Hygge ("hooga") is a Danish and Norwegian concept of taking time away from the daily rush to enjoy life's quieter pleasures, creating a mood of cosiness and well-being. Various definitions of hygge can be traced back to the Middle Ages, where a similar Old Norse word meant "protected from the outside world." (Info from Denmark.dk)

As winter hits, the concept of hygge is popular again. You’ll see people on social media creating a cosy physical environment in their homes – snuggling up in blankets, beside a wood fire, a hot chocolate in a favourite mug – but hygge is also about taking time to rest, relax and look after your mental well-being, perhaps by doing crafts, listening to music or spending time with beloved people and animals. 

Start with cosy socks and slippers

Slipping on a pair of comfy woollen slippers or warm woolly socks gives you an instant feeling of comfort – perhaps relating back to the warm winter clothing our parents bundled us up in as children. Most of our work life, we ignore our feet and batter them around. They deserve a break, and you’ll certainly feel the difference! A great place to find your cosy footwear is The Sheepskin Factory, 34 Barrys Point Road, which has a great range of genuine sheepskin and lambskin products to show you, as well as knitwear in possum merino, merino and alpaca. thesheepskinfactory.co.nz

Curl up with a real hot chocolate

Once you’ve got your warm slippers and piled up your comfiest blankets, it’s time for a real hot chocolate. Lift your game by melting a good-quality dark chocolate (at least 60% cocoa solids) in a pot of your preferred milk on the stovetop. Stir until it’s completely mixed together, then add to a pre-warmed mug with some grated chocolate and marshmallows on top. Or go to Willy Wonka chocolate levels by making a cup of thick chocolate caliente, a traditional Spanish-style chocolate drink. Visit Pachamama Latino in Archers Road and check out the hot chocolates they have on offer; just as easy to make, thicker and more chocolatey! pachamama.co.nz

It’s cosier by candlelight

Candlelight softens a room and makes it feel more intimate, as well as adding fragrance. Pick a scent that suits your cosy winter mood, whether it’s a spicy whiskey and tobacco, a clean pine forest, or a warm, sweet baking scent that appeals to you most. You can find a great range at some of our independent gift stores. If you find yourself using a lot of candles, consider learning how to make them yourself! Candle Creations offers candle-making classes in Albany and sells a wide range of the materials you need. candlecreations.co.nz

Let's talk about books

There are all kinds of cosy reads to curl up with at home: a cosy romance, a cosy mystery, even cosy science fiction. You could try 'Before The Coffee Gets Cold' by Toshikazu Kawaguchi for a Japanese cafe ambience, the 'Thursday Murder Club' series by Richard Osman for a cosy mystery, 'The House in the Cerulean Sea' by TJ Klune for cosy fantasy and for cosy sci-fi, the 'Wayfarer' Series by Becky Chambers. If those cosy reads don’t appeal, chat to your local librarian, who can steer you towards a book to suit your reading tastes, or pop into one of our local independent bookshops and talk to a bookseller. 

Next, you’ll need a bunch of friends to drink coffee (or wine!) with, and talk about your books. If book-reading friends are a little thin on the ground, why not join a book club? Birkenhead Library has two options: Book Chat, where readers can share what they have read in the last month and review it, happens on the second Tuesday of each month (9.30am – 11am); Korean Book Chat for Korean speakers is held on the first Tuesday of the month (10am – 12pm). See facebook.com/birkenheadlibrary, and if you’re not in the area, check with your local library or try your favourite independent bookstore.

Going out… but staying cosy

Tired of your own four walls? There are a bunch of very cosy places you can visit on the North Shore. If you’ve been working outdoors in the colder temperatures or even hunched over a desk in an office, chances are your body is feeling stiff and sore. One way to promote relaxation and comfort is to get a warm winter massage or beauty treatment. A hot stone massage is a great choice. The heated stones help ease winter tension and relax the muscles as knots and discomfort are massaged away. Your circulation can benefit from the gentle heat, and lying quietly for half an hour or more, listening to the soothing music, is its own kind of tonic. I recommend Siwalai Thai Massage on Sunset Road, Mairangi Bay, if you haven’t already got a favourite massage studio. siwalaithaimassage.com

If you want something even warmer, consider a sauna. At Sonder Sauna on Murrays Bay waterfront, you can take a restorative pause from the busy world while looking out at the sea from their traditional Finnish sauna made from Baltic pine and heated by a log stove. Be brave and add in the ice plunge (okay, that’s not so cosy, but it’s good for you!). The combination of heat/cold therapy can improve muscle recovery, reduce inflammation, improve cardiovascular health and circulation, and reduce stress. sondersauna.com

Get in front of a crackling fire

Hearth and campfires induce a real and measurable sense of relaxation according to a 2014 study conducted by the University of Alabama. So, what better way of relaxing on a winter's night than heading to a local pub or wine bar with a real, crackling fire in the background? The team at Stafford Road Wine Bar, 141 Queen Street in Northcote Point, have preserved the beautiful details of their 1911 building, retaining its rustic, old-world character. Here you can imagine you are in a 1920s speakeasy with the plush Chesterfield furniture and brass fittings. Take a seat and relax with a warming red wine or a winter cocktail and some delicious tapas. staffordroadwinebar.co.nz

Another option if you’re in Devonport is The Patriot, a classic English pub in a heritage building that used to be a BNZ bank. It still has its original fireplaces to warm you up in winter, as well as a bank vault! Here you can watch the footy with a beer and still feel as cosy as it gets! thepatriot.co.nz

Alpine atmosphere

Sitting with a chunk of bread or cured meat on a long-stemmed fork, and a fondue pot full of melty cheese, with a view of the snow – you’d have to be in the Swiss Alps, right? Luckily, you can have this peak cosy experience a little closer to home at Snowplanet. Its restaurant, 7 Summits, has a traditional Swiss-style cabin private dining room named The Chalet, where, amongst other options, they offer a cheese fondue night for three or four people. 7summits.co.nz/fondue

Learn a new craft

When the weather isn’t appealing for doing your usual outdoor activities and hobbies, consider something fun to do indoors. Winter is a great time to unleash your creativity by trying a new craft. Whether you’re making something practical and useful or something intricate and beautiful to look at, you can take real pride in the end result.

When you want to learn a new craft, your local library could be the very place to help you out, and not only by supplying useful books. Birkenhead Library often has craft classes amongst its range of activities and events. On Sunday 19 July, they’re partnering with ReCreators for a wooden planter box workshop where attendees learn basic woodworking skills while building a planter box to take home. In August, there will be a 'Junk Journalling Craft' event where you can make and personalise journals using recycled materials and everyday items like fabric scraps and receipts. The result is part scrapbook, part art journal, and part diary. See these and more events at facebook.com/birkenheadlibrary or keep an eye on your local library’s Facebook page to see what events they’re hosting.

All in all, there’s no reason to spend these precious winter months bewailing how cold it is outside; find some winter joy by creating a feeling of hygge within your home or getting out and visiting a favourite cosy destination on the North Shore.