The concept of Hygge: a guide to your own idea of cozy

         During the cold months of winter, we tend to hear a lot about staying warm and cozy. Especially now, a new concept of hygge, the Danish way to happiness is discussed. Many suggest that the best way to describe Hygge in English is “cozy”. Is this the right way to describe Hygge?

According to recent reports, Denmark scores high on the happiness index. Experts attribute this stat to Hygge. How can the Danes possibly be the happiest when they have harsh winter? Even harsher than what we have here, especially, in the Northeast part of the US. Snow racking up means shoveling your driveway, freezing your way to work, and worrying about highway slowdowns. There is no surprise that we hate winters. But Danes change this fretting to actually enjoying winters. Be it cuddling in the blankets, enjoying hot cocoa with marshmallows, and lighting candles. Here in the west, we have associated Hygge with candles, a fireplace, and hot cocoa. I won’t be surprised if there are Hygge candles and blankets in the market. We have a tendency to commercialize anything that seems to have the potential to gain large business. When big industries realize the trend of Hygge being popular, they will start selling “all things Hygge.” Can we avoid this commercialization and just focus on the concept of Hygge? Hygge is not all about candles. Candles are just a little part of Hygge. To me, Hygge means doing something that feels good. Because you will only feel cozy when you are doing something that nurtures you and makes you feel happy! I believe that hygge is divided into 3 categories which I will delve into more in this blog. So keep on reading to learn more about Hygge!

Seasonal Hygge

In winter, you can spend more time indoors and focus on yourself. Energetically, winters are a time to turn inwards. Winters are a good time for self-reflection and planning projects for summer! So snuggle up in a warm blanket, sip a cozy hot drink, journal any upcoming projects or simply reflect on your past summer projects. Also, you don’t have to be miserable going to work. Instead, reward yourself for going to work. From personal experience, I have purchased cozy winter sweaters which I like to wear while attending classes during the winter terms. This is my way to provide myself with an incentive for not whining while attending lectures. You can also brew a cozy drink which will be good company while you work or study. Make yourself a winter playlist on Spotify which can be helpful while commuting to work or school. See there are many ways to enjoy the “so-called” dark winters. Winters don’t have to be so boring, trust me! I don’t why authors have attributed winter time as a dark time of the year that you should hate. In my opinion, it can be a beautiful time as well. 

Hygge is just not applicable in winters, it also suits our beloved summer perfectly. For me, summer hygge is going on trails, spending time with family and friends along with being outdoors as much as possible. And of course, how can I forget the beach! Summer is also a time to work on those projects which you have been dreaming about throughout winter. Be it DIY home decor, learning a new skill, or personal and professional development. To some people, these projects become their Hygge as they feel nurtured by the feeling of accomplishment after completing them. 

Translating Hygge into English as “cozy” is somewhat appropriate as doing the things that we like give us that cozy feeling. So finding the true Hygee that would give you that cozy feeling and suits the season is very important! I hope this blog inspired you to explore that suitable seasonal Hygge activity. 

Social Hygge

Hygge can also be applicable to the social interaction aspect as well. Some people find spending time with friends and family as hygge. Not one of those people? Then spending time alone is your kind of jam. To me, I like spending time with my friends and family. While there are times when I need to recharge my social battery. 

Want some ideas about spending time with others? Well, if it is warm outside, plan a hiking trip or go to the beach! And if it is chilly weather time, invite your family or friends for a cup of hot chocolate and cozy movie nights. Trust me, just planning for these fun excursions provides a boost of recharge. Imagine what could these fun events do for you if just planning is recharging you. 

But what if, I am just in the mood to recharge my social battery just because I have been to too many events? This happens, when you are constantly surrounded by people and need some time to read your own thoughts, it is time to just be alone for a day or two. Now don’t completely shut yourself from the outside world, because after all we are social animals and need people. But while you are in your recharge mode, you can just focus on your work and studies. You can also think about what you want to work on in the coming future. If you are a student, this can be a good time to think about what you will do after graduation. Take on a new job or register for a new degree program. It is a great time to work on yourself! 

Hygge while you grind!

You very well know the moment in the morning when you wake up and summarize the amount of work you need to get done before you can call it a night. And when the day almost comes to an end, you take a glimpse at your to-do list and notice there are still many things to get done. In our house, we often joke about this moment. We say “miles to go before I sleep” a line from the famous poem “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” by Robert Frost when we realize there are many tasks before we can call it a day. That is a horrible feeling because every cell in the body is yelling “sleep right now” but you just can’t until every item on the to-do list is checked out. You don’t want the tasks to spill over to the next day because that will ruin tomorrow’s to-do list. Well, I feel that is a truly robotic way of living. We are human beings after all. But what to do, work is important and no matter how the famous tabloids tell us to be human, the harsh reality can’t escape us: we all need to work to live our dream lives. While it is true, that the modern lifestyle has destined us to be robots more than humans, we can romanticize all those mundane daily tasks. Instead of saying, “Oh God, I have work today” you can say “Yay! I have work today.” I know this sounds rather hilarious because how can replacing words bring joy in my life? But the magic is in the words and how we convince our minds to accept rather than stay unhappy. It is hard to bring on this change, nevertheless, trying is worth it. 

Along with trying to change your mindset, you can introduce happiness in small things. There is satisfaction in small things like making your bed, brewing coffee, or even cleaning your home. Romanticizing these small aspects like adding fun flavors to your normal cup of coffee or cleaning with your favorite fragrance are ways to introduce happiness. So again, it is up to you how you want hygge in your routine. 

Conclusion:

Don’t fall into the trap laid out by the critics saying that Hygge is just a waste of money. You can introduce Hygge into your life while spending $0. It is a state of mind and not things that make you feel “Hygge-like”. Hygge is a very personal concept where you can adapt based on what you like and what you feel at the moment. Also, don’t be prey to Hygge's commercialization. It can be perceived as an overrated hype or a fad that will fade away with time. The concept of feeling cozy is omnipresent even though Hygge is a new name recognized by everybody. We might forget the name “Hygge” in the coming years. However, the feeling of belonging somewhere and nurturing yourself is here to stay. I am pretty sure that Danes don’t want their traditional Hygge to be a source of income for already opulent industries. Instead, focus on what you feel while doing your favorite activity. Cling on to that and you will quickly appreciate the happiness that surges within. Well, that activity is Hygge! I hope this blog inspired you to find your own blend of hygge!