People in Norway, Denmark, and other far northern lands know a lot about thriving and enjoying life when it’s cold outside. In Denmark they call this hygge (pronounced hooga), which includes ideas of community, enjoyment of nature, and the warmth of home and friendship. Coincidentally, it’s also similar to a word in Norwegian that means health and well-being. Here are seven tips on how to make hygge part of your own wintertime.

Be Outside

Being active in nature is an ideal way to clear one’s mind and to unwind. Consider a Nordic sport like cross-country or downhill skiing, or ice-skating. A walk in the woods, to a local park, or around the block can work too, as can soaking into your Jacuzzi® Hot Tub after being outside and enjoying the brisk winter air.

Take Time With Friends

In Sweden, sharing a coffee, pastry, and conversation as a break in the day is so well regarded that they have given it a name: fika. Relaxed conversations you have with friends while soaking in your hot tub can stem the chill of snowy days.

Have a Warm Drink

Hot drinks are part of daily life in the Nordic lands. Whether your preference is hot toddy, mulled cider, or that new flavor of tea you love, drinking in some warmth is an ideal way to relax both body and mind.

Share, Create, Learn

One of the aspects of hygge is feeling competent and self-sufficient. So, what do you know how to do well—and what would you love to learn? The long days of winter are great for sharing friendship through learning, teaching, and creating. In Nordic lands and places where Nordic peoples have settled in the U.S., there are often community schools where traditional crafts, cooking, and nature skills are taught.

Bring Nature Inside

Most Scandinavian homes feature a clean design, with an emphasis on materials derived from nature. The next time you take a walk, bring in some branches or twigs that catch your eye for a refreshing nature arrangement.

Listen to Music

Alone or in company, a favorite piece of music can encourage an atmosphere that is relaxing and creative. You might try the music of singer Emma Hardelin from Sweden, guitarist Juhani Silvola from Finland, and fiddler Harald Haugaard from Denmark.

Light a Candle

When you travel in Nordic lands, you will often see candles in windows of homes, on tables in cafes, and elsewhere. That’s because they’re perceived as a light of welcome. The glow of a candle suggests warmth whether you‘re alone or sharing time with others.

Taking in the beauty of a crisp cold winter and then welcoming the warmth by a fire or in the hot tub are both part of hygge. Bring the warmth of this Nordic way of life into your winter, then sit back to enjoy, notice, savor, and celebrate the amazing contrasts that come along with the cold.

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