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Hygge, pronounced "hoo-gah", is defined as "A quality of cosiness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being".
You likely have seen the danish word plastered on the walls of various social media pages and between you and me, I am no hater to the phenomenon.
Now it's not all cosy socks and smelly candles. To me, it's all about making the ordinary extraordinary. Life can be hectic, full of bland tasks and not a whole lot of "fun" but believe me, it IS possible to make daily living an enjoyable thing. By practising hygge, one can find joy in the simple pleasures of life without great mental or financial strain.
Think cabin in the woods or
brunch with friends or
a cup of tea whilst journalling as the rain falls outside or
sitting around a fire with people you love whilst someone wistfully plucks away at a guitar.
Yep, it all sounds like something posted by twelvies on tumblr but let's be real, we all love a good book by candle light to make our insides mushy.
Meik Wilking's book about just this topic describes the word as the product of combining togetherness, relaxation, indulgence, presence, and comfort (Wilking, 2016). Hygge might mean something completely different for you as it does for me but I think achieving warm and fuzzy is a universal desire every now and then. Let me show you how.
1. Look the part
Put on something that makes you feel good. Whether that is your year 7 jersey and PJ pants or an oversized tee-shirt and not much else, then cool! The only rules with this is that you feel comfy and carefree. Personally, I favour my trackies from Cotton On body paired with the beloved nursing jumper, fluffy socks and the optional rabbit slippers.
2. Indulge a little bit
Make yourself a cup of something warm...again based on your personal preferences. Tea, mocha, hot choc, a cheeky herbal? Up to you! In year 11, I wrote a song called "I Like" which mentioned my need for hot chocolates when I'm in a bad mood and 4 years later, this need has not subsided. In fact, it's grown and I'm in need of a hot choc more often than my acne prone skin would appreciate.
Oo and also grab a biccie or some popcorn or whatever you fancy. Anyone else absolutely adore scotch fingers?
3. Be here now
It's been said many times and imma say it again - put down your phone! This year, I have gone off social media and to be honest it has been amazing. Now I'm not making rules or anything but it's nice every now and then to take a break from the endless scrolling through the highlight reel of everyone else's lives.
4. Set the scene
For the love of puppies turn down them lights! I'm a big fan of the way the phrase "ambient lighting" rolls off the tongue as a wannabe adult and am even more of a fan of the actual concept. Candles, fairy lights, no lights, whatevs.
Also blankets, pillows, and heck even a blanket fort!
5. Do what you love
Netflix? Crafting? Reading? Chatting? Cooking? Just do it.
6. Gather people (or floofs) you love
My hygge partner-in-crime has got to be my bestie, Hayley. Hayley and I are hygge pros (put that on ya resume). And coming in a close second to her is my stuffed elephant, Emmy. She's just so understanding of my cuddle requirements!
And there you go- you can now hygge! This is only one example of a top-notch hygge sesh but hygge can be incorporated bit by bit in a daily way. Wake up a wee bit earlier so you can actually sit down, enjoy breaky with someone you love while you chatter over coffee. Pop on a crock-pot in the morning so you don't have to worry about cooking that night and can spend that time relaxing whilst delish smells waft around the house. Drink tea out of a cute mug rather than that plain white one with the chip. Hygge is all about sincere self-care that is amazingly achievable and believe me, it's worth the hassel.
Bec