Cosy up to winter
If the thought of cold, rainy days brings your mood down, it’s worth looking abroad to see how other, more wintry countries, stay happy, writes
One moment, life is all backyard barbecues and sunburned shoulders, warm morning walks and weekends at the beach. Then, seemingly overnight, the city turns sad and grey and wet and my mood swiftly follows suit. Yet, countries consistently ranked the happiest in the world (Denmark, Finland, Switzerland and Iceland) have winters that make New Zealand look tropical.
These populations know how to “do” winter well. Or, to use the niche-turned-cliche Danish word, they know how to “hygge”. Pronounced “hoo-gah”, it means “creating a warm atmosphere and enjoying the good things in life with good people”, according to Visit Denmark. When winter descends there’s also friluftsliv and koselig in Norway, Sweden’s fika, and kalsarikannit in Finland. Here are some ways these nations endure winter joyfully.
Dress for the season
Feeling cold is one of the easiest ways to feel miserable, which means your wardrobe is an effective place to start your joyful winter journey.
So, pack up those linen shorts and light dresses and haul out the heavy jeans, thick tights, woollen shirts and knitted scarves. Toss your rain jacket and small umbrella in your bag while you’re at it because it will rain and you really shouldn’t be surprised.
Get Outside
Going outside is another way people can get into a good mood; a practice Norwegians call friluftsliv. Roughly translated to “open-air life”, the expression is about getting outdoors and connecting with nature, no matter the weather.
Friluftsliv is an encouraging reminder that, if you rug up with layers and endure the first bracing moments, it’s always worth it. This could look as simple as a morning walk with lots of layers and a takeaway coffee, a muddy weekend hike in the mountains or a bold ocean dip.
Winter-proof your schedule
Working out a “winter wardrobe” of activities that suit the conditions can be beneficial. Make that weekly dinner an hour earlier in the evening, or change your morning run routine to an indoor gym class; pay attention to what feels difficult and make tweaks to work for winter.
Change your space
Hygge is about “informal time together with family or close friends”, and in winter, this takes place at someone’s home or another quiet location. It’s worth giving your space a hygge makeover — we’re talking fluffy blankets and scented candles, warm lighting and a nice mug for your tea or coffee; small things can make a significant difference.
Ditch the screen
This is less about ditching social media altogether but being attentive to what you spend time looking at. A cosy movie with friends one evening? Yes, yes, yes. A friend’s Instagram stories from a beach in LA? Maybe not so much.
Look for the opportunities
Snow-based activities are an obvious choice in winter ( skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, glacier climbing) but for those who prefer apres over adrenaline, check out Aotearoa’s best hot pools, catch an ice hockey game, stargaze while the sky is at its darkest or go whale-watching.
Create, and keep traditions
We don’t have Hanukkah, Christmas, St Lucia Day or New Year’s Day to celebrate in winter but there’s nothing stopping you from making a new celebration or tradition.
Some people throw a mid-winter Christmas party, others may mark the start of winter with an icy ocean dip followed by hot chocolate. Whatever you choose, make sure you gather your friends and family and make it a little bit special.