Before you ask about hygge ideas for winter wellness, you may be first asking, what is hygge?
Hygge is a Danish concept that loosely translated means taking pleasure from the simple, comfy things in your life. It means to be aware and think about the things you do in the company of friends and family that will nurture your soul, mind and consciousness.
We could all do well to adopt a Hygge lifestyle and take pleasure from the simple, cozy things in life amongst the company of family. As I wrote about before hygge is a great lifestyle to help you get through the cold and dismal winter months.
If you want to bring more joy and comfort into the life with your family, you will want to check out these 10 tips for a comfy hygge winter.
1.Create an inviting atmosphere
During the colder months people tend to spend more time inside (especially in Canada), so make where you spend time cozy and hygge-like. One of the easiest ideas to dim the lights and create a relaxed atmosphere. This usually leads to lighting some candles too. We have a fireplace and love to have a fire going, but I know with green emission laws and people living in apartments that isn’t always possible. If you’re in a warmer place open the window and let the fresh air in. If you’re in a cooler climate set up your home office or reading chair next to a window so you can enjoy the outdoors inside and benefit from the suns energizing light.
A hygge atmosphere is about spending relaxed time in your cozy space with family (and hopefully one day again friends). So, if it helps, feel free to give your house a good cleaning or tidying up, so you truly sit back and relax.
- Light candles – our favorite are the scented White Barn 3-wick ones, but if you have small kids or just don’t’ want an open flame, check out these battery operated ones.
2.Get Comfy
Surround yourself with the things you love that make your home cozy. For our family that means pillows, soft linens and fuzzy blankets. For my son lately he finds peacefulness with his weighted blanket and a good book. Hygge is about slowing down. As nights get longer and you spend more time inside, spend time snuggling on the couch with a cup of something warm and reading a book. One of our fondest memories of late was when we sat in front of a fire and took turns reading through a Geronimo stilton holiday novel. Another favorite thing to do is cozy up around our outside firepit.
As you will spend more time in your bed during this time, try layering your bed with cozy pillows and linens. Keep an extra blanket or two close by or at the end of your bed in case you want to get cozy and hang out there during the day.
- Cozy blanket – you can never have too many in my opinion
- Fur throw (fake fur of course)
- Good book – my kids love the Geronimo stilton series.
- Comfy socks – these are a hygge essential. Make sure they are soft as well as pretty (watch out for ‘itchy’ wool.
- Firepit – this is ours and we love it! It comes with a metal cover so you can also use it as a table.
3. Bring the Outdoors In
This is one that I only realized of late is important for wellness. Even if there’s snow on the ground, getting our in nature can do wonders for your mind and physical body. Get our for a walk and pick up some items for home décor like pinecones, seed pods, branches or more. You can throw them in a decorative bowl, but the essence and scent will inspire you. If you live in a city or don’t have access to nature you can now buy anything online!
It doesn’t have to be expensive or fancy, you could also pop down to florist or pick-up flowers at your local grocery store. If you’re like me and don’t do well with fresh flowers, try a succulent plant that is more durable and helps improve humidity when air is dry. House plants have the added bonus of helping clean the air in your home.
If your into essential oils, try this pine needle essential oils to get a forest-like scent.
4.Be Present
This is probably the most important thing about Hygge. Live in the moment with the people that mean the most to you. We are all guilty of living with our phones and devices connected to our body. You will be surprised what happens when you turn off technology. Not only are you more present in the moment, focusing on those around you, but you also have less anxiety. You aren’t wondering if you got that email from work or if a friend replied to you. Whether it’s making a meal, playing a game, bathing or just spending time. Be in the moment.
5. Be Together
Now that you are ‘present’ and focused on being in the moment, make a conscious choice to do something with the people in your life. Whether it’s family, friends or even your dog, you need to harness the emotion of being close and comfortable to others to harness the contentment. One of the easiest ways is to set up a routine or set time. Whether it’s dinner time, weekly date or family night or a bedtime or morning routine, there are plenty of opportunities to cozy up.
Our favorites ‘together’ times are:
Playing board games – It’s funny how quickly the parents are the ones getting silly when playing family board games. Or in our house, it’s surprising how competitive everyone can be. For some board game ideas check out our list of favorites.
Listening to music – We recently got a google home and now we love playing music almost constantly throughout the day.
Watch a movie – Some may like the classics, in our house it’s all about the 90s movies. And yes, before you ask Die Hard is a Christmas movie! Of course don’t forget the popcorn with M&Ms sprinkled on top.
6.Comfort Food
This one can’t be more popular right now. With the recent year of the worldwide pandemic and quarantine I don’t think we have ever made more soups, breads, desserts and basically ALL the comfort foods.
Eating is something everyone can enjoy and brings people together to nourish their bodies and if you make it your together time, it also nourished your soul. Our lives changed when we got our Instant Pot. We could now spend less time making amazing meals and spend more time enjoying each others company.
My kids lately like setting a nice table and even putting candles on it to create ‘ambiance’.
Make Bread – Although the Danish enjoy sourdough rye bread, I have never been able to (or had the 2 days it requires) to make it properly. Here are our favorite and EASY bread recipes.
Enjoy a warm soup on a cold day. Nothing says comfort to me like a warm bowl of soup with some homemade bread or rolls!
Bake something from scratch – here are our favorite EASY baking recipes. Check out Catarina’s chocolate cake!
Enjoy a hot drink – In order to embrace the hygge lifestyle you will need to drink a lot of hot drinks. For my kids it’s hot chocolate, for me it’s tea or mulled wine. It may also be a good idea to enjoy something sweet with your warm bevvie – even better if it’s something you made yourself! Make sure the mug you enjoy them in gives you pleasure. These clear ones are our family favorites.
7.Practise Self Care
This is probably the thing I do the least. I find there isn’t enough time in the day for work, family, eating healthy and self care. I need to remind myself that the more I care for myself, the better I can care for my family… and sometimes you just need a break from those you spend all your time with. In a constant effort to make time for self care, here are some of my ways to sneak self care into my routine.
Listen to a podcast – my favorite is Rob Dial the Mindset Mentor. I listen while walking or making a meal.
Read a book – Going along with the hygge minimalist theme visit your local library. I take my kids and send them off to find their books and spend time just looking at all the books I will likely never get time to read. Them I find the one that I may be able to focus on and thanks to a due date to return it, I now have an incentive to finish it!
Take a nap – this is something my husband can do easily… every day if allowed. For me, I never seem to relax enough to sleep during the day when there is so much to get done. If you can’t actually sleep, take quiet reflective time and rest.
Go for a quick walk or hike – This is the self care I do the most, usually with kids and/or a dog. I always feel refreshed and happier when I get back. Some of you may be saying it’s too cold in Canada to be walking outside. What I tell my kids is that it doesn’t matter how cold it gets if you dress properly – this is also a huge Danish/Scandinavian thought too. Make sure you put on extra layers and protect yourself, but get some good sun energy.
8.Indulge in pleasure
With all the efforts on being healthy, remember the best balance is moderation. You can have a bit of everything, but practice moderation. Coffee, chocolate, cookies, wine are all good, but if you only had them every day you would not be living a hygge lifestyle.
During the long cold months, one of the best hygge ideas for winter wellness is to allow yourself to feel pleasure. Spoil yourself a bit – you deserve it! Be a little decadent.
Indulge in chocolates – I am a fan of Godiva dark chocolate, my family lately prefers Lindt truffles variety pack so everyone can have what they want.. If you want to indulge, but not have the calories, try the sugar free Russel Stover pecan delights.
Go to bed early – if you are feeling anxious, try a nice lavender linen spray to relax. We started using them with my son and now we all use them.
Run a hot bath – my daughter love bath bombs or fizzies in her bath and can spend hours enjoying her quiet time.
Have a glass of wine – If your going to have a glass of wine, serve it in a pretty glass. I LOVE colored glass and feel like a queen with these colored wine glass.
Above all else drop the guilt and say ‘yes’ to pampering yourself.
9.Practise Gratitude
This is one of the easiest hygge ideas for winter wellness and probably the easiest practice for general wellness.
Make a list of 5 things you are grateful for. It only takes a few minutes to write down the things you are grateful for. Do it for a few days, or start a gratitude journal and you will be surprised at the results. Take a moment to tell the people in your life that you appreciate and are grateful for them. Passing on gratitude is contagious.
For anyone with kids you will want to check out The Big Life Journal. Sign up for her email newsletter and she send you FREE weekly activities to your inbox. She has great calendars, mindset workbook activities and more. I also recently found out she has a YouTube channel with a family gratitude challenge!
10.Find Solace in your shelter
This is a crucial point to winter wellness. Most of us are spending a LOT more time with our families and not in the most ideal situations. The past year has also taught us that life is constantly changing. You must find contentment and solace in your comfy hygge lifestyle you have created. The hygge lifestyle that you create is meant to be a place you can be comfortable and enjoy time with those who mean the most to you.
Want to find out more about Hygge lifestyle? Check out the Little Book of Hygge: The Danish Way to Live Well.
Do you have any Hygge ideas for winter wellness? Share below in the comments.
