How to Use Hygge to Beat the Winter Blues

With winter proving to be a force to be reconned with, I thought I share how you can use Hygge to beat the winter blues. January for many is often a blur between trying to recover from the food comas we enjoyed over the festive period and trying to get into the swing of things in hopes of getting back to normal. Winter doesn’t help the matter as it continues to get colder and darker but that doesn’t mean you can beat the winter blues.

Over the last couple of years, everyone has jumped onto the Hygge (hoo-gah) bandwagon and with good reasons. This Danish word Hygge means “a quality of cosiness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being.” I think everyone would agree that there is no better time to enjoy cosines and being comfortable than during the winter months and the is why I am excited to share ways to use Hygge to beat the winter blues.

How to Use Hygge to Beat the Winter Blues

Whenever I think of winter, I think about hot chocolates, cosying up next to a warm fire and enjoying a lot of hearty meals. But, sometimes when it’s cold and dark outside, the last thing you want to do is leave the comfort of your own home. I am not a bit fun of the cold weather unless I am travelling and in those instances I love it because it makes even the most expensive locations affordable. But since we are not allowed to travel, I have to think of ways to beat the winter blues.

The Danes are known to be the happiest people on earth because they live and practice the principles of Hygee every day. I personally equate Hygge to ‘enjoying the simple things in life’ and always looking at every bad situation with a positive lens. I know that it can be hard to be positive 100% every single day but sometimes that is the only way to make a bad situation better. So, how can you use Hygge to beat the winter blues?

1. Get Fresh Air

The simplest way to beat the winter blues is by going outside and getting some fresh air no matter the weather. Being cooped up in the house for the last few months has to lead to cabin fever kicking my butt. But, it doesn’t mean I have to continue letting it, I can take matters into my own hands and think of different ways to spice up my life.

Living in England, winter is always cold, dark and dump and this can definitely dampen even the most positive person’s mood. As soon as its day light, I make a point of going for a short walk around my neighbourhood, getting the lungs pumped with some fresh air and uplighting my mood. I truly recommend taking a moment out of your day and just getting some fresh air.

2. Cook healthy meals and soups

Spending a lot of time at home means I am able to cook up a storm every single evening especially on days when I don’t wish to eat my ‘prepped meals’. During winter months I focus on making a lot of soups and casserole dishes as these hearty meals keep you warm, full and energised. I have been scouring Pinterest for some ideas of hearty meals that I can make at home.

If soups are not your thing, definitely make sure you eat a lot of warm meals than cold meals to keep warm. I often find myself craving smoothies when it’s absolutely freezing outside, this is not a great combination, its something I make sure to limit and load up on hot drinks instead. I have saved a lot of incredible food recipes on my Pinterest board that you can check out for ideas.

3. Snuggle up with a hot chocolate

I love hot chocolate and I drink it year round without getting tired, it does not matter what the weather is like outside I still make myself a drink. The principles of Hygge teaches you to enjoy the simple things in life and for me that includes snuggling up on the couch at home with a nice cuppa of my favourite hot chocolate. And it doesn’t always have to be hot chocolate, it could be your favourite coffee, tea or even cocoa.

The idea is the be cosy, snuggled up and be present in that moment whether you are alone or with your partner/family. It’s all about enjoying that moment and forgetting about the rest of the world, just enjoy where you are and what you are doing. Implementing Hygge doesn’t need to be too complicated, it’s all about what fosters contentment and wellbeing.

4. Light up the fireplace and heat up your water bottle

Its a little clique isn’t it? Lighting you the fireplace or in my case filling up my hot water bottle and snuggling up whether in my bedroom or on the sofa. I say work with have you have, if you have fire place, light it up, make a nice cuppa and put on your favourite movie or better yet, read something in front of the fireplace. For those of us snuggling up with our hot water bottles, don’t knock it, enjoy the cosiness and being warm.

Sometimes it just takes a moment to do something that will support your overall well-being in the long run. Lighting up the fireplace every evening and just relaxing, being present in that moment might not seem like much but it does wonders for your mental health. I am all about prioritising my mental health and my well-being because when I am in a good mental state, I am well equipped to support those around me.

5. Make it cosy with some candles

I love candles and light them almost every day, I feel like candles make everything cosy and romantic. Candles seem to allude this effect that makes everything better and even stressful situations can be left to their own devices. Over the festive period, I received a lot of candles and I am slowly working through them. My home still smells of Christmas cookies and gingerbread men and its just how I like it.

Candles don’t only create a great ambience in your home, they known for there soothing and healing properties. At the end of every day, make sure to light a nice fragranced candle and see how the ambience in your home changes. As I mentioned I light mine daily and often middle of the day when work is starting to be a little bit hectic and I need the candles soothing properties.

When you start practising Hygge in your everyday life, it will become part of your lifestyle. Appreciate the moment, be present in the moment and enjoy the moment is Hygge.