A little dose of Hygge

When my husband and I visited his relatives in Denmark, the homes and hosts had a peaceful, warm, generous atmosphere.  The popular term for this cozy environment is hygge.  (pronounced hoo-gah, no direct translation to English.)  We Americans don’t always have this calmness, or at least I do not.  Why should we care?

The concept of hygge applies to people together but the idea also surrounds the person alone.  Usually, hygge brings to mind candles, fires in the fireplace, soft blanket over your legs, and a hot cup of tea.  But warm weather can create the same feelings of closeness by sharing food together, twinkle lights on the patio, and drinking ice cold slushes.  Dimming the lights, eating a sweet treat, and turning down the volume of any sounds can create a feeling of coziness just for yourself.

Most of the writings I have read about hygge seem to be all about the adults, but children can also benefit from this idea of togetherness.  Sometimes just sitting around a table, eating a favorite sweet, and taking turns telling a good thing and a bad thing that happened that day can create a very intimate, closeness feeling.  It reminds me of bedtime in a tent with my family (not a very common event for us) – a feeling that we are together and the only people in the whole world who matter to each other at that moment.  For me, that is the goal of hygge.

Ten quick ideas to bring out the Danish side of life:

       Light a candle.

       Diffuse a favorite scent in your home.  Whether a spray, diffuser, shaking up the potpourri, something that lets you know you are home.

       Unclutter the desk or table nearest you.

       Buy a favorite food treat and savor it slowly to enjoy the moment.

       Listen to quiet music.

       Invite two people over for coffee, cheese, artisanal bread, and chocolate.

       Look at family photos with your kids and explain what the relatives were like.

       Play a musical instrument and appreciate the effort (no matter the sounds.)

       Savor a cup of coffee or tea.

       Turn off your phone.

Connect with your heart.