10 Hygge Self-Care Habits to Start in the New Year

This post is sponsored by Bee Relaxed Subscription Box. I received compensation in return for my honest review. Every opinion stated is 100% mine. 

The title of this post hints at the fact that you need to wait until January 1st to start these hygge self-care habits. But let me clarify, I am a huge fan of “don’t wait, start today”. If there’s a habit or lifestyle change you want to make, don’t wait until “next month”, “Monday” or “the new year”. If it’s important enough for you to make a change, do it today, now, don’t wait. 

I recently did a little self-care habit inventory to check in with myself to see if I am practicing what I preach. Is my life really in line with all the advice I spew on social media and this blog about hygge, self-care, and remembering to take time to breathe? 

For the most part, I was pleasantly surprised that I do in fact listen to my own advice, on most days. But of course, I have room for improvement. Self-care isn’t just running out to get a quick pedicure and then you check it off your to-do list. 

Self-care is a lifestyle of unapologetically prioritizing your own health and sanity, especially when it would be easier not to. 

Most importantly, self-care isn’t selfish. It’s a way to ensure that you are operating with optimal strength and vigor, allowing you to share the best version of yourself with the world. 

 

Hygge is a huge ingredient in most of my favorite self-care rituals. Hygge comes in many shapes and sizes. You can hygge by yourself, hygge with others, spend hours doing it or feel fulfilled after short bursts of it. 

Hygge is simply the feeling of contentment, coziness, and comfort. It’s the feeling you get when everything feels right in the moment. 

Hygge doesn’t mean your life is without chaos, it’s simply a way to find stillness and contentment for an hour, a minute, or the blink of an eye.

(Print off this self-care planning guide. Reflect on your past self-care routine and start brainstorming about which hygge and self-care ideas you wish to incorporate into your life today!)

 

Whether you start today or in the new year, these are the 10 hygge self-care habits worth starting:

• Read (or listen to) more books! This past year, I picked two authors and read most of their books. Kristin Hannah and Jodi Picoult were the two authors I dove into, and they led me on human interest journeys through history and cultures I wouldn’t otherwise have encountered. 
• Treat yourself to a monthly or quarterly subscription box. I rarely splurge on things for myself, which is why I have a hard time shopping unless it’s for the kids, house, or our family as a whole. However, I find that subscription boxes are a great way to treat yourself to goodies without having to overcome the “guilt” of buying things. You simply pick a theme, find the best box in that niche, sign up and enjoy the treat every month or quarter – easy peasy. 

• • I recently received the quarterly fall hygge self-care box from Bee Relaxed. As I opened the box, which of course was sealed with bee-adorned tape, the stress I had been holding in my shoulders slowly melted away. The colors were soothing, the textures soft, the scents warming and everything as a whole made me yearn for quiet alone-time. 
  • The photos in this post showcase the self-care goodies from the Bee Relaxed box. I was impressed by the quality of every carefully curated item. Each treasure in the Bee Relaxed box had clearly been chosen with purpose and sourced for its high quality. 
  • I was going to only list my favorite items, but as I looked through the list, I realized the list would include everything from the box. 
    • WoodVenture Folding Light: As I am writing this post, the smart folding light is on my nightstand, illuminating the bedroom just right. This is a statement piece, perfect for your bedroom or quiet reading nook. 
    • Simple Self Balance Notebook: I must admit, the inspiration for this post was this exact journal. I held it in my hand, read the daily prompts, and decided to step up my daily journaling and gratitude reflecting. This is the journal to help you improve your hygge and self-care. 

• • • Amy Rice Bookmark: It’s not a secret that I love to read. However, for as many hours as I spend reading, I spend an equal amount of time searching for random scraps of paper to hold my place in books and magazines. It’s a daily struggle, or it WAS a daily struggle – now I have a pretty bookmark! 
    • Bamboo is Better Pillow Cases: These neutral-colored pillowcases are softer than angel wings after the first-morning dew has settled. I opened the package and immediately held the pillowcases against my cheeks, feeling the smooth softness against my skin. These pillowcases are perfect for any hygge-inspired bedroom. You will not want to get out of bed – ever. 
    • Bee Relaxed Pillow Spray: This spray, on your new bamboo pillowcases, is the perfect recipe for a restful and restorative sleep. 
    • Lark Fine Foods: Pistachio Cherry Cookies: OK, I have a confession to make. I tried these cookies with my evening tea and they were SO delicious that I actually lied to my kids. I told my son that they didn’t taste very good, so he wouldn’t want any. It worked! I ate them all! 
    • Sister Bees Wildflower Honey: This honey, with a lavender tea… the powerhouse combination for a delicious hygge tea. It’s my new favorite evening self-care routine. 
• Enjoy DIY facial treatments and masques. These fun recipes for DIY facial treatments use ingredients you may already have in your pantry. Play around with the treatments and enjoy the process of finding the best one for your skin. 
• Sample teas as part of your wind-down bedtime routine. Instead of turning to a glass of wine every night, I decided to try hot teas as a way to relax at night. I found my sleep to be more sound and I wake up feeling less bloated. And in case you were wondering, either a strong mint tea or lavender with honey are my two all-time favorites. (The honey from my Bee Relaxed fall box came in handy here!) 
• Take an online course! Whether you decide to expand your knowledge on a topic to benefit your career or to delve deeper into a long-time interest of yours, do it! Knowledge is truly one of the few things no one can ever take away from you. Last year, I took a course in Positive Psychology and it was an eye-opening and attitude-changing experience. Check out sites like Coursera and Masterclass. Most of the classes are “go at your own pace” with videos and materials to read. 
• Learn a new craft or revisit an old one. At night, when you are sitting on the couch binge-watching Netflix shows, pick up a craft project and make good use of the time, letting your creativity flow and expand. I recently bought an embroidery kit and will start to learn a few new stitches each week. You can also craft with a Cricut, learn how to knit or crochet, perfect your calligraphy skills or draw silly cartoons with your kids. 

• Challenge yourself to daily exercise. My favorite is getting outside for at least a brisk walk every day. Use an electronic step counter such as a Fitbit or Apple watch and track the number of steps you take every day. Involve your kids and ask them to join you for an evening walk. You would be surprised how quickly those steps add up and how addicting it is to get outside for those walks – rain or shine! 
• Send birthday cards. If you are anything like me and most other people, you have come to rely on Facebook to remind you when it’s someone’s birthday. You vaguely recall that your friend’s birthday is “sometime in the spring”, but the exact day and month escapes you. Start a perpetual calendar (one without days of the week) and write down people’s birthdays – it’s fine if you get this information from Facebook. Then make a point to send your friends and relatives a handwritten note for their birthday. This exercise isn’t just for them, but you will find yourself connected to them in a whole different way – and it’s a good excuse to buy a new set of your favorite pens and stationary. 
• Keep a journal. Spend 5-10 minutes every night before bedtime or as soon as you wake up. However, your daily routine works out, make sure to stay consistent with your journaling time and it will become a healthy and happy habit before you know it. The journal from the Bee Relaxed Fall box is PERFECT for daily journaling and reflection. Spend a little time each day to reflect on your gratitude, success, and things you may want to change tomorrow. I have been journaling through grief and find it to be one of the healthiest habits. 

• Visit with friends, new or old. Over the past couple of years, we have unfortunately seen a little less of our friends. Getting together with old friends and forging new relationships over a cup of coffee, a brisk walk or a delicious meal can be one of the most healing things we do for ourselves – and others. Personally, I try to meet with friends for coffee after the kids go to school once or twice a month. Oftentimes, I schedule these meetings with different friends, to broaden my friendship circle. Just an hour or two a month revitalizes your spirit and increases your sense of community. 

As I write this list, I realize I have so many more ideas to add, but for the sake of brevity, I will leave you with these ten hygge self-care ideas. Whatever habits you embrace, remember to check in with yourself from time to time. Make sure they don’t become chores, but rather remain fulfilling self-care habits. 

I wonder what amazing things they will have in the next Bee Relaxed box. I have followed Bee Relaxed on IG for a long time, and every carefully curated box has impressed me and their dedicated audience. Besides, buying from a woman-owned small business is a great way to support someone’s dream while getting high-quality products to meet your own needs. It’s truly a win-win. 

Remember to print the self-care planning guide and start improving your hygge self-care routine TODAY. 

Enjoy the hygge, feel stronger from the self-care and your loved ones will surely notice the more confident and happier you.