The art of living your best life
About 4 years ago, Hygge was taking the world by storm. It was even shortlisted as the Oxford Dictionary word of the year. If you looked up Hygge on Instagram, you would find 1.7 million posts about wooly socks and hot chocolate.
Hygge is the Scandinavian art of making things cozy. It is regarded as a defining characteristic of Danish culture. What was once a Danish custom became big in the U.S..
Meik Wiking is the author of “The Little Book of Hygge”, a best-seller that was reprinted 3 times before it’s release and is published in 26 countries. Mr. Wiking describes ‘Hygge’ is being consciously cozy, but it has also been described as ‘the art of creating a nice atmosphere”. It’s been called ‘the pursuit of everyday happiness’. It’s also been called ‘socializing for introverts’. It’s about being together with the people you love. It’s about relaxation. It’s about indulgence. It’s about good food. It’s about gratitude. It’s about equality. All these things mixed together is ‘Hygge’.
Hygge is not characterized as a lifestyle trend or self-help. To the Danes, Hygge is part of their culture. It’s part of their national DNA in the same way that Americans see freedom as inherently American. The Danish burn more candles than anyone in Europe and they eat a lot of candy per capita — all in pursuit of Hygge. Indulgence is key in terms of Hygge.
Danes are known for happiness. Denmark consistently places first in the UN’s World Happiness Report. It’s interesting to know that the U.S. with all our “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” has never cracked the top 10.
So what does America have to learn from Denmark in terms of happiness and hygge? For one, that at a certain point, additional income does not improve quality of life. You don’t always have to buy new stuff or have many material things to feel happy.
You can go for long walks in the crisp, cold air with something hot to drink. Feel that first draft of chilly air on your cheeks and have a sip of your hot drink — that’s Hygge. The beach is a great place to walk when it’s chilly — you can bundle up and sip your hot drink.
Wake up early on a day when you’re off work, do an activity — like walking your dog — then go back to bed for a few hours more. Crawling back into the covers that may still be warm — that’s Hygge.
Visit a flea market on the weekend. Even visiting and browsing in second-hand stores can be a fun and relaxing activity.
Bring Autumn into your home. Go to a forest and gather some pinecones to decorate your home. You can put them on a tray to make your space look like autumn. Buy some small pumpkins and put them as a centerpiece on your dinner table. Put some dried leaves in glass frames and place them around the house. Get all your blankets out and leave around the couch. Change out the pillowcases on your couch to some with more burnt colors.
Make some cinnamon buns and/or homemade breakfast buns. The smell and the taste is pure autumn. Make some tea or pumpkin spice coffee or your favorite autumn beverage and just bundle up and watch TV . -Enjoy some “off-screen” activities like reading a book or work on a puzzle — that’s Hygge.
Take a long weekend and rent a cottage. Wake up late, wonder around in comfortable clothes, go on long walks and make some homemade dishes — that’s Hygge.
Give your favorite room in your house a little makeover. This could mean just decluttering that room, lighting some candles and make it a real cozy activity. You don’t really have to redecorate — just make some small changes that make you happy- that’s Hygge.
Take a course that you’ve never taken before. It can be a few hours of happiness,relaxation and learning something new. It’s always healthy to keep your brain alive.
We are all doing a lot of these things already. We just didn’t know there was a word for it. It’s not all about candles,comfy pillows and blankets. It’s about being more intentional about life.
Add simple Hygge moments to your day and life.
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