Gingerbread Cottage

A Check-In and the Blog Plan for Next Month

3/31/2018

"It gets better" is true about winter blues, too! ~Jeanine

How are you? I would really like to know.

Which hygge practices have worked well for you? And are there any that haven't worked as well as you thought or hoped they would?

Next month, I will blog every day, but my focus will be the marriage of hygge and spirituality. I'll be talking about how to create a hygge spiritual practice.

Though I believe that having a hygge spiritual practice can help with winter blues, but you'd still be doing hygge things, that will not be my focus. So I want to check in with you here, or on my how are you page.

Let me know what you'd like me to write about in my newsletters. The blog posts are planned and/or written already, but my newsletters aren't.

I can meet you there and we can talk about whatever makes spring difficult for you and how you might make it easier.

Love to you!
Jeanine

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How to Create a Reading Nook

3/28/2018

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"Every home should have a little cosy nook to retreat to, preferably a window seat with a view looking out to nature. Add layers of cushions and a blanket and enjoy an afternoon of peace and quiet with a good book."
Charlotte Luxford, theculturetrip.com

Wanting to create your own warm, cozy spot that you and your family can sink into each day for comfort and togetherness? Watch this 30-second video for inspiration & then read on for tips on how to do it...

"Hygge is about hunkering down: It’s all candles, blazing fires, warm blankets and fuzzy slippers, reading nooks (called hyggekrog), comfortable pants (hyggebukser), wollen socks (hyggesokker) and tea." ~ Lisa Tolen, NBC News

5 Things to Include in Your Reading Nook

(1) A big comfy chair for yourself, a sofa for the family, or a soft & comfy window seat.

Planning to read outside? You can create the same cozy arrangement on your balcony or patio.

(2) Sunlit windows nearby, with fresh air coming in.

Or, during winter, a fireplace, to watch between turning the pages. or to keep your feet warm when they sneak out from beneath the blanket.

(3) Somewhere to put your cup of tea.

This can be a side table, a bigger one if an outdoor tea party is going on, or just a tray you carry in from the kitchen. You can decide if you'll need the whole pot or just one cup.

(4) A yummy-smelling candle, fairy lights or other soft lighting near your comfort seat.

If you'll be outside, and the sun is going to provide all your light, then you may have all you'll need. But you may want the best-smelling version of a citronella candle once bug season is in full bloom.

(5) A good book to read.

I guess this one goes without saying! But you may want to keep more than one book nearby, in case you want to read something else.

You could choose a spot near a bookcase. Or just place a stack of your favorites on a side table.

Do you already have a favorite reading spot? Tell me about it in a comment.

See you next time!

Love, Jeanine

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The Little Book of Lykke

3/26/2018

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I bought the book, The Little Book of Lykke, so that I could compare what I read there with what I have learned about hygge.

"The affective-or hedonic-dimension examines the emotions people experience on an everyday basis." -Meik Wiking, The Little Book of Lykke

So, in this quote, he seems to be indicating questions like how did you feel yesterday?

Or how are you feeling right now as you read this post? Are you happy right now?

But there's a longer-term cognitive dimension we have to look at, too, he says.

"In order to look at the cognitive dimension, people have to take a step back & evaluate their lives. How satisfied are you with your life overall? How happy are you, in general?"
-Meik Wiking, The Little Book of Lykke

I understand this to be the happy life dimension. If you look at your deepest wishes and dreams for your life, how close are you to living in the middle of them?

And how does your experience of winter blues change the way you feel about it?

He mentions homeschooling (yay!) & the idea of being rich or famous, and he makes the point that it doesn't matter what your wish or dream is, what matters is what you think about whether or not you are experiencing that now.

Reading that part of the book made me realize that if I use that criteria, some of my dreams have come true, already. I did get to and still get to homeschool my son & I am a author/writer and a hygge self-care coach whose aim is help people become happier, something I have wanted to do since I was a child.

I just thought that living my dream would bring more money. :)

What about you? Are you happy about life, overall?

Where Does Hygge Fit in?

I believe it's greatest influence in the short run is the everyday moments of happiness.

Hygge can improve your day, today. But I also believe that happy moments lead to the perception that you've had a good day, overall. So it may help you create long-term happiness, too.

Do you agree? How might hygge lead to happiness for you?

Learn more about the book by watching the video below.

Jeanine

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A Check-In and the Blog Plan for Next Month

If you could read a newsletter about anything connected to having winter blues in the spring, what would it be?

How to Create a Reading Nook

5 Things to Include in Your Reading Nook

The Little Book of Lykke

Where Does Hygge Fit in?

Hi, I'm Jeanine

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PRIVACY POLICY:
click here to read it

A Check-In and the Blog Plan for Next Month

If you could read a newsletter about anything connected to having winter blues in the spring, what would it be?

How to Create a Reading Nook

5 Things to Include in Your Reading Nook

The Little Book of Lykke

Where Does Hygge Fit in?

Hi, I'm Jeanine

Archives

Categories

PRIVACY POLICY:click here to read it

PRIVACY POLICY:
click here to read it