If anybody knows how to do winter well, it’s the Scandinavians.

They just seem to glide through the long dark months like shooting stars, long hair tucked into knitted caps, warm wool sweaters to greet the day, candlelit restaurants in cozy little towns; board games with friends in front of the fireplace.

When the sun sets at 3:00 pm in December there, the Scans just light their candles and get on with their day as if living in darkness for long stretches of time is the best thing ever.

I think we could learn a thing or two from these contented folks by embracing the winter months as they do, creating a sense of warmth, togetherness, and well-being no matter the weather or life circumstances.

The Scandinavians, in case you haven’t heard, have a word for this sort of cozy winter bliss: it’s called “hygge.” (Pronounced “hoo-gah.”)

It’s a concept that has found its way into American culture and loosely translated means, “a feeling of cozy contentment and well-being through enjoying the simple things in life.”

And in case you think this is a new thing they’ve invented to advertise their abundant happiness, you’d be mistaken. This idea of hygge is a way of life and has been around for a long time, the term deriving from a sixteenth-century Norwegian term, hugga, meaning “to comfort” or “to console,” which is related to the English word “hug.”

The term has evolved to refer to experiences where one “takes pleasure in the presence of gentle, soothing things,” according to one book author on the subject. But I also like the term “healthy hedonism” too.

So are you ready to add a little hygge to your life? To start marching through the winter with a big smile on your face in comfortable knits?

We’ll start our hygge quest in your home. Instead of coming in from work and turning on the television and all the lights, get the candles out instead. Create a soft environment. Have some flannel blankets on your couch, turn on some relaxing music, heat up some comfort food and throw on some cashmere socks with your favorite pair of sweatpants.

And whatever you do, don’t forget to light a fire in the fireplace—that’s squarely in the top five hygge experiences. And then curl up in front of that fire with a very good book and a cup of tea and fluffy shearling lined slippers.

The point is to indulge yourself in soothing, comforting rituals. You’re creating a sanctuary in the middle of a hectic life, so things like warm socks, steaming bowls of soup, cinnamon buns just out of the oven, a comfortable sweater, your favorite mug–these are all things that enrich your daily experience. The only rule is that these things should be wholesome and nourishing for your soul.

There is a hygge look to Scandinavian homes: sheepskin rugs, chunky textures, soothing candles, little nooks to read in, accessories made of wool or cashmere. But key to hygge is simplicity. Extravagance is not the point here; you are making the most out of simple daily routines and pleasures. Bringing hygge into your home can be as simple as having great bath salts or lovely chipped teacups. Inexpensive and ordinary? That’s part of the hygge glow.

Repurposing old objects is also part of embracing hygge. You can’t strive for perfection if you’re going to do this right, so finding a use for old objects and creating a rustic atmosphere is important. Sentimental objects work well—an old armchair, the scratched wooden chest, displayed photographs of good times.

Sharing hygge with friends and family is the favored way Scandinavians indulge, so spending a weekend with friends in a cozy cabin playing board games and enjoying relaxing evenings with good wine and conversation is a way to create this environment with others. The more informal the better.

Are you starting to catch on here?

And Scandinavians don’t shy away from the cold. I can count whole consecutive days when I refused to go outside and brace the elements, but enjoying the outdoors is essential to this concept of well-being. So, grab some big blankets, a cup of hot chocolate and head outside to a roaring bonfire.

And you’ve got to look the part too. Get those old woolen socks out, a long knitted scarf and a Fair Isle sweater. Inside you want fluffy boots like Uggs, a cashmere hoodie, soft pajamas, long sweaters.

I don’t know what you think, but I’m fairly certain most of us do a lot of this on our own without having realized it had a fancy Scandinavian name.

Who doesn’t lounge around in their pajamas on the weekends or head to the couch with a good book on a snowy day?

But I guess the point of hygge is to up your game a little, to make coziness and contentment a true pursuit.

Given the long winter and the scope of the world’s growing pains, I’m inclined to think a little more hygge would be good for everyone.