I stepped out of my house the other day and for the first day this year, felt that unmistakable chill announcing that the colder months have truly arrived. I started keeping gloves tucked in my bag, ready to pull on during my walk back from North Haugh at 5 p.m., when the sun has already set and the wind cuts a little sharper. To add to all that, November is a bit of a dreaded month for uni students. It feels like all the work begins piling on at once, and your exams look a lot closer this side of Halloween.
With the temperature dropping, days getting shorter, and deadlines creeping up, I think most of us are starting to crave a little extra warmth and comfort. Enter hygge (pronounced ‘hoo-gah’), the Danish concept that’s less about doing and more about being. It’s the soft glow of candlelight on a rainy evening, the smell of freshly baked cookies wafting through the house, the deep comfort of curling up on the couch with a good book. But hygge isn’t just an aesthetic or a Pinterest trend; it’s a whole philosophy of living that can transform how we move through the darker months.
Originating in Denmark, a country that somehow manages to stay one of the happiest in the world, according to the World Population Review, despite having some of the longest, darkest winters, hygge roughly translates to ‘coziness.’ But that doesn’t really capture the full vibe. It’s about finding joy and contentment in simple, everyday moments. Think: having a movie night with friends under a mountain of blankets, cooking a hearty meal, or taking a long, quiet walk with a mug of tea and no exact destination in mind.
At its heart, hygge is about slowing down. It’s the opposite of hustle culture, no productivity hacks, no self-optimization, no guilt for spending an evening doing absolutely nothing. Instead, it’s about creating moments that feel safe, calm, and nourishing. So many modern ‘wellness’ trends are about improving yourself, eating cleaner, working out harder, and waking up earlier. Hygge doesn’t care about any of that. It’s not about self-discipline, but self-kindness.
You don’t need a picture-perfect home or Scandinavian-style flat to live a little more hygge. It’s all about small, intentional choices that make your world feel warmer and softer. Here are some super easy ways to bring the spirit of hygge into your life this winter!
- Set the mood with light
Personally, I’m obsessed with ambient lighting. If you know me, you know the big light in my room basically never gets turned on; it’s all about the warm glow. I’m the person who will spend way too long in the homeware store debating which light bulbs give off the coziest hue. Soft, golden lighting is a core part of hygge: think candles, salt lamps, fairy lights —anything that wraps the room in warmth. Lately, I’ve even started taking my evening showers by just candlelight (yes, really). It’s such a small change, but it feels ridiculously luxurious and instantly helps me unwind after a long day. Try adding something like this to your routine —you’d be surprised how much calmer your evenings feel.
- Embrace comfort food
Think soups, cinnamon rolls, a big bowl of pasta, anything that fills (and warms) you up from the inside out. If you can, try pairing it with some good company. Social connection is a huge part of hygge, and there’s something so special about cooking together. My flatmates and I usually cook dinner together, and we will do the occasional flat dinner. We actually set the table, light a few candles, (maybe open a bottle of wine), and all eat together. It’s such a cozy, fun way to spend an evening.
- Unplug
Give yourself an evening, or even a whole day if you’re feeling ambitious, completely off from screens. Put your phone on “Do Not Disturb,” close your laptop, and see what happens when you give your mind a little breathing room. Play a board game with your flatmates, make a pot of tea, journal, or chat for hours about nothing in particular. You’d be surprised how much more connected and calmer you feel when you’re not half-distracted by notifications.
- Dress for coziness
This is not the season for suffering in jeans. Bring out the fluffy socks, oversized sweaters and hoodies, and comfiest sweatpants. When you do have to leave the house, wrap yourselves in a chunky scarf or don some fingerless gloves.
- Get outside (yes, really)
Even though hygge is all about indoor comfort and coziness, it’s also about appreciation for the little joys of nature. Take a slow walk along West Sands or through the woods on Lade Braes. With the weather turning, it’s the perfect time to appreciate the fall foliage or mist over the sea. Try to be extra aware of your surroundings —maybe don’t listen to music or a podcast — and really take in the sounds around you.
At the end of the day, hygge is really about presence, slowing down enough to notice the little things that make life lovely. It’s about finding calm in the chaos, warmth in the cold, and joy in the ordinary.