Have you heard about hygge?
Pronounced “hue-gah,” it’s a trend that began in Denmark and has exploded in America. The term “hygge” loosely translates to “coziness,” but it really means creating a warm, comforting atmosphere.
We’ve been seeing a lot of news stories about this idea lately, perhaps because this is a time of year where the outside world feels anything but warm and comforting.
For kids, it means long days at school, coming home at dusk and staring at a backyard covered in snow or icicles hanging from their basketball hoop.
It’s easy to feel down in the long stretch between Christmas and springtime, but there are things you can do to fight this feeling. Here are a few ways you and your family can fight the winter blues.
1. Let There Be Light
Winter is – literally – a dark time of year, with overcast skies and early sunsets. So it’s important to get as much sunlight as you can.
Open the curtains early, trim tree branches that could be blocking the sun, and try to spend time outside if it’s not too cold.
You can also make things brighter with artificial light. Sitting near a light box can help, as can installing a lamp that works on a timer to simulate dawn in your bedroom (or your kids’ rooms). Set it to gradually get brighter in the hour before you wake up, and it will make it easier to get out of bed.
2. Eat Foods That Fight Lethargy
Chocolate can help improve your mood and reduce anxiety but avoid the temptation to overdo it with carbohydrates. Some good things to eat in the winter include almonds (for omega-3 fatty acids), oranges and oatmeal (for folic acid) and bananas, which both fuel your brain and help you sleep.
And because we get less sun in the winter time, we also get less vitamin D, so you may want to give your kids a vitamin supplement until sunny weather comes again. You can also look for foods that are good sources of vitamin D: milk, yogurt, eggs, fishes such as salmon and tuna, and cereals that have been fortified with the vitamin.
If you’re looking for further tips, read our list of cool winter snack ideas.
3. Take On A Project
Winter is a great time to take on a project, whether it’s organizing your closet, getting your taxes done, or repainting a room.
If you’re looking for something to do with your kids, consider doing some volunteer work with them. This is something that is already its own reward, but it comes with a bonus: your kids will have something to put on their college applications, and they may even get credit for it at school.
On a more fun note, have them engage in a reading competition: see how many books they can read before spring, and give them a reward if they hit that goal.
4. Get Some Exercise
Exercise makes us feel better. Getting 35 minutes of exercise five times a week – or 60 minutes three times a week – can improve our mood. And studies have shown exercising under bright light can improve mental health, social functioning and lessen depressive symptoms.
And if you’re having trouble getting your kid away from their video games or computers this winter, be sure to read our blog post for dealing with kids in a digital age.
5. Listen To Music
If you’re feeling down, put on some music. Studies have shown that upbeat music helps us feel better. And if you put on something that your kids will want to dance to, you’ll help them get some exercise.
We hope you’ve found some of these tips helpful in your quest to fight off the winter blues. If all else fails, don’t forget: spring is just a few weeks away. Your kids will be swinging on their wooden swing sets, bouncing on their trampolines and playing with their basketball hoop before they know it.
And it could be worse: you could be in Denmark, where the winter sun only shines for about six hours a day. No wonder they came up with hygge.
