What's Hygge and why is it important?

Hello!

Today I would like to share my experience of living in Hygge, if you are wondering what in the world is Hygge? well, Hygge is a Danish term, that is all about enjoying the everyday, community, comfort & feeling good. It is the Danish way of life, a verb, a noun & a very good way to appreciate life.

I have been a practitioner of Hygge for a year now. I discovered it one day while browsing on Pinterest, the word Hygge was all over the place, from decorations to recipes, so I started wondering, what is this Hygge thing all about and how could I apply into my life? I live in a Tropical weather, where you can wear a sweater maybe for two weeks in the whole year, and I have never experience winter, so how I was supposed to recreate that cozy feeling that Hygge is all about? For some reason I thought that Hygge was meant for colder countries, I always associate it to getting cozy in a cold winter night, but not at all. You see, Hygge is more than an aesthetic. It is ultimately about being happy, and I find that practicing Hygge has made me happier and it has really helped me to enjoy  life.   

There are two books that helped me understand this lifestyle better, the first one is The Hygge Manifesto written by Meik Wiking (The Little Book of Hygge) & is a ten point Hygge action plan to achieving everyday happiness.

The Hygge Manifesto by Meik Wiking

As you can see above, the manifesto calls for us to really be present in the moment & fully engage with life. By achieving physical comfort, connecting with others (not on a screen), being grateful & creating a beautiful atmosphere we can achieve Hyggelig feelings. 

This is why Hygge pays attention to atmosphere, creating a soothing space in which to relax is important. It also requires that we take time to find & enjoy pleasurable things. You don’t need to spend money to do Hygge & it is not just about Scandi interiors. It is about your attitude to life & how much attention you pay to enjoying everything.We all need to take care of ourselves. Sometimes that can be a few small things which really add up to feeling better & being more able to deal with life’s pressures. 

The second book that helped me a lot is "Hygge: The Danish Secrets of Happiness: How to be Happy and Healthy in Your Daily Life."

Is a very straight forward guide to live your life in Hygge, this book is full of small steps you can incorporate into your everyday patterns to help you on your hygge journey like:

•How to create a Hygge Home

•Why allowing clutter in your home, office, and mind is hurting your progress–And what to do instead

•How to gain time and energy without doing anything drastic

•Ways your hectic lifestyle can sabotage a hygge lifestyle

•How to save time, money, and stress with just a few simple changes in your routine

In conclusion, there are guides and books that teach you Hygge but at the end of the day is your conscious choice of living in mindfulness. Most important rule of all is enjoy your time, your time is precious and is important to make time for yourself. So go home, light a candle, get into your coziest pajama and read a book, no one deserves it more than you!

Love,

S.