5 Tips to Live a Cozy Hygge Life

January 17, 2023 (updated February 16, 2023) — Written by

Hygge has become incredibly popular in the last few years, but what is it really? And how can you live that hygge lifestyle in simple ways this season? Here are my top five tips to get cozy right now.

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The Whispering Willow Neck Wrap.

By: Lisa Fennessy

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You’ve probably heard of “hygge,” though you probably also can’t pronounce it, like me, lol. The Danish word and practice dates back to around 1800, and it’s the ultimate in COZY. And I don’t know about you but that is MY VIBE rn. 


What is a hygge lifestyle?

The Danish term “hygge” was added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2017, after it gained worldwide popularity following the release of the first annual World Happiness Report in 2012. Taking into account more than just the economic state of a country, the World Happiness Report incorporates less tangible, trackable perceptions like overall well-being.

Denmark has consistently ranked in the top 3 countries of the report, and the idea of “hygge” exploded under the pretense that it might be part of the reason that Danish people are happier.

Denmark itself defines hygge as being about “taking time away from the daily rush to be together with people you care about—or even by yourself—to relax and enjoy life’s quieter pleasures.”


a woman reads a book on a velvet couch in her living room
Love getting cozy with a good book (and a glass of wine, not pictured 😜).

What are examples of hygge?

Good question. One Danish outlet explains: “Hygge is often about informal time together with family or close friends. Typically, the setting is at home or another quiet location, or perhaps a picnic during the summer months. It usually involves sharing a meal and wine or beer, or hot chocolate and a bowl of candy if children are included. There is no agenda. You celebrate the small joys of life, or maybe discuss deeper topics. It is an opportunity to unwind and take things slow.”

It seems like it’s a bit hard to nail down, but to me, it means the opposite of getting caught up in life, taking time to pause and lean into the COZY. So besides reading bedtime stories, enjoying afternoon snacks and playing Telestrations with my kids, here’s how I’m folding hygge into my everyday life.

RELATED: Your guide to non-toxic candles.


5 tips for living hygge right now

What’s helping you live your best hygge life rn?

xo, lisa in cursive

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By Lisa Fennessy

Lisa is the founder of The New Knew. Passionate about clean beauty, organic eats and nontoxic lifestyle, Lisa writes to create awareness. Conscious consumerism and informed decisions will impact the marketplace, our health and THE WORLD!

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