every day tasks and activities, being present will make you a happier, healthier human being. It is proven to lead to better moods, more energy, less emotional distress, and can even lessen emotional exhaustion in the workplace. Throughout your day, practice little moments of awareness through a mindful body scan, writing in a journal, and giving undivided attention to others.

How To Embrace Slow Living + Hygge This Winter