I am normally not one for words I cannot pronounce but I’ve decided to make an exception for hygge. No, I did not misspell the word hug, although hygge and hugs provide you with the same overall feeling.
The Danish word, hygge, is translated to mean the state of happiness or “cozy” and it’s much easier to achieve than you’d think. Some elements of hygge include warm blankets, fireplaces, candles and hot food and drink. The Danish swear by this relaxing concept and I, for one, am all for taking advice from the happiest country in the world.
While overall happiness varies from person to person, hygge remains the same universally and it’s a great way to take a step back from your stressful, everyday life and just relax.
Now that you know what hygge means, I’m here to explain how you can achieve it every day and stay sane in this crazy world.
Ways to Achieve Hygge:
- Wrap yourself in a warm blanket
- Put on a pair of warm, fuzzy socks
- Drink a hot cup of tea or coffee
- Nosh on some delicious snacks
- Light some candles to calm your nerves
- Go for a stroll on a nice day
- Take some time for yourself
- Catch up with an old friend over coffee
It’s crazy to think that by doing such small things, you can achieve a happy and “cozy” state of mind but it truly is that easy! Hygge can be achieved with others or by yourself and at the rate this Danish trend is going, Americans will be happier and cozier in no time.
All this talk of hygge makes me think it’s time to wrap myself in a blanket and have a snack!
