Hygge (pronounced Hoo-Gah), was a runner up in the Oxford Dictionary’s word of the year in 2016. The Danish word refers to a sense of comfort and cosiness, a key concept to embrace in the search for well-being and happiness. In the third episode of her 2020 BBC sounds podcast: Sandi Toksvig’s Hygge, Toksvig said: “if you’ve ever enjoyed reading a book indoors… on a rainy Sunday morning, chances are… you’ve experienced Hygge.”
A conscious decision to indulge in hot drinks and delicious desserts, reaching for the comfort of loved ones, cosy entertainment and warmth, it doesn’t take long for the appeal of Hygge to sink in. Considering the freezing cold temperatures and long dark nights common to the climate, especially in Autumn and Winter months, it’s unsurprising that the concept is so integral to Danish and Scandinavian culture. Meik Wiking, author of The Little Book of Hygge, told Vice Magazine in 2017 that Hygge is part of Denmark’s national DNA. It hardly seems to be a coincidence that the country consistently ranks highly in the UN World Happiness Report.
How do we unlock this supposed secret to happiness and well-being, which Hygge points us to? The urge to Hygge has created online sensations of Pinterest aesthetics and the frantic marketing of cosy socks and jumpers, all designed to make us feel happy and fulfilled. It doesn’t seem possible however, that reaching this fulfilment will come purely from purchases or adding filters to photographs. Hygge focuses on the feeling which we create when we prioritise our comfort, alongside the people and things that we love. It names a kind of happiness you’re most likely already familiar with, and with a little focus, you can experience more.
Incorporating Hygge into your life doesn’t have to involve the glossy-magazine-ideal of closing the door on a freezing cold night, lighting a log fire and curling up in a blanket on an armchair, in your perfect thatched cottage. It is about your well-being and little bits of self-care and Hygge can give you the space to feel comforted, with the potential for happiness. After all, comfort isn’t the same as happiness, and attempting to force that feeling can lead you even further away from it.
Part of the appeal of Hygge isn’t just what you’re doing, it’s what you’re moving away from. You’re wrapping up warmly in a blanket, because outside it’s cold; you’re reading books and knitting blankets, because you’re switching off from work and stress, and you’re putting down your phone and chatting with your loved ones, because you don’t always have enough time to do that amongst the business of everyday life. At best, you’ll prioritise a whole weekend, day or evening for Hygge, but it’s okay that that’s not possible all the time. Little aspects of Hygge can come with you everywhere, and be built into and around your routine.
Possibly most importantly for your well-being, start by learning to switch off from the outside world. This can often feel quite strange when it’s advised, patronising even, when sometimes problems and stress can be so consuming that the obvious advice that you’d be better off ignoring it all and doing something you enjoy can be wholly infuriating. But switching off isn’t about ignoring your problems, it’s about being better at dealing with them. Something as simple as a few moments of mindfulness, whether through meditation, exercise, or a walk on your break, give you the space to rest your mind and this will help you to cope and deal with the challenges you’re confronting. So give yourself time without your devices and the internet, where you’re away from the news, your emails and social media, for however long you’re able. Schedule it in even, remember that it’s as important as being productive and problem-solving.
Alongside mindfulness, indulge in the enjoyment of whatever comes to mind when you think of happiness, whether that be people, reading, delicious food and drink or just generally pausing, until you find Hygge. Go back to the roots of the things you find cosy and comforting, and allow your mind to focus on it fully, without the distractions of the things you find stressful.
Hygge is unique to you, embracing it is allowing yourself to care for your well-being, which gives you the space to be happy.
