Live the hygge way this winter with these simple tips.
This Sunday marks the Winter Solstice -- the longest night of the year and a powerful turning point in the natural cycle. From here, the light slowly begins to return. In many traditions, the solstice is an invitation to pause, soften, and honor rest rather than resist it.
Winter is the ultimate yin season -- quiet, inward, nourishing, and deeply restorative. Rather than pushing through the colder months, we invite you to welcome winter into your home and into your life with intention.
Bring Winter Into Your Space
Create soft, grounding light. Candles, salt lamps, or warm-toned bulbs help counter long nights and signal safety and calm to the nervous system.
Layer for comfort. Add cozy blankets, textured pillows, wool socks, or a favorite robe. Physical warmth supports emotional ease.
Invite nature indoors. Pine branches, dried oranges, cinnamon sticks, pinecones, or evergreen wreaths bring seasonal energy into your home.
Use soothing scents. Diffuse grounding essential oils like cedarwood, frankincense, clove, or orange to create a sense of steadiness and warmth.
Live the Hygge Way
Hygge (pronounced hoo-gah) is the Danish art of coziness, and winter is its natural home. To practice hygge this season, try these incorporating these activities:
Enjoy warm drinks slowly (tea, cacao, coffee) without multitasking.
Share unhurried time with loved ones -- no agenda, no rush.
Let "enough" be enough -- this is not the season for overdoing.
Seasonal Practices for the Yin Months
Honor winter in yourself with these activities.
Take yourself out for a mindful winter walk. Even brief walks outdoors help regulate mood and energy. Notice the stillness, the bare trees, the crisp air, and the subtle beauty of the season.
Give yourself earlier evenings. Let yourself go to bed earlier when possible. Winter supports deep rest and repair.
Incorporate gentle movement. Choose slower practices like yin and restorative yoga, gentle stretching, or mindful walking.
Choose reflection over resolutions. Journal on what you are releasing from the past year and what you want to nurture as the light returns.
A Simple Solstice Ritual
On Sunday evening, light a candle and sit quietly for a few moments. Reflect on:
What are you ready to rest from?
What do you want to protect and nourish this winter?
What light are you carrying forward?
Winter doesn't ask us to bloom -- it asks us to restore. When we honor this season instead of fighting it, we build the energy, clarity, and resilience needed for the months ahead.
May this solstice bring you peace, warmth, and gentle renewal.