Hygge is a Danish word that doesn’t translate well, but it means cozy and warm. There’s plenty of ways to bring in the hygge this winter with these 8 tips.
The “hygge winter activities” is a list of 8 things that can help you get more hygge this winter. From cooking to decorating, these are some of the best ways to stay warm and cozy.
With the arrival of the colder, grayer season comes the possibility of a lowering of our attitude. Winter may be depressing in any year, but it’s more so this year, as a pandemic continues to wreak havoc on our lives, preventing us from enjoying what would otherwise be pleasant trips and holiday entertainments.
The season’s bleakness, on the other hand, heightens the delights of becoming warm, or “hygge,” as the Danes refer to it. Hygge is a term that refers to a cozy, peaceful ambiance that you may create on purpose.
With everyone staying at home more this winter, there’s never been a better or more crucial moment to include some hyggely features into our homes and everyday routines, and we’ve compiled a list of eight ideas to help you accomplish exactly that. Keep in mind that hygge’s warmth is most powerfully triggered by contrast; for example, sitting by a roaring fire in a comfy pair of sweatpants drinking a cup of chocolate is most delightful after a day spent snowshoeing in the freezing woods. So, to get the most out of winter, alternate between getting out for draughts of refreshing fresh air and then retreating to a hygge-optimized home cave.
Candles are number one.
Putting a ton of candles in your house is the first step in developing hygge, according to Meik Wiking, author of The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living, who noted that Denmark uses twice as many candles as the second-most candle-consuming nation in Europe.
Candles are simple to comprehend as the basis for coziness: genuine fire is primally pleasant, and produces a softer and warmer light than that produced by artificial lights. The flicker of a candle’s flame gives a disproportionately big degree of comfort to your environment, despite its modest size. There are several candle manufacturers and fragrances to choose from. But a hygge-ist sort of candle was just introduced to us by an Instagram follower: WoodWick candles. The wick is composed of wood, as the name says, and when lighted, the candle crackles like a genuine fireplace fire. The sensation is quite relaxing.
At meals, you may wish to set the unscented variety on your dining table in particular. Wiking offered an example of how this addition may make a big difference:
I met with a Canadian a few years ago who had read Hygge and, inspired by the book’s emphasis on lighting and candles, went out and purchased some [candelabras] and began lighting candles for supper at home. And he and his wife had three adolescent kids, and as this man began to light the candles, the lads, his sons, began to mock him. ‘What’s up with the candles, Dad?’ Do you wish to spend some quality time with your mother? ‘Should we go?’
But later, the lads began to light the candles, and it became a kind of food and fire ceremony. Furthermore, he claims that their family meals now run 20 minutes longer because the lighting put the lads in a storytelling mood. So, rather of simply sitting and cramming their meal down, they sit, speak about their day, and enjoy their wine. And I think it’s very fascinating and amazing to hear how a candle can truly affect how a family interacts, and I’ve heard it from multiple people.
2. A pair of slippers
When you’re moving about the house, there’s no need to wear restrictive, unpleasant shoes, but simply wearing socks might make your dogs chilly. Then there’s the slipper, which today’s guy may choose from a variety of styles. You may wear the conventional slide-on like your grandfather did. You might also wear a leather moccasin. For years, I had worn moccasins. But this year, I’ve swapped my mocs for the Grey’s Outdoor Slipper, which is even hyggier. It’s composed of a soft wool mix that feels like you’re enveloping your feet in a warm blanket, but it’s also temperature regulating, moisture wicking, and odor resistant. The rubber sole gives you some traction and enables you to leave the home. It also reduces noise when you walk on a tile or wood floor, enabling you to move about quietly like a ninja (handy for fulfilling the role of tooth fairy, I can personally attest).
Blankets 3
“A nice embrace,” Wiking said, is the core of what hygge should feel like. Blankets are the lords of coziness due to their clinginess in evoking this sensation. A blanket gives a nice layer of warmth while you’re reading a book on a cold winter night or curling up with your significant other. On this front, the Faherty Brand blanket is a good choice; one side is made of brushed cotton, while the other is made of plush Sherpa fleece.
4. A pair of sweatpants
There’s no need to wear anything with a non-elasticized waistline while you’re staying at home. But it doesn’t mean you have to wear shabby trousers. There are many different types of sweatpants, but my favorite is the jogger, which has a crisp and traditional taper at the ankle. On a beautiful October morning in South Bend, I feel like Rudy, preparing for Notre Dame’s football squad. For the last several months, I’ve been wearing Marine Layer’s Yoga Jogger and I adore them. They’re constructed of a really soft, stretchy performance fabric that’s been great for working at home, going for walks around the neighborhood, and coaching Gus’ flag football team.
5. Robes, flannel robes, and bathrobes
For guys, there are two styles of robes. The first is a flannel robe, which you may wear in the mornings to keep warm while making coffee or in the evenings to be comfy while reading on the sofa. The second is a bathrobe, which is composed of absorbent fabrics and worn as soon as you get out of the shower or bath. I’ve had the former kind for a long time and use it to relax around the home on chilly days. I’ve just lately become a bathrobe man and am a firm believer in the habit. I like to use my bathrobe instead of a towel because it keeps me warm as I walk out of the shower and dries me from head to toe. There are thick and fluffy bathrobes, but I like this thinner, more absorbent one from Upstate (it’s now out of stock on Huckberry, but will be back in a week or two).
Sweaters (nine)
Sweatshirts are extremely comfortable, and you’ll often find me padding around the house and running errands in my Flint and Tinder 10-Year-Hoodie. The warmth and classiness of a sweater, on the other hand, can’t be topped when the weather truly drops, and (on those very infrequent occasions) I’m having some friends or relatives around. Sweaters, particularly the cardigan, are an underutilized alternative in the male sartorial armory. You may think that it would read as old-mannish, but it may really be rather attractive. For example, this rough cardigan from Schott’s is the newest addition to my sweater collection and a contender for my all-time favorite. “Corduroy elbow patches” got me at “corduroy elbow patches.”
Sheets made of flannel
My mother gave Gus and Scout sets of flannel Christmas-themed bedding from Pottery Barn Kids last year during the holiday season. Every night, when Kate and I put the kids to bed, we’d stare wistfully at their really cozy-looking duvet and be jealous. Finally, we purchased a set for ourselves since we couldn’t stand it any longer. Yes, it’s from Pottery Barn Kids, and it’s in the most adult print they have, with cartoony deer all over it. We had no qualms about the pattern or the fact that we used them on our bed long after Christmas had passed, since the sheets were exactly as soft and cozy as we had hoped. Now I can’t propose that other adults buy children’s Christmas bedding for themselves with good faith (plus they only go up to queen size, which may be an issue for some). However, I really prefer flannel sheets in general; if you’re looking for something a little more sophisticated, consider these from Upstate.
Drinks that are hot
Hot beverages warm your hands while you hold them, your tummy as you sip them, and your spirit while you appreciate them, whether it’s a hot chocolate, a hot toddy, or a hot cup of tea, coffee, or apple cider. Make a hot cup of anything every night while you relax from the worries of the day by experimenting with various recipes and combinations (Trader Joe’s Salted Caramel is a standout in the cocoa area).
The “art of manliness winterize” is a blog post that offers 8 tips to help you get more hygge this winter. The article will teach you how to make your home warmer and cozier, even if it’s cold outside.
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