You probably saw this coming.
Not the season itself, but another post about Denmark. Sorry — I’m going to lean on those Danes again to help us figure out how to survive Minnesota winters.
Winter is cold. That’s uncomfortable. You end up piling on layers until your car warms up.
Winter is dangerous. Icy streets and sidewalks cause injuries, wreck cars, and keep us inside.
Winter is dark. For a lot of people, that darkness brings Seasonal Affective Disorder.
Winter makes us sick. Got kids? Then you get a parade of germs and viruses. Bring on the Vicks, humidifiers, and way too many viewings of Frozen.
And then there’s Minnesota winter: imagine six months of cold from November through April. Spring doesn’t really happen here.
Let’s dig into hygge (pronounced “hoo-guh”). I mentioned it briefly back in March 2017 as a possible antidote to some of the social ills we face in the States. In short, hygge is a Danish and Norwegian idea for creating coziness, comfort, and a sense of well-being. It’s especially central in Danish life.
1.) Lots of candles. Seriously — light them everywhere. Embrace the glow.
2.) A fireplace. I already had that checked off. I may use mine to curl up and scroll flights to warmer places, but at least it’s there.
3.) Enjoy time with friends and family.
4.) Bake at home. It’s only a few months of extra sugar — enjoy it.
5.) Keep a sane work-life balance. Leave work by 5:30 and don’t log back in until the next morning. Take weekends off.
6.) Nap. A 30–45 minute early afternoon rest can be amazing.
7.) Have an early afternoon coffee, but don’t overdo it or you’ll wreck your sleep.
8.) Sleep enough. Get in bed before 10 and avoid late-night eating.
9.) Share chores. Make meal prep a family thing. Create a cozy reading nook where you can relax with coffee or a spiked hot chocolate.
Making your home hygge isn’t hard. It’s about comfort and spaces free of constant screens and clutter. A bean bag can be perfect. No fireplace? Group candles together for the same effect.
You can still be a minimalist and collect a few cozy things — throw pillows, blankets, candles, books, board games, mugs, whatever. Maybe call it “semi-minimalist.”
10.) Get outside for a run or a brisk walk. Winter running works fine if you dress for it and hydrate afterward. Even a short two-miler can reset your day.
11.) Use cool-mist humidifiers and try to bring fresh air into the house. Think about an air exchanger or HRV (Heat Recovery Ventilation).
An HRV made a big difference for us last winter. It brings in fresh outdoor air while keeping the house warm. Install costs can be over $2,000, but it prevents moisture buildup and improves indoor air quality.
12.) Install a gas or electric fireplace. One thing I insisted on when buying our house was a hearth. A gas insert sealed up the leaky old flue, cut drafts, and removed carbon monoxide risks. It’s also incredibly convenient — push a button for instant, safe heat. If you don’t have room for a real fireplace, look into a heat-generating electric model and check energy use before you buy.
13.) Invite friends over for dinner and games. It’s a great way to spend a cold night, enjoy the fire, and force yourself to tidy up the house fast.
14.) Leave the house for a warm-weather trip. We travel every February to escape winter. We’re lucky our parents are snowbirds, so costs are mostly airfare. This year we used credit card miles for a family round-trip.
Having a warm trip to look forward to gets you through the worst of January when the car won’t start and runs are out of the question.
15.) If nothing else helps, move away for good — or become a snowbird. I’ve seriously thought about this more since that polar vortex a few years back.
Winter hit with a surprise blizzard this year, so I don’t have much time to plan. I need to put my hygge game into motion fast before the sidewalks freeze and the temperatures plummet.
Opening the house to friends is easy and makes us keep the place cleaner. Candles and candle-lit dinners? I’m in. We’d stashed most of ours after the twins were born; at five, they’re ready to learn candle safety and not to drip wax on the iPad.
I can be convinced to leave work at the office, especially if Sunday evenings become family game nights with a hygge vibe.
And taking hygge outside helps too. A few weekends of skating, hitting the slopes, snowshoeing, winter biking, or even building a snowman will boost our chances of surviving the season. Right, Elsa?
Lots of people say the older you get, the harder winter hits. In my mid-40s, I’m already exploring snowbird options for the future.
The key is to make the most of it and embrace winter when you can. If none of this appeals, maybe you’d be happier and healthier living somewhere warmer.
We can’t spend all our time frolicking in fields of daisies — work and chores still get done, and winter pushes us to focus on work, studies, and home projects.
But I’m not giving up my dream of spending three core winter months in sunny Arizona or Nevada once the kids leave for college. No way — I’m not letting go of sunshine and warmth.
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