With another Halloween in the books, it’s just about that time of year where we mentally prepare ourselves for another winter (and finals week chaos, but happy thoughts). It’s that time where we start thinking of all the relaxing we want to do while basically having no time to do it.

If you’re like me, you’re always trying to find new ways to shake up and enhance your self-care routine. Needless to say, “discovering” hygge has been a life-changer for me.

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What is Hygge?

Hygge (pronounced “hoo-gah”) is a Danish and Norweign word to describe an atmosphere that makes one feel cozy and is optimal for their well-being, usually by emphasizing comfort and relaxation.

According to Hygge House, a site created by a woman hoping to get back to her Danish roots, the word hygge is “used when acknowledging a feeling or moment, whether alone or with friends, at home or out, ordinary or extraordinary as cozy, charming or special.”

How do I create Hygge in my life?

There are key components to hygge, but there’s not really one way to do it. This is because it’s more of a feeling than an item or something you can buy or replicate. Hygge House describes it as such, “Hygge doesn’t require learning ‘how-to’, adopting it as a lifestyle or buying anything.” Hygge is the feeling of coziness and being cozy, being relaxed and not rushed.

There are a number of books that lay out the art of hygge and how to best do it, but because it is a feeling of coziness and warmth (one that you will best understand how to achieve for yourself) these books aren’t really worth your money.