The Butterfly Witch

Happy Wednesday, Wonderfully Witchy people!

With the Summer Solstice and a few national holidays just past, the temperature is rising and it feels like summer is in full swing!

Great, right? Well, I’m going to be real: I struggle in the summertime. I’m pretty sure that I suffer from Summertime Seasonal Affective Disorder (there are dozens of us)!

I spent a few months trying to figure out how to prepare for the sweaty, cranky, FOMO feels this summer. In my soul-searching, I realized that one major thing was missing from my summers: conscious coziness, or the idea of Hygge.

But wait! What the heck is Hygge?

A lot of people have a lot of different definitions, but to me, the Wikipedia definition works just as well as any:

“Hygge is…a quality of cosiness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being.”

Commonly associated with cultivating happiness through long periods of darkness in winter, it became a buzzword last year in helping people cope with winter SAD and promoting general well-being.

There was my a-ha moment!

How could I cultivate Hygge in the summer?

I brainstormed some ideas and couldn’t wait to share them with you – whether you’re a fellow Summertime SAD sufferer, or wanting the coziness of Hygge year-round!

Ten Ways to Hygge Your Summer:

• Join in (free or cheap!) public events. Go to a local free concert series, organize a neighborhood block party or barbecue, hit up a movie screening in the park; anything that helps you feel a sense of togetherness with your community. Even better if it takes place at night, when it tends to be cooler. Take that, FOMO!
• Bring the cabin to you. What do you enjoy best about summer getaways? Renting a cabin or cottage can be way expensive, so why not find a way to do it in your own home? Turn out the lights, light up some candles or a lantern, bring out some board games, get some friends together, and have a lovely night in!
• Make a list of cozy summertime feelings. Mine includes: listening to thunderstorms, warming up after a swim in cold water, buying lemonade from a lemonade stand and drinking it to the last drop. Find a way to do these things and/or add them to your summer goals list! Mindfully enjoy and appreciate them when the time comes.
• Get outside in nature to cool off! It sounds contradictory, I know, but you could sit under a shady tree, go to the beach or lake and feel the water hit your ankles, or people-watch on a shaded bench with some lemonade in hand. Drink in the fresh air and leave when you start getting too warm. It doesn’t have to be all day – even just a few minutes outdoors can give a major boost to your mood.
• Light some candles anyway! Who says the cozy candle life has to be for fall and winter?! Even if the sun is still blazing outside, close the curtains, burn some summery scented candles (safely, of course!) and do some journaling, reading, sewing, crocheting, or tarot by the soft light – whatever floats your proverbial boat.
• Bring your beach reads to the park. Not everyone lives close to a beach or has a way to get to one, so why not fake it? Lay out a blanket (in the sun or in the shade), put some soothing ocean sounds on an mp3 player or your phone, and relax with an easy read.
• Wear soft, light fabrics. Hygge doesn’t have to just be thick woolen socks and comfy sweaters! It’s important to stay cool and comfy in the summer, so why not find a light, breezy item that also feels good on your skin? Bonus if it looks great blowing in a summer breeze.
• Do the summer activities you enjoyed as a child. What was your favorite thing about summer as a kid? I loved drawing with sidewalk chalk, blowing bubbles, and having a movie marathon in front of the fan. Still totally fun as an adult, too!
• Have a picnic – outdoors or indoors! Having an outdoor picnic is straightforward enough, but what if it’s way too hot or there isn’t a nature spot nearby? You could lay out a blanket on your floor, prepare some traditional picnic fare, and enjoy some delicious food in the comfort and coolness of your own home!
• If all else fails, pretend it’s fall or winter. Okay, so this isn’t about hyggin’ your summer exactly, but Fall immediately makes me feel those cozy, happy vibes. On particularly rough summer days, I’ve totally cranked up the fan, dressed in my witchiest Stevie Nicks clothes, burned pumpkin spice wax melts, dreamed up Halloween costumes, and polished it off with a pot of pumpkin spice tea. Mood fixed!

Remember, if you find summer difficult, or if it’s not your favorite thing, don’t worry! It’s totally not for everyone, despite popular perception. It can be a challenge for sure, but it’s still only a few months of the year and you can and will get through it!

And if you love summer, well, hopefully these Hygge tips will make it extra cozy! Either way, may you stay cool, hydrated, and wonderfully witchy!