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Winter can be a really difficult season for many people. The days get shorter, it gets too cold to go enjoy the outdoors, and the seasonal depression can start to set in. The winter can be a really difficult time of year for me as well, as someone with a mental illness.

I’ve tried everything from light therapy lamps to vitamin D supplements to surrounding myself with plants to lift my spirits. Through everything I’ve tried, I’ve found that actually just really leaning into the comfort and slowness of winter is what really gets me through. There’s actually a word for this in Danish culture—hygge.

What is the Danish Concept of ‘hygge’?

The concept of hygge (pronounced hue-guh) captures the overall mood of being cozy and comfortable with feelings of wellness and contentment. While there is no direct English translation, it is related to the word, “hug” or “cozy,” which is really all I want during the winter! This concept invites us to really lean into relaxation, indulgence, and just overall gratitude for simple pleasures.

Some may say that it is easier for Scandinavians and the Danish culture to practice hygge because their country has things that the US does not—such as universal healthcare, free university, and paid family leave. While these things are true, I do think that it’s possible for us to reflect on the concept and lean into the little things to help us get through what some may consider the dreariest parts of the year. Especially because they have some of the harshest winters, I trust they know how to survive it.

6 Ways Hygge Gets Me Through the Winter

I personally love the winter and the concept of hygge because I feel like I have more permission to lean into the things I already love that are harder to practice in the warmer months. I am, by nature, a cozy person. But, I know that if I am not intentional about how I take care of myself, I can slip into seasonal depression, so here are the ways I incorporate hygge into my life:

Gorgeous, Gorgeous Girls Love Soup

Anyone can be a gorgeous, gorgeous girl that makes soup, and the hill I will die on is that soup is the number one thing that gets me through winter. While winter is a harder time to get fresh veggies, nothing makes me feel cozier than heading to my local grocery store, stocking up on garlic, leafy greens, tomatoes, mushrooms, or whatever other vegetables I can get.

If you have a crockpot, this is a perfect time to bust it out. Throw all of your favorite vegetables in, set your pot on low, let it simmer all day, and enjoy your house being filled up by the smells of a warm, delicious soup. Make sure you get some fresh herbs if they are available. That way, when your soup is done, you will have a little fresh sprig of rosemary, thyme, or dill to remind you that warmer days are coming. Don’t forget to save all your veggie scraps to make vegetable stock with later.

Also! If soup isn’t your thing, maybe try out baking! Who doesn’t love a warm cookie or quick bread on a cold winter day?

Embrace Mood Lighting

It can be a super big bummer when daylight savings hits and the sun goes down earlier, but hygge reminds us that creating a cozy environment can help us feel happier. One of my favorite things to do is get some fairy lights and hang them around my bed to really get into that homey winter lifestyle; but also, surrounding myself with little candles makes me feel like I’m in a cabin in the mountains with the fireplace keeping me all warm. These little twinkles keep me focused on the light that is to come.

Focus on Community

Winter can be a lonely time for a lot of people, especially with the holidays bringing up grief for many of us. But something I find to be absolutely critical to my mental health is making sure I’m gathering with my friends or family. Having a community meal where you maybe make a big pot of soup or have a pot luck dinner can be a great way to practice gratitude and lean into the slowness of the colder weather. While COVID can make gathering a little more challenging, I think it’s important that we don’t totally hibernate, because being around our loved ones can really help us feel cozy and loved.

woman holding a cup of coffee reading a book

When in Doubt, Pick Up the Phone

Gathering may not be available to everyone, so I think something that is really important is to embrace phone calls. Some may prefer FaceTime, but I think the phone call has become really underrated. Sometimes, being on the phone forces me to be more present in a way that I may not be able to on FaceTime.

Phone calls just feel like they are more intentional and slower paced; we are connected without looking at our phone screen. Or—let’s be honest—looking at ourselves in that little box focusing on what our hair looks like. Maybe it’s just the ‘90s baby in me, but phone calls make me feel like I’m ready to cozy up on the couch and just gab with my pals.

Embrace the Softness

A lot of us have been working from home long enough during these COVID times to have already invested in some loungewear. And, if you’re back at the office—well, let me tell you—it’s time to pull that loungewear back out. Embracing hygge means embracing soft clothes that make us feel cute and comfortable. For me, I know getting a matching loungewear set really helped me feel more put together.

But you don’t have to buy something new in order to feel comfortable. Find your softest shirt, your stretchiest pants, and lean into the cold months with all the cozy layers your heart desires. Another plus is adding a blanket as another layer. Basically, just find all the ways to cocoon yourself in fabric and become the warm winter caterpillar you deserve to be.

woman underneath blanket with a cup of tea

Disconnect and Do Something With Your Hands

One of the things I’ve really embraced in the colder months is slowing down from social media and shifting towards doing things with my hands. I’ve personally taken on quilting, which has turned out to be a great cold weather activity, because I’m literally making something to wrap myself in.

But you could also knit, crochet, watercolor, embroider, or anything else that your heart desires! For me, the real trick is being able to cozy up under the chunkiest blanket with a bowl of soup, soft clothes, cup of tea, and candles lit all around me to live my best hygge life.

Because hygge comes from a culture where the people are thought to be the “happiest in the world,” it can start to feel like toxic positivity when we say, “Oh! Just do the things that make us happy and everything is going to be okay!” That’s not what hygge is about. Bringing hygge into your home is just about creating a little snug and restful environment that allows us to relax, read a book, and just really disconnect from the hustle culture that so many of us are drawing in every day, while still honoring the fact that it can be a difficult season.

6 Ways The Concept Of Hygge Gets Me Through Winter

What is the Danish Concept of ‘hygge’?