Whoa! The weather has changed quickly. Snow day #2 for my kiddos. To be honest, I felt it starting to sink in the moment we found ourselves with lows at night in the 40s. That cold, can't get out of the bed in the morning feeling that zaps my productivity and just makes me want to snuggle with the dog and a mug of something warm all. day. long.
So you know how a lot of people talk about how they get “hangry”? I don’t really do that, but what I do do, is get over the top angry when I’m cold. I can’t function, I can’t stop complaining about ev-er-y-thing. The most trivial things seem impossible and annoying and it all instantly becomes my husband’s fault. We recognized this and wanted to name it so we could call out what is really happening. We tried “colgry”-cold/angry; “freegry “- freezing/angry; and on and on. but nothing catchy was sticking. I happened to mention this over coffee to some girlfriends when Bethany just called it what it actually is. She said,
“oh you’re just a Frigid Bitch.”
PERFECTION!! I am absolutely, whole heartedly a “frigid bitch”. I loved it (and I’m sure my husband loved it even more because he now had full permission to call me exactly what he had been thinking all of these years). Well I recently learned of a practice called hygge that is just what the doctor ordered if you are a frigid bitch like I am. I’m still working on putting this into practice, but feel free to join me. Let’s thaw this bitch out a bit.
My understanding is that hygge, somehow pronounced "hooga", is a Danish idea that means taking time to unwind and enjoy time with family and friends. Winter is a great time for hygge in Denmark to snuggle up together inside when it is cold and dark outside. Basically, a sense of well being, comfort and coziness by creating an atmosphere that is warm and inviting.
Here are some examples of ways you can practice hygge:
Create a cozy atmosphere- light a candle, soft blankets, comfy pillows, etc.
Wear comfortable clothing- anything soft and warm- fuzzy socks, sweaters, pajamas...
Sip on warm beverages- nice cup of tea or hot chocolate?
Enjoy comfort food- don't have to tell me twice!
There is a state of mind component too- be relaxed, unplugged, connected to each other, mindful and grateful.
I've been trying to hone in on this hygge idea and below are some of the things that have been working for me in addition to dressing cozy and drinking warm beverages. From one Frigid Bitch to another, I really hope this helps us both.
When we lived in Japan I learned all new, and necessary, ways to stay warm. One of them made the cut for our shipment back to the U.S. and I would have a have a hard time living without it now. It's an Electric Heated Foot Warmer. In fact, my feet are in one right now under my desk, and I recently gifted one to a Frigid Bitch girlfriend in Minnesota. It's a real game changer and a real easy fix for those cold tootsies. I strongly suggest every Frigid Bitch order one of these ASAP!!
These ORORO Heated Gloves were under the Christmas tree for my husband this year, and surprisingly this Wasoto Heated Vest was under tree for me from my sister! It's pretty freaking great. I cannot believe how quickly it heats up (up to 149 degrees!)! I can go from uncomfortably cold to hot in under three minutes (and bonus, I look like an Avenger). I thought I would be wearing it mostly outside, but I've really enjoyed wearing it when I'm inside. When I get a chill, I just push the button, let it toast me up and turn it back off. As I type this you can get it on Amazon for $70. Definitely key in helping to keep my Frigid Bitch at bay.
I couldn't mention any of this without the beloved Sleeping Bag Coat. I have it in two colors now and not joking know of over 30 people who have ordered one (one of those girlfriends has even been known to sleep in it and another had all of the moms on their boys' baseball team order them to match). It's a whole vibe. My friend group here refers to it as "our uniform" because we all show up to coffee and lunch matching in it all winter long. It is $40 and makes me feel so cozy when the temps drop. I even love wearing it cardigan-style when it's cold but not freezing.
My mom just purchased these Intelex Microwaveable Warmies Slippers and we couldn't believe we didn't know about them sooner. I SWEAR I cannot fall asleep if my feet are cold (which is why I have an electric blanket only on my side of our bed and why I travel with a microwavable corn bag in my suitcase). How perfect are these?
She said they are pretty heavy, but you aren't really supposed to walk in them. Microwave for 60 seconds the first time and not over 90 seconds after that. 60 seconds worked perfect for her, and you are supposed to wear them for 20 minutes (although who is counting??).
Perhaps the biggest game changer for me was a mind shift in my thoughts about winter and being cold which I learned from Wellness Coach Jenelle Carberry who recently hosted a free class specifically on this topic. She introduced me to the idea to stop fighting with winter and instead sink into how my body is feeling and what I am actually wanting. It's actually an invitation to slow down, be less productive and more restful. You can read Welcome Winter for more ideas or reach out to Jenelle herself to join one of her upcoming classes. One new takeaway for me was to find an activity that you enjoy doing only during the winter so you look forward to it. For example, reading more or puzzling or baking.
To take a deeper dive into the hygge concept, listen to: The Rachel Hollis Podcast aqw Feb. 6, 2023: The Art of Being COZY: How to Flourish In the Midst of Winter.
The first time I was introduced to this concept was by listening to this Podcast episode and it blew my mind!
I'm going to keep working on my hygge game and will continue to add ideas here that are working for me. If you have other suggestions to help thaw this Frigid Bitch out, send them my way!
I am an Amazon Affiliate and can earn commission on certain purchases.
Comments