Hygge: Finding Joy in Everyday Living This Winter

Article | Abi Bowler, Marketing & Media Manager at Blue Stream Academy

As December arrives, it brings darker mornings and evenings, colder weather and, for many, more time indoors.

The dwindling sunlight in the UK and the narrowing of outdoor evening options can be disheartening, but with the inevitable lack of control over our winter environment, what can we do to stay upbeat?

Hygge: A History

With a maximum of 7 hours of daylight during the winter months, [1] Danish residents are well accustomed to maintaining positivity despite the lack of sunshine. Since around 1800, [2] people in Denmark have been known to practise ‘hygge’ to look after their mental wellbeing throughout the seasons.

Pronounced “hyoo-guh”, the Danish word translates roughly as “a quality of cosiness – feeling warm, comfortable and safe”. [3] But the concept covers a wider spectrum of atmospheres and feelings than this translation may suggest.

What Is Hygge?

Hygge is widely recognised as the feeling of warmth you can get by creating a cosy atmosphere, spending quality time with good company, or finding joy in everyday moments. Have you enjoyed a relaxed night at home playing games with friends, or a warm drink with a good book while it’s cold or wet outside? That feeling of contentment and inner warmth is ‘hygge’.

The festive period is the peak of hygge – twinkling fairy lights on a cold winter’s evening, hearty festive recipes, and longer periods of time in the company of our loved ones.

As the festive period gives way to the cold, dark weather that starts the New Year, many of us will feel the need for a little more warmth in our lives. So, we’ve pulled together some top tips for enjoying a ‘hygge’ winter!

Wrap Up and Head Outside

The warmth provided by layers of cosy woollen clothes and the chill of the fresh air against your bare face creates a feeling like no other. Wrap up warm, head outdoors and absorb the changes in the seasons, nature’s colours and festive decorations.

Spend Time Together

Spending time casually with family and friends can provide a feeling of comfort and safety, with affection and compassion producing that warm ‘fuzzy’ feeling. Make time for those closest to you, and take in those ‘ordinary’ moments of contentment and cosiness.

Create a Hygge Home

You’ll probably be spending more time indoors over the winter, so look at your surroundings. Do you have a corner in your home where you can wind down and relax? From removing technological distractions to adding soft lighting and cosy furnishings, there are many ways to build your hygge home space.

Celebrate the Small and Discuss the Deep

Sharing pride and satisfaction in everyday achievements produces inner warmth, while talking about deeper, more consuming matters can help to alleviate stress and make you feel safe.

Hygge Throughout the Year

Although hygge might feel more appropriate when it’s cold outside and the feeling of cosiness comes easier, it’s a common misconception that hygge is limited to the autumn and winter months. Spring and summertime hygge are enriched with the sensations of fresh, blooming flowers, alfresco dining and vibrant sunrises and sunsets. So, why not keep things hygge beyond this winter and make the most of all the joys that spring has to offer?

Abi Bowler

Marketing & Media Manager at Blue Stream Academy

Abi has managed Blue Stream Academy’s (BSA) Events and Marketing department for six years, ensuring that health and care professionals (HCPs) throughout the UK are aware of BSA’s training, resources, and workforce planning solutions. From event attendance to digital communications, Abi is passionate about promoting accessible educational resources and compliance support for busy HCPs, anywhere, anytime.

1. iExplore. Denmark – Weather. (no date). www.iexplore.com/articles/travel-guides/europe/denmark/weather#:~:text=The%20sun%20 can%20arrive%20as,see%20seven%20hours%20of%20sunlight (Last accessed October 2022)

2. Denmark.dk. What Do We Mean by ‘Hygge’? (no date). https://denmark.dk/people-and-culture/hygge (Last accessed October 2022)

3. Cambridge Dictionary. Hygge. (no date). https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/hygge (Last accessed October 2022)