Last week we introduced you to the awesome Norwegian word koselig, which means a sense of coziness. According to a Fast Company article, koselig is “like the best parts of Christmas, without all the stress. People light candles, light fires, drink warm beverages, and sit under fuzzy blankets.” And according to recent research by a Stanford PhD student, koselig is how Norwegians make it through the period from late November to late January, when the sun never makes it above the horizon. Instead of bemoaning the season and succumbing to Seasonal Affective Disorder, Norwegians make the most of the cold and the dark.
It’s easy to think of ways to get koselig this winter (isn’t that what the missionary position was invented for?!) — but what about if you missed cuffing season and now find yourself single for the winter months? We’re here for you, petal. Here are five ways to stay koselig without a partner:
1. Invite Friends Over to Watch The Bachelor and Drink Red Wine
Or whatever crappy reality TV show is your current guilty pleasure. Gather around the TV together like it’s a roaring fire, and get drunk on cheap red wine while you make fun of the contestants. Hey, it works for us! If you’re feeling extra generous, make your friends a cassoulet, which is a traditional French dish made in a Dutch oven, and will make your entire house smell divine and cozy. Here’s a great recipe. For vegetarians, make a gourmet mac-n-cheese instead. That said, we find that a block of cheese and a box of crackers works just as well.
2. Treat Yourself to a New Robe
Because you know who gets to tell you that 6pm is too early to change out of your work clothes and into a cozy robe? Nobody, that’s who! We like the hooded sweatshirt-style robes by L.L. Bean — both for him and for her.
3. Treat Yourself to a New Vibrator
Because once you’re curled up on the couch with a brand new cozy robe, the only thing missing will be the kind of predictable, no-reciprocation-necessary, toe-curling orgasm that only a high-end pleasure object can offer. We like the Lily 2 for her, and the Loki Wave for him, both by LELO.
4. Read the Kind of Book You Can Get Lost in for Weeks
Like A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara, or My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante (and its three sequels!), or, if you’re feeling really ambitious, the entire My Struggle series by Karl Ove Knausgaard. When you’re finally ready to emerge into the real world again, you’ll feel both smarter than and superior to all your coupled-up friends, who never have time for such long books because their other half is always nagging them to do something or be social.
5. Indulge in a Steamy Online Affair
Whenever we advise people on online dating, we always tell them to meet up as soon as possible, rather than wasting time on email or phone calls before you know whether or not you two will have chemistry. But who can be bothered with all those drinks or coffee meetings when it’s so freakin’ cold outside? Instead, indulge in virtual affairs, and email and text to your heart’s delight. Enjoy the fantasy and don’t stress about whether the reality will live up to your expectations — that’s what spring is for, after all.
