Finding magic in the cosy season

Put a candle on, grab a hot drink and blanket and spend some cosy time reading and relaxing..

It has become all dark and wintery, the nights are long and the days feel short. The cold in England feels a lot harsher and harder to deal with, which is something us Brits often complain about. I know need to allow more time in the mornings to de-ice the car and contend with all the ice on the roads. Yet in the midst of all the dark misery, there is magic and beauty in the cosy and calm that unfolds in the evenings. Finding the magic in the cosy, all bit long as well, evenings is a blessing.

I love to have most of my light source come from candles and fairy lights. The quiet, warming light they bring offer a more peaceful atmosphere. Nature is giving us a time to slow down, enjoy the quiet moments that the winter blanket brings. I love how we now look forward to a hot morning drink rather than an iced one. I have switched a morning coffee for a hot chocolate, which brings a simple luxury to my mornings.

There are two words I love to focus on during the winter months; fika and hyggee. Fika is a Swedish word that means appreciating the good things in life whilst slowing down. Focus on the different ‘fika’ moments in your life, such a coffee with friends or reading your favourite book snuggled in a blanket. By centring your thoughts in a way that fika suggests, then you will find the simplistic magic that surrounds us. The next time it is stormy outside and you are in a pub or cafe- focus on how comforting it feels to be warm and cosy inside whilst the weather causes chaos outside. We might pass these moments off as insignificant, however these little movements are what make up our life. If we stop waiting to find magic in the big events in our life and find them in the small moments, we will live with more awe and wonder within us.

Hyggee is pretty similar to fika, however it is a Danish concept of appreciating cosy and comforting moments. This idea is something we can bring into our lives not just by appreciating moments, but creating an environment in our homes that reflects hyggee. The main way to do this is by using candles and low lighting around your house or room. The calm and warming lighting can calm our nervous system and bring comfort during a harsh season. Having a few blankets over your bed and sofa ensures you snuggle up, feel safe and comforted after a long day in the cold. To invite the concept of hyggee into our environment provides an opportunity to see the magic in our own homes. If we don’t take time to make our living environment cosy and comforting, then we won’t see the beauty in the shelter we call home. We may not always feel comfort in our homes, so to have a few ways to create a sense of hyggee into our homes can provide a bit of escapism and calm.

I love spending my mornings quietly, no social media, music or any loud noise. This allows me to appreciate the stillness of the (very) early morning before I join the long line of commuters. I love seeing the colours of dawn quietly pass through before the day is in full bloom. For many of us, we leave and come home in the dark- so we must try and find magic during the glimpses of the day that we see. I work in the city centre- so I have to try harder to find the magic whilst on a lunchtime walk, or when I am walking to and from my car. At the moment, it is easier as the streets are filled with twinkling lights and shop windows full of festive displays. After Christmas however, I may struggle to find the magic when I am not naturally inclined to love the concrete landscape. Yet I will hold dear, fika and hyggee, to ensure that I go through this winter season with more gratitude and appreciation than the years before.

Let’s go through the next few weeks practicing and implementing fika, hyggee and all the concepts that come with them. This will not be a cure for the enduring cold and long weeks, but it will ensure we don’t miss out on the glimmers of magic that are always around.

I send you all the fika, hyggee and light,

Beatrice x