Keepin’ it Cozy: How to Hygge like the Danish
The Danish word “hygge”, pronounced HOO-guh, has been getting a lot of attention. It’s been called everything from a feeling to a lifestyle trend.
Books and articles are popping up all over the place about hygge, so I did some investigating to see if I could find out a little more about why it’s being talked about so much.
There’s no English word that’s equivalent to hygge, so defining it can be somewhat difficult. Meik Wiking, CEO of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen, published a book last year titled, The Little Book of Hygge: The Danish Way to Live Well. He describes hygge like this:
Hygge has been translated as everything from the art of creating intimacy to cosiness of the soul to taking pleasure from the presence of soothing things. My personal favourite is cocoa by candlelight…
Cozy? Candles? Cocoa? I’m in!
Here’s what I’ve discovered about hygge. It’s about being present, enjoying the little things, and the comforting feelings of warmth and coziness. Hygge involves doing things that bring happiness and joy, practicing self-care, and enjoying both the indoors and outdoors on your own or with family and friends.
