Being prone to bouts of depression, my friend Lynda and I have embarked on a bit of a personal development journey together this year to maintain our wellness, mindfulness and positivity, and look after each other. We regularly send each other little gifts in the post, meet up for coffee, and share book and film recommendations. We both love books about Hygge and in one of the books, 'The Cozy Life' the author recommends a 30 day hygge challenge. We both loved the idea and as November has just 30 days we thought it would be the perfect month. Forget the 30 day squat challenge, or the 30 day ab challenge - 30 days of hygge sounds much more nurturing and enjoyable!
We have created a list, taking into account some of the activities suggested by Edberg and made it our own. If you feel like joining in we'd love to see your hygge photos on instagram, twitter and facebook. Please use the hashtag #30daysofhygge
- Make a proper hot chocolate, with all the trimmings.
- Read a favourite book from your childhood (mine were The Hundred and One Dalmatians and White Boots. Lynda's favourites were The Secret Garden and Little Women).
- Bake bread (make two loaves and deliver one to your neighbour as a random act of kindness).
- Hang a new string of fairy lights somewhere in the house.
- Buy and enjoy a new bubble bath. We like Philosophy Fresh Cream, Origins Ginger Float , Philosophy Cinnamon Buns L'Occitane Lavender Harvest and Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir.
- Make a breakfast picnic, pack a cosy blanket and watch the sunrise.
- Go for a walk to gather pretty leaves, twigs, feathers, berries, flowers and nuts then make a nature mandala with them when you get home - photograph or sketch it then destroy it, making a wish as you do so (taken from How to be a Wildflower by Katie Daisy).
- Enjoy an outdoor fire; either attend a bonfire party or have drinks and snacks around a fire pit at home.
- Wear a gifted item of jewellery that you have not worn for a long time.
- Cosy up with a favourite film from your childhood. (Lynda loved Swallows & Amazons, I liked The Sound of Music and we both loved Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory).
- Go for a walk in the woods and kick some golden leaves.
- Wear some woolly loveliness.
- Choose a new novel, grab a blanket, hot drink and a scented candle and spend the afternoon reading. We have read and enjoyed Florence Grace, The Lake House and The Girl in the Photograph recently. On our to read list we have Yellow Crocus , I Remember You , At The Edge of the Orchard and A Memory of Violets.
- Dress your bed with fresh, clean, brushed cotton linen.
- Make a homemade gift for a loved one.
- Take your book/knitting/sewing/journal/sketch pad to a cosy cafe and spend an hour on your chosen craft with a favourite drink.
- Bake something new.
- Give yourself a facial and get an early night. I am loving this mask at the moment for brighter skin and tighter pores.
- Get comfy by the window and quietly watch the birds outside. I love to feed the birds and find they like suet blocks, sunflower hearts and nyger seed best of all.
- Go and visit a friend or family member you've been meaning to see for a while. Take some flowers and give them a big hug to let them know how much they mean to you.
- Blow the dust off your board games and spend an evening away from the TV. Wine, snacks and a favourite music playlist make for a lovely night in. We always enjoy a game of Harry Potter Cluedo!
- Have a candlelit bath.
- Try out a new farm shop cafe for breakfast, cake or lunch.
- Visit a National Trust property and wander around the gardens.
- Spend an entire day watching a new boxset.
- Style your hair differently or accessorise with cute clips, flowers or combs.
- Wear a warm sweater with comfy leggings and spend 20 minutes on some candlelight meditation.
- Treat yourself to a restorative yoga session somewhere beautiful.
- Sort through your digital photos and print off your favourites for your own hygge journal.
- Invite family over for Sunday lunch.
- Light a scented candle. 1803 Candles are our very favourites; we love Weathered Crow, Banana Walnut Cake and Yummy Pumpkin Seeds.
- Do some colouring in. We love the Johanna Basford ones and there is a lovely Christmas version out now too.
These are just suggestions of course - if you have any more you can add then please pop into the comments! We'd also love to hear the books and films you've loved.
If you'd like to read more about Hygge and cosy living, we really loved the The Little Book of Hygge, The Art of Hygge and, of course, The Cozy Life. For mindfulness and positivity reading we love Flow magazine and Breathe.
Day one of #30daysofhygge for me was a walk in a local country park with my folks this morning, kicking golden leaves and searching (unsuccessfully) for fairy toadstools.
Thanks for reading - wishing you a hyggeligt November :)
xOx