I've been in a bit of a mid-winter rut for a few weeks. The cold weather has bought with it a feeling of sluggishness, and a lack of motivation for me. In order to combat this feeling, I have been looking into "Hygge" (pronounced hue-guh not hoo-gah!). Hygge is seemingly being mentioned everywhere at the moment. It is a Danish word which is used to acknowledge a feeling or moment at home or outside, ordinary or extraordinary as cosy, charming or special in some way.

There's apparently no English word which directly describes Hygge - but there are a few which can help us understand the general idea. Cosiness, happiness, a feeling of contentment, security, comfort and simpleness are all along the lines of the feeling of Hygge.

Winters in Denmark are cold and dark, and yet the Danish continue to rank as some of the happiest people on earth - so I figure they must be onto something.

I'm trying to approach my time at home with a feeling of Hygge as opposed to feeling guilty or lazy. I'm trying to relish the moment and acknowledge how good it feels to do things a little slower for a time. I am finding this is making it easier for me to then be productive and get things done afterwards!

So, how do we create a feeling of Hygge? It will be personal to each individual, as it is a "feeling" rather than an object or thing. I have found lighting beautiful candles when I am working, showering in the dark with a scented candle at night time, making a fragrant cup of tea with a teapot, having a great glass of red wine at night with dinner, walking my dog on a cold morning with lots of layers on, and sitting at my desk with a soft blanket over my knee are all bringing a feeling of contentment or cosiness for me this winter. Most of these things I would be doing anyway, but stopping to appreciate them seems to be doing the trick.

What are your favourite things to do to create Hygge? I'd love to know!

Megan