* Precursor for anyone reading this who has not heard of the concept of hygge before: although it doesn’t look like it, the word is pronounced “hoo-gah.” It took me a little while to learn to pronounce it correctly, so I just wanted to share the correct pronunciation with you off the bat!
I discovered the concept of hygge a couple of years back while working in a corporate retail setting. The book “The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living” by Meik Wiking had just been released and was quickly gaining popularity here in the US. For retailers, being the first to get behind an up and coming lifestyle trend and market it in a way that entices people to want to buy “necessities” for the said trend can pay great dividends. And so very shortly after Wiking’s book was released, that is what we did. My co-workers and I created an online boutique of sorts within our website that explained the concept of hygge and promoted products related to achieving hygge.
Our hygge shop worked well for us. We saw lots of engagement with it, indicating that it was resonating with people. The beautiful thing about hygge, though, is that it is not a trend and you can’t buy it.
Some of my favorite hygge essentials
The concept of hygge developed in Denmark as early as the 1800’s, when it is first known to have appeared in written language. Since the 1900’s, hygge has been so entwined into Danish culture that according to Wiking, (author of “The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living” and CEO of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen) it is “a defining feature of our cultural identity and an integral part of the national DNA.” There is a lot to be said for that, considering Denmark is consistently ranked among the happiest countries in the world, despite having infamously dark and dreary weather during certain parts of the year – especially winter.
While the word hygge doesn’t translate directly into English, it can be summed up as a feeling of coziness and togetherness that is achieved by being present and living in the moment, enjoying your surroundings and appreciating those close to you. Think of the feeling you get on Saturday morning when you are able to sit down with a cup of coffee in hand (that you maybe added an extra spoonful of sugar because hey, it’s Saturday) and just relax and enjoy your life at that moment. If you can imagine the feeling, you have probably already experienced hygge at least once in your life!
Although you can purchase goods and services that help promote hygge, in my mind, truly achieving a sense of hygge is done through cultivating a life that you love. Getting to that point can be done in a number of ways and definitely varies from person to person, but I think you will know when you get there when you welcome a weekend where you have no set plans with open arms. When a Saturday night in sounds more exhilarating to you than a night spent out on the town.
While a sense of balance is crucial (a Saturday night spent cuddled on the couch binging The Office would not sound nearly as exciting if that is how you’ve spent your last 5 Saturdays), when you are at a point where you are in need of a day spent cozied up in pj’s, here are my pointers for making the most of it:
1. Set the Mood
Hygge is all about creating a comfy and cozy environment that gives you all the warm, fuzzy and happy feels. One of the quickest and easiest ways to do that is to incorporate warmth from fire. If you have a fireplace, fire it up! If not, or if it is too warm out to think about lighting up the fireplace, light some of your favorite scented candles. (PSA: Woodwick candles are a GREAT alternative to a fireplace. Their wicks crackle as they burn, creating a fireplace-like experience even if you don’t have one)
2. Bring the Outdoors In
The benefits of indoor houseplants are numerous, including (but not limited to) improved air quality, immunity boosts and increased productivity. All of these things help contribute to improved quality of life which is ultimately why we are practicing hygge in the first place. Even if you have the blackest of thumbs, add an artificial plant or two to your decor. You may not get the added health effects from an artificial plant, but it is hassle-free way to brighten your space – just don’t forget to dust it occasionally!
3. Bust Out the Comfy Clothes
If you’re anything like me, you have a whole wardrobe of pj’s/comfy clothes, so this is a no-brainer for you! A hygge day is a perfect excuse to put on those super cozy fuzzy socks that your grandma gave you for Christmas and stay in lounge clothes all day. Plush leggings, leg warmers, cushy robes, warm and comfy sweaters, and your favorite pair of slippers are all perfectly acceptable options here!
4. Surround yourself with your favorite people (or pets!)
A central component of hygge is relationship building. Like indoor houseplants, developing meaningful relationships has a number of health benefits. Healthy relationships have been linked to longer lifespan, lower blood pressure, and improved heart health, just to name a few. So definitely encourage your significant other and/or kids to participate in a “hygge day” (or night) with you. Or if you’re fancy-free (like me) and live alone, invite some friends or family over for a cozy night in! BUT, if the introvert in you just isn’t up for being social and needs a little alone time to re-energize, there is absolutely no shame in curling up with your cat, a cup of coffee, and a good book!
5. Indulge a little
While eating well, working out and watching your weight are all important, the demands of living a healthy lifestyle can be strenuous. Quite frankly, over-obsessing over all of these things can actually be unhealthy. Hygge encourages living in the moment. If you knew the world was going to end tomorrow, would you really turn down a second helping of home-baked mac and cheese or your mom’s famous carrot cake? Me neither. It’s called comfort food for a reason, after all!
6. Pour yourself your favorite refreshment
This one goes hand in hand with indulging a little because your favorite refreshment is probably not a kale smoothie (although if it is, props to you!). Depending on my mood and the time of day, my favorite refreshment can range between anything from coffee with flavored creamer to hot chocolate with marshmallows to red wine. Whatever drink is going to give you that happy-fuzzy feeling is what you should go for here.
7. Get lost in your favorite book
Is there anything more relaxing than curling up in a cozy spot and reading a good book? Hygge advocates for taking a break and shutting yourself off from life’s sometimes crazy demands, and getting lost in a good book can help you do just that! I also like to catch up on my favorite magazines (yes, I still subscribe to magazines), although some traditionalists might argue against that. There’s no way to completely shut yourself off from the craziness of the world if you’re reading the most recent issue of Time Magazine, but I personally find it relaxing.
8. Cuddle up in your favorite blanket
OK so, full disclosure here, I have always been a blanket person. My mom had to take my baby blankies from me when I was 11 and hide them from me because I refused to go to bed at night without them. As an adult, I now have a plethora of them on hand around my home. I consider a good blanket to be extremely comforting, which is why I am including it on this list. If you are not someone who gets the warm and fuzzies from cuddling up in a cozy blanket, insert the item that does give you that feeling here. ☺
9. Last but not least: be present and enjoy the moment
Tomorrow is not promised to any of us. Taking a step back and truly learning to appreciate the little things is crucial in finding happiness. It’s so easy to get caught up in trying to get ahead that we sometimes forget to stop to take a moment to appreciate what really matters the most – our health, our happiness, and our loved ones. Hygge promotes disconnecting (AKA putting away the phone) and truly taking time to appreciate our life at that moment, perfectly imperfect as it may be!
I hope you have learned a little more about what hygge is and are now inspired to incorporate it into your own life! As I mentioned early on in this post, hygge is not something that you can buy, so that means that anyone can do it! All it takes it the right frame of mind and maybe a good casserole or cup of tea paired with your favorite humans or your favorite book. There’s really no right or wrong! As long as you can get to a place where you are feeling happy and re-energized, you’ve done all you need to do.
♥
