The word hygge is pronounced “HUE-geh.” The word can be used as a noun, a verb, and an adjective and in both Danish and Norwegian it means “coziness”. Derived from Old Norse, the concept and cultural practice of hygge became popular in Denmark in the 19th century as a celebration of comfortable geniality during the long, dark Scandinavian winters.
Hygge is all about surrounding yourself with the things that make life good — like friendship, laughter and security, as well as more tangible things like warmth, light, seasonal food and drink. It’s gained in popularity over the last several years — and if you haven’t embraced this trend yet, the cooler months are the perfect time to give it a try! Create that feeling of comfort, contentment, and well-being through simple and often everyday experiences largely around coziness, togetherness, and an appreciation for life’s small pleasures. Keep in mind that hygge is about an atmosphere and an experience, rather than about things. Simple pleasures like lighting candles, snuggling up with soft blankets, and warm, soothing drinks. Perhaps even more importantly, hygge is a mindset and philosophy – one that’s about creating a comforting social and emotional environment for yourself; who you choose to surround yourself with and what you choose to spend your time doing. It’s about being with the people we love; feeling that we are safe and shielded from the world; allowing ourselves to let our guard down.
Cooler weather isn’t the only thing that may make adopting a hygge mindset attractive; it’s a good way to prioritize taking care of yourself in a world full of stressors and frequently negative news cycles. Maybe hygge is part of the reason why Denmark consistently ranks among the happiest countries on the planet, alongside Finland, Norway, and Switzerland (rankings from the annual World Happiness Report).
Experiencing hygge reportedly reduces stress and improves emotional well-being. Support for the value of hygge comes from its independent components because not much testing has been done on the full set of environmental conditions. For example, lots of research has found that people perceive warm, lower light as more relaxing than bright, white light. There’s strong evidence that having nurturing social connections, another component of hygge, is beneficial for physical and emotional health. Science has also shown that being around certain scents can induce relaxation. Researchers have even found that when we’re in a more positive or relaxed mood, we are better at problem-solving, think more creatively, and get along better with each other. All these potential benefits of practicing hygge explain why and how it can be an important method of self-care. Hygge principles, including those involving self-care, could have positive mental health implications: less stress, reduced anxiety, and better mood overall. In one of the few studies that has looked at practicing hygge, researchers found that the lifestyle had significant positive impacts on women in a correctional facility in Denmark who used hygge practices.
Hygge may have been borne out of a long, dark season, but it can also be nurtured year round! Spring gives us garden parties with lots of flowers. Fresh light colors. Taking shelter from the rain in a cozy cafe. The simple freedoms of summer prompt barbecues in the backyard or in a park, bonfires at the beach, ice cream and fresh strawberries. What’s not to like?
How to make hygge part of your everyday life
An important thing to keep in mind is that your environment has great influence on how you feel — and you can take control of your environment and make it really good. That concept of taking control is very important because one of our fundamental human motivations is feeling we have an element of autonomy in our lives. Having options in terms of what we do.
To get started, consider the following ways to bring hygge into your life and practice it as a form of self-care:
Opt for mood lighting. Dim the lights at home and light some candles. Make a fire in the fireplace or change out some lightbulbs to warm amber bulbs and turn on whatever lights you need at that time instead of lighting large areas.
Hang out with a small circle of close friends. The most important social relationships are close ones in which you experience things together with others, are understood, share thoughts and feelings and both give and receive support. That togetherness is the essence of the hygge concept.
Make yourself comfortable. When it’s cooler, add flannel or fleece blankets, pillows, and throws to your home environment for snuggling. Go casual and wear comfy, loose pullovers, leggings or jeans, thick socks to keep your feet warm, and big scarves (a Danish signature!) Choose soft textures that feel good against your skin.
Maintain a comforting bedtime ritual and space. Stick with a regular sleep schedule, and create a sleeping space that’s comfortable and cozy, per hygge philosophy. Cuddle up with some hot tea, wrap yourself in a soft blanket, and make your bedroom the most relaxing place in the house. Try relaxing breathing exercises.
Get cooking. Food and beverages are a big part of the hygge experience. Hygge food is comfort food and it’s also very much slow food — meaning that part of the power is in its preparation. Since it’s about pleasure, sweets, cakes, cookies, hot chocolate, and other tasty treats can work wonders. Roll up your sleeves and bake something delicious at home — by yourself or with friends!
Relish the here and now. Mindfulness and gratitude are key components of hygge. Silence your phone and digital devices and focus on the present. Listen to music that soothes your heart and soul. Light a candle with a calming scent (i.e. lavender, rose, jasmine, bergamot). Read a book or play a fun board game with friends or family. Hygge is about giving the responsible, stressed-out, perhaps overachieving part of yourself a break. It’s about joy and contentment. It’s about experiencing happiness in simple pleasures, knowing that everything will be okay.
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