Hygge is a Danish belief in indulging in cosiness, comfort and togetherness - something which has become a huge trend over the past year. Everyone has had their own take on this Scandinavian concept and I've also started trying out some of the practices lately, which are perfect for the winter months. In this post, I thought I'd talk a bit about hygge and how I've been embracing it in my life, so I hope you enjoy it!
Light
The key belief of hygge is creating light, which is especially important in the winter when there's limited sunlight. The perfect way to do this is through lighting candles, which are the ideal way to create a peaceful atmosphere that radiates warmth. Having a candle burning beside me is instantly calming and creates a positive energy, as well as allowing you to focus on the present. You definitely can't have too many candles in a hygge lifestyle, especially with the gorgeous smelling festive ones that are available.
Togetherness
Hygge is all about togetherness and making time in your day for family and friends. As a student, it can be easy to become engrossed in your work, but it's important to take a step back from this at times just to enjoy the simplistic moments with the people you love. This can be in the form of planning a short break away, an evening in of family board games or meeting friends for a coffee, whatever best suits your lifestyle.
Reading
One of the key elements of hygge is removing yourself from technology, even if it's just for a few hours, and enjoying alternative forms of entertainment away from the screen. For me, reading is definitely my go-to choice, as there's nothing better than a cosy evening with a good book, although I definitely need to make more time for this in my daily routine. Although any will do, reading classic novels is certainly encouraged in hygge, which I'll definitely be taking advantage of with books like Jane Eyre and Tess of the D'Urbervilles on my shelf ready to read.
Hot drinks
A mug of peppermint tea is definitely an essential for me on cosy days in the house, but this is also encouraged in hygge. Any tea, coffee or hot chocolate is ideal for creating a warm ambience. Whether you're drinking some to follow the Danish indulgence in tea or just as a burst of warmth in the cold winter evenings, this is definitely an important step to embracing hygge.
Christmas
Not only is the Christmas period my favourite time of year, but it's also an extremely important aspect of hygge. From the exciting activities, spending time with loved ones and cosy winter evenings, the festive season really has everything on offer for embracing hygge. I've already started my festivities for the year by visiting the Liverpool Christmas markets, which instantly put me in a festive mood, as well as spending some quality time with friends who I otherwise don't see that much.
I've also started preparing for December with my adorable advent calendar, which is the definition of hygge, bringing together candles with festivities. I've purchased quite a few decorations for my room, and I'll be putting them all out next week as I fully embrace the Christmas spirit.
Clothing
Cosy clothing, in the form of warm jumpers and scarves, is an extremely important part of hygge in the winter. You want to be feeling comfortable and snug as much as possible, and wearing woolly jumpers is definitely one of the easiest ways to achieve this. Blankets and throws are also equally important in being warm, especially in the winter months, and there's no better time to get cosy under a blanket than a relaxing Sunday evening.
Nature
Although hygge is mostly associated with the home, it can be achieved anywhere, and one of the best ways is through embracing nature. Hygge is all about taking in your surroundings and enjoying the present, and this can be accessed through being at one with the seasons and appreciating nature, either in the form of long nature retreats or just a brief walk in the countryside. I tend to embrace the outdoors when walking to college through photography, and when you're paying attention you really start to notice how beautiful it can be.
Mindfulness
To fully embrace hygge in your life, you have to be mindful and pay attention to the present, appreciating each moment for what it is. This is definitely an aspect of hygge that I'm working on furthering, as being grounded in the present and gaining pleasure from the simplicities of life is highly important. Also, techniques like meditation and journaling to record moments of happiness or reflection are utilised to further the importance of enjoying the little things in life.
I hope that you enjoyed this blog post, and I'd love to know how you plan on embracing hygge in your life this winter, so make sure you let me know down in the comments. Thank you very much for reading and I'll see you next Sunday with another post!
Love from Daisy x
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