Somewhere between every day and not at all is the right spot for my blog writing.

I’m trying to finish writing a Christmas book on having a no-cost, low-cost Christmas, but since the best advice I can give is don’t spend anything and share spaces to keep warm, I’m not sure that takes 150 pages. September, as well, turned out to be a crazy month personally and nationally. I am, therefore, going to be writing my posts retrogressively and not actually live as they happened. Except this one, which is live.

A new book arrived in the post last night and I have earmarked several hours this weekend to read it and review it on the blog next week/week after. Yes, I do love Meik Wiking. His Little Book of Hygge was the Big Hit of 2016 that made hygge infamous. I’m pleased that hygge as a fashion statement has passed by… all those rugs and sheepskins, with scented candles and mid-century inspired lights was very well, but not actually what hygge is about.

My Hygge Home is already making me feel cosy. Look at that cover! And the praise on Amazon gives me hope…. “This book will help you make your home somewhere you feel comfortable, safe and calm ― Emma Guns” We all need a sanctuary, somewhere to feel safe, whether that’s a house or a room or just a bed. May the rest of 2022 bring us all that gift!

As CEO of the Happiness Institute, I’m expecting Meik to be able to set out how good home design and arrangement leads to hygge, and hygge leads to happiness. We are going to need to cling to hygge as much as possible this year: keep smiling and muttering Julian of Norwich’s words: “This, too, shall pass.”

Anyway, I ordered the book in June or July and forgot about the release date. It made a pleasant surprise on a wet, dank Thursday in September. I needed that.

How to Hygge the British Way is my gift to the world. I don’t get paid for writing it, I’m not in it for the kudos, financial rewards, to become an influencer, work with brands or otherwise make any money from the blog. That’s why there are no ads, and any products I mention and recommend have either been gifted to me or bought by me with my everyday wages or donations from supporters. Every book I review has been bought and read by me, unless stated otherwise.

I do get a couple of pennies each time someone buys from the Amazon links on my page, as an Amazon Affiliate, but otherwise if you’d like to support me, I like to give something back in return. That’s why I write books. It always feels good if you get a book back in return for some money. You can find a full list of my books at my Author’s Page on Amazon, but especially recommended for this time of year are:

Cosy Happy Hygge: Setting up a rhythm to life and rituals to enjoy it to make for a more balanced life that handles waves and storms better. Lent is a season of rituals and resets. The book has small and easy ways to make your life flow with grace and happiness, which lead to more hygge.

Happier: Probably my most personal book, it’s the story of how I used hygge and the little things in life to help boost my happiness. I still go back and reread to remind myself what I need to do to be a happy human. And it’s always the little things.

And if you, like me, like to plan ahead, then my Christmas books are always available: Have Yourself a Happy Hygge Christmas is the basic, all round Christmas hygge book, Enjoying a Self-Care Christmas is about taking time to look after yourself at the busiest season of all and is only available in ebook, while Celebrating a Contagious Christmas was my answer to Christmas in Lockdowns in 2020 but might (sadly) prove useful for a few more years to come. I’m itching to write a new Christmas book, on simplicity, frugality, minimalism and making the meaning of your Christmas more significant, but time, time, time…

If you’d like to support me, but don’t want to buy a book, I have a Paypal.Me account as Hygge Jem. Every little helps, so even a few pence goes towards the books, goods and courses I use and recommend on the site. I’m grateful for every little bit that brings me closer to my dream of full-time writing, and I know I couldn’t still be writing if it weren’t for the support of many readers and friends out there. Thank you all for every little bit of support, emotional, physical and financial, you give me.

If you’ve enjoyed this article, don’t forget to share it or save it so others can enjoy reading, thinking about and living hygge as well.

I cannot credit the person who took the image of leaves on water that I’m using between the writing and the shameless promotion of my own books on the blog, because it’s a file I downloaded two years ago from a copyright free picture site I can’t even remember the name of. That’s awful, isn’t it? What site did I used to use? And the header is a photo of the new book, complete with Tomte mug of sage tea, and a Craftpod embroidery that was in their winter box a couple of years ago.