For the Reader

How to Hygge In A Heatwave

Fall is my favorite season. Sweaters, a symphony of colors from the changing leaves, shorter days…it’s a time of year where it’s OK to slow down, cuddle up and stay indoors. Whoever September first rolls around I’m always itching to get cozy. But with the hot temps hitting Southern California, it’s a challenge to get your hygge on at the moment.

Hygge, pronounced  “hoo-gah”, is a Danish word that describes the feeling of warmth and coziness that comes from doing simple things. Lighting candles on a cold night, spending time with friends, baking. Christmas time is the pinnacle of hygge if that gives you any indication of the vibe we’re going for. But baking, and candles don’t mix when the heat is shimmering outside your windows. 

So what’s a hygge-seeker to do?

Well, rather than cranking up the A/C to glacial levels, lighting a fire wrapping yourself in a blanket to enjoy your fake chilly afternoon (which would be very environmentally irresponsible), you can still enjoy some of the ideas of hygge even if the weather makes donning a sweater impossible.

Get Together With Friends and Family – You can get all the hygge vibes you’re seeking by hanging with your favorite peeps on a hot September afternoon. Even without the candles, and crackling fire, you can experience the coziness and warmth conversation with your nearest and dearest bring. You can still bring the wool blankets, but use them to sit on the grass or sand, rather than to keep warm. Laugher and good conversation bring the same warmth whether you’re in the backyard or around your wooden dining room table with snow falling outside.

Hit The Kitchen – You might miss the aromas that baking sugar cookies or apple spice cake brings, but when it’s too hot outside to heat up the oven, you can still spend time in the kitchen making something delicious. Gathering together to cook and enjoy good food is just as hygge as the scent of nutmeg and warm sugar. So pick lemons and make a fresh pitcher of lemonade to enjoy with all the friends and family you invited over. Homemade ice cream is another cool way you can satisfy your cooking urges.

Star-gaze – Hygge is not just for indoors; you can do it anywhere. Nothing makes me feel cozier than gazing at the night sky. The sparkling stars twinkling from thousands of light-years always bring a sense of warmth to my chest as I enjoy their shining beauty. Sharing that experience with family is one of my favorite pass times. While it’s always from to do in the chilly weather, it’s equally enjoyable on a warm night.

Read – Nothing puts the world to right quite as much as sitting down to read. It slows my heart, allows me to breath calmly and brings joy like no other. Some of the most hygge times I’ve experienced is reading with my son – whether we’re reading the same book together or reading separate books. Sharing quiet time with someone you love is just about the coziest thing you can do in any temperature.

Reminisce – One of the best things about spending time with people you love is remembering the good times you shared together. It covers you in a warm glow that no blanket or sweater could ever rival. Haul out your old phot albums and talk about your childhood with your kids, fire up the movie projector and watch an old favorite under the starry sky…visit your favorite restaurant for dessert. Sharing your memories is always the wonderful to bring the essence of hygge to a sweltering day.

So try not to get discouraged if the mercury is topping ninety. These early days of September. The cold will come like it always does and soon we can haul out our sweaters and decorate our doorways with pumpkins. But until that happens, there are plenty of ways to bring the spirit of hygge to your hot days.

Happy Tuesday📚🍁

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