Hygge, the Danish art of being cozy and warm indoors, was all the rage a few years ago, but this winter, make way for the Norwegian art of friluftsliv. Literally translating to “free air life,” this cultural concept surrounds spending time appreciating and being in nature, even when the weather outside may be more frightful than delightful.
Of course activities like sledding, snowboarding, skiing, and ice skating are pretty standard winter time traditions for building excitement around the season, but not everyone has the access or appropriate gear. If you don’t have the resources (or balance…) for those particular pastimes, here are some other things you might try to embrace friluftsliv this winter.
1. For the creatives: snow art
Snow art possibilities have come a long way from the snow angels and snow people of your childhood. Using a box or a cooler, you can compress snow into a rectangle and then carve it with basic cutlery or tools into a sculpture of your choice. You could also get some biodegradable, plant-safe paints and creative impressionist-style paintings on the snow itself.
2. For the kids: snow cone sundaes
What’s more fun than an ice cream party? An “ice cream” party where you get to forage for the main ingredient. Get a load of toppings ready—think syrups, candies, sprinkles, and fresh fruit—and then let the little ones scoop some (fresh, clean) snow into bowls and go wild with different combinations.
3. For the athletes: mountain ridge hiking
Hiking in the winter may sound like a drag—and a recipe for extra cold fingers—but it can actually be even more rewarding than warm weather jaunts. The crisp air is refreshing compared to damp summer humidity, and views from above are often clearer and stretch farther without tree foliage in the way. Just remember summits will be much colder and windier, so layer up before you climb up!
4. For the curious: stargazing
When the days are shorter, it helps to make use of those longer nights. Keep an eye on the cloud forecast and light pollution levels, and if you’re in a city, get as high up as you can. Otherwise all you need is a star atlas or stargazing app and some warm clothes.
5. For the brave: cold plunges
Not for the faint of heart, a cold plunge is where you basically take a very brief ice bath, usually courtesy of a natural body of water. It’s definitely not something you should try alone or in a place where you have to break the ice to do it, but done safely—and again, briefly—it can be an empowering source of energy for both body and mind. There’s not a lot of research to back it up yet, though, so proceed with caution, and don’t overdo it if you aren’t sure how your body will react.
6. For the people who would still rather be indoors: alpine-style forts
If frankly none of these ideas sounds appealing, there’s one more thing you can try before you go into full hibernation mode: Bring the cozy to the outside. Set up a fire pit, grab a bunch of blankets, and mix up some hot chocolate or mulled wine. Then bring a book—or your loved ones—and snuggle up for some campfire stories. If you really want to channel the atmosphere of a Swiss chalet, dig out the fondue pot and start melting your favorite cheese or chocolate.
