Written by: Hanna Dumlao
Photo by Alissa Anton / Unsplash
In a world where everything seems to run fast and results are needed in an instant, one would definitely find his or herself somehow drained in every possible aspect in their lives. This would result in constantly having the strong desire to slow down, retreat, and re-evaluate the events happening around - to stay still and rest, to remove oneself momentarily from the noise and focus on the things we simply enjoy and love, or to simply discover something new and completely different from our usual routines.
We all need a moment of Hygge.
Hygge - you have probably seen the word while browsing through websites, video logs, and even your social media feed. Pronounced as “hoo-guh” or “hyu-guh”, this Danish term and lifestyle practice was originally coined from the Norwegian word hugga which meant “to comfort” or “to console”. In the late 2016 to 2017, Hygge became one of the most used terms used in blog topics, social media posts, and even design trends. It became Oxford Dictionary’s word of the year in 2016 and was defined as “a quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being”.
We believe that since the majority of our days now are spent at home and there is little to no defining boundary between work, rest, and leisure, the Hygge mindset could be a good reminder and practice for all of us. But beyond the aesthetic posts that we see and the warm filters and concepts we enjoy taking inspiration from, we wish to break down the basic concepts of the Hygge Mindset once again, in our present day and age.
Photo by Hygge’s History
The hygge way of living has been present in the Danish culture since the 1800s. More than just a noun or an adjective, the Danes have looked at hygge in a more intangible aspect as it was treated as a way of life or a mindset. To hygge, for the Danes meant, to life every day in a present, pleasant, and highly valued manner. Whether it was to nod and politely smile to a stranger in the street, to wave back to a person who greeted you, to be grateful for actions extended towards you as well as the experiences you come across.
To Hygge, for the Danes meant to give or extend comfort, joy, and courage. It's also to extend a sense of quality and equality to our surroundings and the people we are surrounded by. More than a lifestyle or trend, the Danes take Hygge deep into their culture and way of life.
Compared to other cultures, Denmark is statistically known to be one of the happiest and easy going people in the world and all this could and more likely be a result of the ideals of Hygge not just in their way of life but also government policies and exchange. The wellbeing of the people were taken to utmost importance and consideration.
Being 'Consciously Cozy'
Mike Wiking, the author of The Little Book of Hygge and Director of the Happiness Research Institute of Copenhagen has explained that Hygge was defined as "The art of creating a nice atmosphere and pursuit of everyday happiness". It was about sharing moments with loved ones, enjoying good food, practicing gratitude and consciousness in the everyday life. To Hygge meant to understand that we each need to intentionally allocate a form of comfort to our daily practices, may it be by rewarding ourselves with a nice cup of coffee or tea, enjoying a slice of cake or two, or simply by consciously deciding to log off from our computers and be present in conversation with our loved ones.
What it means to Hygge
Danish Chef Claus Meyer in his interview with Vice said that most of us have at one way or another practiced this in our lives, we just call it in another term or manner. To Hygge is simply to take a moment to be grounded, to listen and observe people and our surroundings with our hearts and full sincerity. To Hygge means to constantly decide to be present and to let go of the worries and pressures that take place daily in our jobs and our personal lives. To Hygge means to face each day with gratefulness and contentment and to divert our minds from what we do not have to what we have and what we can do to make the most out of it and enrich it.
To Hygge in our Homes
More than the decorative pieces and application of texture in our personal space, to Hygge in our homes mean to constantly decide our activities inside it and how we can make the most out of our days without consuming ourselves. Sometimes, it could plainly involve yourself sitting while doing what you enjoy or by not doing anything at all. It's all about correcting our mindset of feeling guilty for not "hustling enough" or "being busy".
You do not need to have snow or a fireplace to practice hygge in your homes. Hygge could be presently active in our spaces all year round, according to how we want it presented at a specific time or season. In the summer, Hygge could be practiced by choosing to combine subtle colors that celebrates the blooming of the flowers or the richness of the sun. In the rainy days, Hygge could be present by the incorporation of cozy pillows and blankets, lighting up candles, playing your favorite rainy tunes, and simply sitting by your bed or sofa while appreciating the different scenes that can be present in our windows.
In the tropical setting, to hygge for us means embracing our natural environment and enjoying the comfort it gives us. The presence of wood and the balance of natural colors is best known to improve one's wellbeing as it promotes a sense of comfort and relaxation to the mind, body, and soul.
To hygge at home means to be content of the space that we have and to make the necessary adjustments according to how it plays importance in our daily activities and our lives. The scale of a space should never limit ourselves from indulging in it, it's all about consciously choosing pieces that are reflective of who we are, what makes us comfortable, and what will stay with us for a long period of time.
More importantly, to hygge at home means allowing ourselves to be vulnerable and present to what we see, feel, and hear. The fast-paced setting of online meetings and calls could consume us in more ways than one and often times, we tend to forget the pleasantries of pausing and how it could help our mindset and productivity. Take time to pause, to rest, to breathe.
In this complex and busy world, sometimes all we need is to remember the truth that we can never give more of what we do not have. If we do not have joy in our hearts, it will transpire and extend to the things that we do, the people we are surrounded with, and this in turn affect almost everything in our life. And we all need that reminder to reset, to pause, to be assured that resting is never a negative thing and that it is actually one of the most important keys to be productive, effective, and affective.
In our pursuit to be part of today and tomorrow, we wish to encourage you to hygge and appreciate every single thing around you.
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