SAD (Seasonal affective disorder) is very real and can have you feeling down without understanding why. Humans need the sun just like every other living thing on this planet and when we don't get enough of it, it can really affect our mood. People may also call it the 'winter blues' which essentially causes SAD. However, there are two types of SAD as it is more about the change in seasons rather than it being dark and gloomy. Fall-onset is the 'winter depression' which can occur when Autumn transitions into Winter and we have Spring-onset also called 'summer depression' which usually relates to the transition from late Spring into Summer.
As you may already know I am your typical summer ☀ baby, so in the winter months I feel like I need a holiday to charge back up again. But of course, this is not always possible so I was really excited when I came across the concept of Hygge which is an interior design trend (interior being my lifelong hobby!) that became extremely popular in 2017. It gave me ideas of how to see the silver lining in these winter months that I tried to avoid as much as possible and since then I fell in love with the hyggelig trend. Think cuddles on the sofa, flickering scented candles, faux fur throws, and a hot chocolate by the fire.
The hyggelig trend originates from Denmark, which is known to be one of the world’s happiest countries despite having long & cold winters. The Danish have become accustomed to their environment and have made the best of a bad weather forecast by creating themselves a sanctuary of which gives them warmth and comfort, even with up to 17 hours of darkness a day.
A few ways you can incorporate 'The Hygge Way' into your everyday lifestyle:
1. Be present: Put your phone away and spend some quality time with friends and family, play board games or watch a movie, or simply just talk to each other.
2. Get back to nature: Go for a bike ride, take a walk, and take in your surroundings.
3. Put the kettle on: Nothing beats a hot drink on a cold evening, whether that's a hot chocolate with marshmallows or your favourite herbal tea.
4. Get soft: Get cosy with a faux fur blanket and some cosy cushions.
5. Do some good: We should always intend to do good by others and for ourselves, so make this a daily goal.
6. Cooking: Nothing says hygge more than cooking a delicious meal to share with your loved ones, it may be something you do often, so instead of seeing it as a chore, slow down, and enjoy it maybe try out a new receipe.
7. Light up: Light some scented candles around the house, the flickering flame, and the beautiful scents will put you in a cosy mood.
8. Reiki: Meditation is key in slowing down and being present. Reiki will bring you to the here and now and release tension, anxiety and depression by clearing out all your blocked energy.
I hope this gives you a little insight into why you may not feel yourself during the winter months and give you some inspo on how you can start enjoying it instead x