How to Create a Hygge Routine to Support Your Wellbeing This Season
What Is Hygge and Why It Matters
Seasonal change can have a real impact on how we feel and function. It is more noticeable when the clocks are going back and daylight is disappearing earlier.
During this time, many people notice a dip in energy, motivation or mood. They can start to withdraw into themselves and can find it harder to get going, stay focused, and stay socially connected.
Although this is a situation that happens every year, many still find the transition difficult to cope with.
So, instead of pushing through or trying to ignore it, this is an opportunity to create a Hygge routine, a gentle, grounding approach that brings comfort, calm and steadiness to your everyday life.
You may well have heard of the concept of Hygge already. It comes from Danish culture, but you don’t need to live the Scandinavian lifestyle to practise it.
Hygge is simply about creating an environment and rhythm that supports your emotional well-being.
This is about feeling safe, nourished, rested and connected, not about creating a picture-perfect cosy aesthetic.
Why Seasonal Shifts Affect How We Feel
Everyone can experience seasonal shifts differently. Some people will welcome the change as a time to withdraw and spend time indoors hibernating. Other people find it to be depressing, and it can affect the way they feel in a more severe way. There are physiological reasons for this.
When daylight changes, our bodies and minds notice. Our circadian rhythm shifts. These are the rhythms that affect our wake/sleep cycles, and any disturbance in them can create an imbalance in our internal systems. We can find sleep patterns disturbed and find it more difficult to get up in the morning.
Our pace of life can change. There’s often a natural pull inward, a need to stay in, bunker down and almost hibernate. This can be difficult for people who live alone, as they may not socialise enough, and it can also create more tensions for people living together, as they are spending more time in the same environment.
The lack of natural daylight can also affect how we feel, and we often tend to withdraw from spending time outdoors because of the poorer weather, meaning we don’t spend enough time in fresh air. This can all have an impact on our physical and emotional well-being.
These changes can make us feel blue, SAD or Seasonal Affected Disorder can set in, altering how we feel and behave.
Five Ways to Create a Hygge Routine
In order to enjoy the colder, darker months ahead it can be beneficial to create a Hygge routine. Although the weather may be colder, and the days shorter and darker, you can still find pleasure and connection if you are prepared.
Here are 5 ways you can adopt a Hygge routine into your day to make the most of the winter months ahead.
Create a Daily Transition Ritual
A transition ritual is a small routine that marks the shift from “doing” into “winding down.”
This could be:
Making a warm drink at the same time each afternoon (something comforting like a hot chocolate always works for me)
Switching on a lamp instead of the main light gives you the “cosy vibes”
Taking 10 minutes of quiet before cooking dinner, some time to just “be”
Stepping outside for fresh air before starting the evening
The important part isn’t the activity, it’s the signal to your nervous system: We’re slowing down now.
2 . Prioritise Physical Comfort
Comfort helps us feel safe, relaxed, and more connected to our bodies. There’s nothing better than getting warm and cosy for cheering you up and making you feel safe and secure. This helps to reset your nervous system and lowers blood pressure. Add these to your daily routine,
Blankets, soft socks, layered clothing
Warm lighting (lamps over overhead lights)
Candles or soft, glowing bulbs
Think textures, light and temperature, choose what feels gentle and comforting.
3. Choose Intentional Connection
Winter can unintentionally isolate us. Yes, you may have to go out to work where you will probably chat to people, but if you are working from home as so many people do now, you can become more isolated over the darker months. Therefore, it is important to choose intentional, meaningful connections, such as,
One person you speak with weekly
A standing weekly video call
A short voice note exchange with a friend
A recurring meal or walk
You don’t need to be out every day, it’s not about the time, it’s about the meaning. One meaningful connection a week is better than seeing people every day on a superficial level.
4. Keep One Beautiful Thing in View
In the darker months, you will spend far more time indoors, so make sure it is a space that you want to spend time in.
Have something beautiful that you can look at that will lift your mood. It could be;
A plant on your desk.
A candle flickering away
A cherished family photo
A favourite mug.
Your environment will affect the way you feel far more than you realise, so make it a comfy, cosy space you love spending time in.
5. Plan for Joy on Purpose
Make your living intentional during the Winter months and plan to be happy. In the Summer, it is far easier to be spontaneous. Winter can require more planning to get the most out of it. Go for activities such as,
Something tiny to look forward to, such as a pamper session at the weekend
A weekly film night with a group of friends
A particular breakfast on Sundays
A morning walk as the sun is coming up, or a twilight one before it disappears.
Additional Coaching Tools to Support You This Season
Values Mapping
Clarify what matters to you during the Winter months. Is it self-care? Seeing friends and family? Learning something new. Concentrate on what matters most to you at this time of the year.
Future-Self Visioning
This is the perfect time to start a journaling exercise and plan your future. Ask questions such as;
“What do I want my life to look like in five years?”
“If I could change one thing in the next month in a positive way, what would it be?”
These questions can give you clarity, but also an increased sense of optimism and happiness.
Inner Voice Awareness
When your mood dips, as it can during this time, be far more aware of how you speak to yourself and adjust your tone. It is far easier to slip into more negative thinking in the darker months and to berate yourself for how you believe your life is going. Listen to your inner narrative and start speaking to yourself more kindly. This will help to raise your spirits and improve your mood.
Habit Scaffolding
Attach new habits to existing ones (tiny steps, repeatable effort). This could be eating a healthy breakfast after a morning walk. Locking your phone out of sight after you have switched off the TV before bed. Small actions produce big results, which all help to lift your well-being.
Nervous System Regulation
Use breath, warmth, texture and rest to calm your nervous system, not just your mind. Your nervous system can take more strain at this time of the year. Be aware of it and set a daily routine in place to look after it. This could be a simple mindfulness practice or ten minutes of meditation each day.
How Life Coaching Can Help You Find Your Own Version of Hygge
Adopting a hygge routine during the winter months is essential for holistic well-being as it promotes comfort, mindfulness, and emotional balance in a season often associated with shorter days and colder weather.
If these tools sound helpful but you’re not sure where to start, let's book a free clarity call so we can figure it out together.
By intentionally creating a cosy and soothing environment, through soft lighting, warm beverages, and thoughtful moments of relaxation, you can reduce stress and combat feelings of isolation or seasonal blues.
This practice encourages slowing down, nurturing self-care, and building a sense of contentment, which supports mental, emotional, and physical health during the challenging winter period.
Integrating hygge into your daily routine serves as a grounding ritual that enhances overall resilience and well-being.
At times, we can all do with help managing winter blues. Life coaching can guide you in creating the right hygge routine by helping you identify what brings you comfort, peace, and joy in your daily life.
Through personalised coaching sessions, you can explore your unique preferences and values, allowing you to design cosy, intentional habits that promote well-being and relaxation.
A life coach can arm you with the right emotional well-being tools, assist in setting achievable goals to incorporate hygge principles in a way that complements your lifestyle, making it easier to reduce stress, increase mindfulness, and build a sense of contentment consistently.
This tailored approach ensures your hygge routine is sustainable and truly meaningful for you.
Final Thoughts
This Season Is an Invitation to Slow Down
If the days are getting darker where you are, this is a good moment to notice your pace. If you are looking for ways on how to stay positive during darker months, a Hygge routine could be just what you are searching for.
Hygge isn’t about picture-perfect cosiness; it’s about supporting yourself. Slowing down a little. Paying attention to the things that help you feel grounded and well.
You’re allowed to slow down. You’re allowed to make things simpler. You’re allowed to choose comfort over pressure.
Hygge is not about perfection. It’s about taking care of yourself in small, steady ways.
Explore your next step
If you’d like this winter to feel steadier and more grounded, I can help. Let’s have a free Clarity Call and explore your next steps together. Learn more about my coaching approach
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Get the workbooks that can help you create your perfect Hygge routine.
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