Without a doubt, the concept of hygge is absolutely awesome. To the uninitiated, hygge is the Danish way of living a happy life by being cool and cozy. But that one’s just a simple explanation of what hygge is. It’s hard to explain what hygge really is; you can only feel it. In a way, it’s a lifestyle of sorts. But if you are trying to embody the hygge lifestyle, you can get that feeling by doing these three moves.
Make some tea…
Or some coffee. Or hot chocolate. Or, heck, bake a cake. To achieve hagge, you should try doing something, anything, that involves making and indulging in something you like. But you should indulge them mindfully. There’s no point in mindless indulgence. Otherwise, you’re living an indulgent lifestyle, and that’s not hygge.
Hygge is about being there, being in the moment. So, when you boil your tea leaves, brew your coffee beans, or melt your chocolate for your cocoa, you should savor the moment. Smell the scents and aromas. If anything else, use the act of making these treats as a place to wander your mind into for a moment. Hygge is about taking a moment’s rest, and turning that moment into a long one. Maybe an hour. Or maybe a day. By focusing your mind on feeling what you feel, your three seconds could feel like five minutes, but in a good way.
Wear comfortable clothes
If hygge was a fashion trend, it would have a runway with thirty models wearing pajamas and designer sleeping wear. Why? Because hygge is huge on comfort! To be hygge-like (or hyggelig, as the great people of Denmark call it), is to be comfortable. And if fashion models did hygge cat-walks, they’d be wearing slippers enjoying those hygge clothes.
And it’s safe to say that the Danish definitely love comfort. It’s part of the reason why they’re the happiest people in the world. But they also know how it feels to lose comfort. To feel pain. If you live in a place where the sun never rises on winter holidays, you’d understand that. There’s no way you’d skimp on scarves, bonnets, and silly sweaters when the weather outside says don’t come out or you’ll freeze to death on a moonless night.
So, to beat the darkness of the cold night, nothing beats warm, cozy clothes. But you are probably not reading this in Denmark. You are probably reading this in a place where you sing your holiday carols on a jolly afternoon. Now, what do you do? You wear whatever is comfortable! Even in Denmark, hygge is not limited to a sunless holiday. So why should you? Wear what you like, and what feels the way you like. Wear summer clothes on a sunny day, or wear a dress with high heels if that’s what you feel like wearing. What’s important is the comfort and coziness of being hygge.
Light up a candle
It goes without saying, and it honestly shouldn’t, but a cup of cream and coffee with chocolate-flavored caramel buns goes best with a lit candle on a cold Saturday night. Don’t believe us? Just try it: use flickering candles to set up the mood. Or better yet, bring a good fellow along (like a friend, family member, or your future spouse). It can be anyone you care for, really. The point of hygge is not to be comfortably alone. That would be a different thing. To be hygge-like, or hyggelig, is to embrace your loved ones and keep them safe. And being safe together is one of the best feelings you can ever have.
Honestly, it’s probably better than a candle, and a lot less scalding than boiling coffee on your tongue. And honestly, life is a lot more comfortable when shared with the people you love.
