Winter is here. I love the 4 seasons. Yet, after the holidays and the first snow, the joy is gone and I’m ready for Spring. Really ready. Since that dream is out of my control, while remaining in the northeast anyway, let’s get through it together. Think Hygge. Hygge (hoo-ga) is defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as “a quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being.” It comes from a 16th-century Norwegian term “hugga” which means “to comfort” or “to console.” Hygge is a feeling, a state of mental coziness or contentment achieved through simplicity. Winter is a perfect time for Hygge. We’re indoors more than any other time of year, yet there are so many ways to be involved, comforted, connected with others, and even earn income. Winter is a perfect time for a Hygge Hobby.
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Here are some Winter Hygge Hobbies. I’m sure you have others.
Calligraphy Pottery
Chess Poetry
Cooking/Baking Renovations
Crocheting Scrapbooking
Dancing Sewing
Drawing Skiing
Gardening (Bonsai) Sledding
Graphic Design Tennis
Guitar / Music Writing
Hiking Weight Living
Ice Fishing Yoga
Knitting
Hobbies are not isolated time wasters. They are acts of engagement; a way to use leisure time to produce something tangible, learn a new skill, strengthen your body.
Hobbies are pleasurable and active. Hobbies allow you to be in your own company.
Hobbies can be done anywhere, engaging hands and mind.
Hobbies bring us peace.
Hygge involves mindfulness, coziness and nourishment of the soul. The idea is to stay active and enjoy what you are doing. Just because it’s cold and dreary outside, we don’t need to be alone or sedentary. My grandmother used to say, “You will always have a friend if you have a book.” So true. During the pandemic, we all learned to Zoom, Skype or FaceTime to stay connected. I also realized that during the winter months, it is a great way to have an evening out without the worry of bad weather, early darkness or distance. The combination of a warm room, cups of tea, camaraderie, great conversation, problem-solving, lots of laughter and knitting made the blues fade.
Hobbies can help promote healthier living; yoga, strength training, cross country skiing and knitting! Why knitting? Well, not just knitting, but any hobby that keeps your hands and minds busy will deter binge eating. Keep a water bottle nearby. Increasing water consumption will also help stay healthy.
Hobbies offer new challenges and provide a positive type of stress called eustress. Eustress is the good feeling from endorphins achieved from success, motivation, performance or feeling of well-being. Just think how you feel once you’ve accomplished something new. Positive stress helps us build resilience and sticktoitiveness (follow-through).
Hobbies can provide a venue for additional income. Remember the phrase, “If you love what you do, you will never work a day in your life”. Painting, calligraphy, photography, pottery, and graphic design are some ideas that can generate income. Etsy, Instagram, and Facebook Marketplace are all sites where you can sell your work online. For drawers, painters and graphic artists, there is Spoonflower.com. Here you can take any drawing or design, post it and sell it as fabric, wallpaper and/or wrapping paper. It is so cool.
Some of my favorite winter hobbies are the needle arts: knitting, crocheting, sewing, mending, embroidery. Usually, I’m combining those with audiobooks and podcasts. Add a cup of herbal tea, please. Ahh. My current projects are: The Twigs Sweater by Junko Okamoto, Sea Glass Tee by Wool and Pine, A Good Vintage Cardi by Fran Morgan, mending a friend’s sweater, and embroidering our family christening gown with the name of our 14th addition. [The handmade gown is 96 years old and still in perfect condition.] [Find all the patterns on Ravelry.com.]
Create a Hygge space for yourself. Light a candle, fireplace or twinkle lights. Get cozy with warm socks and hot chocolate, coffee or tea. Add a book or a project. Try The Little Book of Hygge by Miek Wiking. For project ideas, try a nice comfy throw like the Hygge Holiday Throw (crochet) hygge-free-beginner-crochet-blanket-pattern or the Braided Cable Knit Throw (knit) RHK0502-015859M.pdf.
My projects are ready for a Hygge winter. Time to light the fire and get cozy.
Carolyn Hanson is a local knitting and crochet designer, teacher, and fiber artist. She can be contacted at cchanson3@gmail.com.