Try to make your New Year hygge. Say what?

If you are Danish, you know what this is all about.

Hygge is pronounced hoo-gah, and loosely translated means coziness or well-being. It’s an entire attitude and worth adopting.

In winter, the Danes spend 17 hours per day in darkness with temperatures always below freezing. Their answer was to create hygge in family gatherings by eating home-made pastries, drinking mulled wine with friends or reading a good book under a duvet. The idea is to relax and feel cozy. Hygge makes homes more welcoming. Danes who work from home may light a candle while they work. When it’s time to winddown, they light a fire, gather around family and friends to drink wine, share stories and enjoy good food together.

The Danes have the uncanny ability to make any situation — a family get-together, traffic jam or conference — cozy. This may be their secret to happiness. They light candles, surround themselves with family and friends, sit by the fire, eat sweets and drink wine.

Hygge doesn’t have to be a winter-only thing. Can you create hygge in your life during the holidays and into 2017? Winter Hygge When it’s cold outside, hygge is easy, just like in Denmark. Plan an outdoor activity with family and friends, then an indoor relaxed get-together. Outdoor activities could be snowshoeing, skiing, sledding, cross country skiing or a stroll along the boardwalk. For your get-together, ask everyone to bring food items, then create appetizers. Chop, prepare, cook and bake together. Hygge will happen.

If hygge makes people happier, then contribute $100 or $300 per month to your TFSA. Guaranteed that, by the end of 2017, you will be happier! Spring Hygge Do you work from home? How about lighting some candles while you work? This may improve your hygge and get more work done. Enjoy snacks while you work. Pour yourself a cup of tea.

Planning a family or neighborhood party? Think of ways to add hygge. Google some ideas of what would the Danes do to add hygge to a get-together.

Hygge is about being simple. Spending a day with friends, hiking in Okanagan Mountain Park then being together to make a pot-luck dinner at home. Indulge in some pastries, specialty drinks and good laughter.

Spring Hygge allows you to put your financial house in order. When looking at your mortgage, check that it is insured. Review your disability insurance in the event of an accident or sickness or set up a plan for your health and dental expenses. Summer Hygge Hygge is being kind to yourself and to each other. ‘Hyggeligt’ is the word offered as a compliment to host and hostess after an evening at their home.

Hygge is togetherness. Summer might be the time to rent canoes and enjoy a day with family and friends on the lake. Afterwards, a patio barbecue adds to your well-being.

Summertime hygge is to spend only what you can afford. Plan a hygge holiday within your budget. Hygge is the key in whatever you do. Fall Hygge Everyone in Denmark fosters hygge. Campers and tents have LED lights in them, duvets are found on chairs and sofas, bakeries are full of delicious pastries, drinks include wine, beer and spirits with every season and children grow up with the feeling of hygge in their home.

Danes are a satisfied bunch of people. Simple and hygge is best!

Make your financial house happier. Use the power of hygge to pay down your credit cards or mortgage. Have a happy and healthy new year. Enjoy lots of hygge!

Lisa Jaffary is a life insurance agent and financial advisor with Points West Insurance Services in Kelowna. She is a member of the Advocis, the largest professional association of financial advisors in Canada. Call her at 250 861-5166 or e-mail at lisa@pointswest.ca if you have any questions.