Rod Troch/flickr/2010
Winter in Chicago is cold, dark, and depressing. How can we get through it without losing our minds? By embracing Hygge. Hygge (hoo-gah) is a Danish word that encompasses coziness and comfort and hominess and being with friends. The Danes are noted as the happiest nation in the world, so they must be on to something useful.
How can you bring hygge into your home? Make your home a cozy nest. Think candles, fireplaces, wrapping up in a soft blanket, sitting on the couch and drinking cocoa and talking with friends and family. If you are hibernating this winter, you might as well enjoy it! Catch up on your podcasts, finish knitting that hat, reconnect with your friends and family. Hygge is not just limited to your living room. You can also get together for an afternoon of board games at a local coffee house or wrap up warmly and take a walk in a local park. Connecting with nature is also an important element of hygge. “Nature calms you, it settles you and allows you to step back and reflect on the very essence of what living is about,” says Signe Johnson in How to Hygge, one of many books out this past year on the subject.
Of course, if all that warmth and coziness makes you uncomfortable, you could always opt for the flipside: uhygge.
How do you get through the winter months?
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