by Anna Glavash
Do you know that feeling you’re always chasing as the cold winter weather settles in? It’s that satisfied sense of deep contentment, of being warm, snuggled and loved. As it turns out, there’s a word for it—hygge.
Hygge (pronounced HYOO-gah) is a Norwegian word that means “well-being.” The Danish use it for anything that makes us feel comforted by our surroundings and connected to those around us. Hygge can be found in favorite places, daily rituals, the company of close friends, comfort foods and adventure. It’s in the things that make us feel most alive and most ourselves.
So, how can you invite hygge into your day? It’s already there, whether you realize it or not. Here are a few ways to tune in to hygge. Many involve your home space, but there are ways to be hygge in the wider world, too.

1. Light candles. Instant hygge! If you can’t burn them where you live, try string lights or a few small lamps. You can drape scarves over lights to soften them—safety first, though. Think warm glow. Consider where you place lights in a room to create pools of light. I have at least three lamps in each room—it’s amazing what a difference it makes.
2. Take a bath. If you have no tub, enjoy a hot shower. Afterward, spend time enveloped in a soft robe or indulge in self-care rituals. Physical comfort and well-being starts with your body. My favorite way to hygge (yes, it’s a verb too) while sitting at my desk is to do a hot foot soak in a simple plastic dish tub with bath salts and essential oils in the water. It’s seriously the best.
3. Get cuddled up. Invite anyone nearby to join. Check out the article on cozy dorm decor for ideas on blankets, pillows, mugs and decorating with photos. If you’ll be spending the next five months waiting inside for the rain to stop, you should make your indoor spaces awesome. Choose things that make you happy and surround yourself with them. I like house plants and diffusers, so you will find these everywhere in my home.
4. Tea is the cure for so many problems. Pick out a few herbal teas that you absolutely love, and brew them often! Tea is cheap if you buy it in bulk. Check out the Kiva Grocery for their bulk teas, or make your own blends. Nothing is better than a cup of tea for warming up and calming your mood. For a boost of energy, I love to blend yerba mate with tulsi, peppermint and honey as an alternative to coffee. Or, if you’re a coffee person, now is the time to lean into that fix, and hard.
5. Bake something. Cake is never, ever a bad idea. Put on your Sunday morning playlist, roll up your sleeves and make some magic happen in the kitchen. This has the added benefit of warming up your whole house. The most hygge thing to do next is to share what you made with someone! Nothing makes me happier than seeing other people enjoying my creations.
6. Have a crafternoon. Gather up supplies for whatever project helps you relax and express your creativity. The more the merrier is usually true when seeking hygge, but solitary crafts like knitting are still fair game. If you’re like me, you might go on an adventure with your camera or bust out a sewing or beading project.
7. Bundle up and go for a walk with a friend. Much of hygge’s magic comes from contrast, such as inside vs. outside, warm vs. cold, shelter vs. exposure. When we dress warmly and go out in the elements, we experience that contrast in a pleasing way. You appreciate the warmth and dryness of a jacket or a home that much more when you experience their opposite. If it’s an especially nasty day, the warm company of a friend can bring that contrast, too.
8. Be present with someone. Whether you’re doing a jigsaw puzzle, reading to each other, talking on a long drive, visiting with family or even petting your dog, this presence is as powerful for the person experiencing it as it is for you offering it. Authentic connection is more difficult to come by and all the more important for us to intentionally create amidst the allure of social media. Turn off the TV, put away your phone and enjoy the amazing people around you.
9. Invite some people over and cook dinner for them. This is the ULTIMATE hygge scenario. Just picture the combination of hygge lighting, music, games, delicious food and drink, and the richness of company. Afterward, you can all sit around together feeling full and sleepy. What could be better?

Do an act of kindness. Try buying a coffee for the person in line behind you or bringing a meal to someone without a home. According to Louisa Thomsen Brits, the author of The Book Of Hygge, “Hygge is dependent on having our most basic human needs met. Without security and shelter, it’s hard to survive.” Do what you can to bring a little hygge to someone in your life who needs it most. Just watch how full it makes your heart feel.