November 1st rolled around, we put away our costumes, and it felt like immediately winter was upon us. It was time to finally put on the heat, pull out the jackets and comfy sweaters, and succumb to the coziest time of year. But what if you could bring the happy feeling that cozy falls and winters bring into your life full time? Well there is a group of people who’s lifestyle is based all around that, and we need to catch up.

Hygge is the Danish ritual of enjoying life’s simple pleasures. There is no English translation for Hygge. It is a feeling more than a word. It’s a mixture of coziness, charm, comfort, kinship, simpleness, and contentment. To sum it up, Hygge is all about enjoying life’s simple pleasures and making the ordinary more meaningful.

Here in America we are always on the run. With information at our fingertips we tend to lose sight of the beauty in life’s simple pleasures. So let’s take a page out of the Danish way of life (who happen to be some of the happiest people in the world) and add a little Hygge to our everyday lives.

01 Create a Cozy Atmosphere. Lot’s of flickering candles, throw blankets in soft textures, and cozy rugs on bare floors all bring a feeling of warmth and coziness.

02 Warm Drinks. Mugs of hot chocolate (with a little peppermint!), hot coffee, and tea, all make you feel warm from the inside out.

03 Comfy Clothes. Thick socks, over sized sweaters, and fleece pajamas all add to the comfort of being at home.

04 Friends and Family. One of the best things about the holidays is being surrounded by friends and family and being in the moment. Bring that feeling all year long by planning cozy nights with friends full of movie nights, conversations by the fire, and dinner around the table. Hygge is all about togetherness.

05 Switch off. At a certain time of the evening turn off the phone. Relax by reading a book, listening to a podcast, or to music. And when you are with friends put the phone down and live in the moment.

To learn more about the Hygge lifestyle check out The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking.

xx Casey