How to  Benefit from Denmark’s Hygge Lifestyle at Home, at Work, and at Play  

Vikings, fairytales, Legos, bacon, beer, cheese, and a myriad other wonderful things come from Denmark, but have you heard of the newest import? It’s hygge (hoo-guh).

Hygge has no exact translation. Although experts equate it with a sense of well-being and coziness, it is so much more. Hygge is a lifestyle approach, kind of like feng shui. Unlike feng shui, however, hygge is focused on creating a warm atmosphere where you can indulge in life’s small pleasures with friends and family.

To get a better sense of what it is and to invoke hygge in your own heart and mind, try this exercise: Remember your best Thanksgiving holiday. Sense the emotional warmth and happiness of being surrounded by people you love and who love you. Feel the actual warmth of a roaring fire and a candlelit table. Smell the scents of pumpkin spice and remember the tastes of your favorite dishes, of indulgent and delicious foods. Let the gratitude of it all fill you up.

Got it? That’s hygge.

Capturing and condensing those feelings into meaningful moments throughout your day is what the Danes call hygge. And their daily quest for hygge may be the reason they are some of the happiest folks on Earth, despite the long, cold, and dark winters in their part of the world.

So, how can you get more hygge into your life? Focus on comfort, contentment, and community–and not just in your home, but wherever you spend time. Here are a few tips for your house, your office, and your world.

Hygge at Home 

Create a cozy nook for yourself in your house. Include a fluffy afghan or a shearling throw and a few overstuffed pillows. Add a few candles and incense. Dim the overhead lights (or keep them off!). Make yourself a cup of decadent hot chocolate, whipped cream and all. Then, settle in and relax with your latest good read.

Try a game night or a potluck meal. Invite a few of your favorite people over for a low-tech evening of cards or board games. Experiment with the lighting in your space to keep things casual and intimate, but not too dark. Try lighting your space with flicker candles. (Hint: Battery-powered candles prevent accidents and allay unnecessary anxiety.) Serve hot mulled wine and a sumptuous cheese and fruit platter. Ask your friends to bring bite-sized versions of their best-loved desserts. Connect and share happy memories. Remember, these informal get-togethers are about connecting with friends, not about impressing anyone with your culinary skills or how clean and well-furnished your home is.

Hygge at Work

There’s no reason to limit incorporating comfort to just your home. Extend these practices to other areas of your life, like the office. Certainly, there might be constraints on how you may decorate your cube. So, focus on the small moments throughout your day instead. Turn a coffee break into something extraordinary by taking a real break. Step away from your desk and all of your devices for a few minutes. If you can, invite a colleague out for coffee or make hot drinks in your office kitchen and enjoy them by a sunlit window. Take that time for yourself to savor the moment and connect with another person. Share a few special chocolates from your favorite chocolatier. Adopting habits like this, that put your self-care at the center, wherever you are, is hygge, too.

If you think that sounds great, but you’re stuck for time so you can’t leave the building and the office coffee is nothing to savor, fear not. You can have hygge with good conversation alone! And if you have access to a microwave, you can make an office latte. Try this: Brew a cup of chai tea using two chai tea bags in one mugful of water. In a second mug, microwave milk to nearly boiling (lower fat versions actually work best for some reason). Take two more mugs and put a marshmallow on the bottom of each. Pour the hot milk over the marshmallows–half in each cup. Add the hot tea, dividing it between the two mugs. The concoction is slightly sweet and foamy from the marshmallow and hot milk. Sprinkle on a dash of cinnamon and serve. Instant hygge!

Hygge at Play 

But don’t stop there! Bring hygge everywhere you go! Plan a hike with your bestie. Get outside. Wrap yourself up in your warm hat, scarf, sweater, and mittens if the weather calls for them. Scout out a trail with scenic views or colorful fall foliage and take it all in. Pack a picnic with special treats, or bring along some homemade trail mix and a thermos of warm apple cider. This is hygge, too!

Take care of yourself and take pride in your home, office, and other surroundings. The goal is not perfection, but connection. Creating community and injecting meaning into even the smallest moments can do wonders for your spirit and mood. You’ll be amazed at how happy and grateful you will feel. In our fast-paced, high-tech, health-obsessed, stressed-out world, we could all use some hygge. It’s like a big, warm, fuzzy, pumpkin-spiced hug!