Hygge: The Philosophy That Will Make You Fall In Love With Denmark
Denmark is, according to the annual UN report, the happiest country in the world. Added to its well-known state of well-being, many say that hygge is the secret to this general Danish state of happiness. Let’s get to know him better.
What is hygge ?
This may be the first time you’ve heard the term hygge (pronounced, more less, as “play”). This is a philosophy of Scandinavian origin, with a far from simple translation and that in recent years has become fashionable throughout Europe.
It basically consists of understanding and enjoying life through simple and everyday pleasures, both alone and in company. Those plans, like enjoying a simple hot chocolate are what give you full happiness, in the purest Denmark style.
The secrets of hygge
Here are 10 tips for you to adopt hygge , even if you don’t live in Denmark.
1. Find your time
It is common to spend time working or performing all the tasks that we must do throughout the day, forgetting the time we must dedicate to those around us, and even ourselves. Try to give some of your daily time to your friends, your family and you, taking care of yourself and relaxing, leaving aside the daily obligations.
2. Eliminate everything that does not give you peace of mind
When you are with your friends or your family, try not to talk about politics or other topics that tease the moment. Don’t think about work, trouble, or how stressed you are either. And of course, stay away from the phone, mobile or other devices that cloud your happiness
3. Remember your ancestors
The hygge is traditionally associated with activities and objects that have sentimental value for the Danes. Therefore, stick with everything that has to do with your family, and keep little treasures that will make you feel more at peace.
4. Create a suitable environment
For Danes it is essential to be in a place that makes them feel good. For this, lighting is very important, candles are essential and basic flowers. Something very simple is that, even if you eat alone, you set the table properly. That will be a very nice moment.
5. Open your house
The hygge can occur anytime and anywhere. From a barbecue with friends to a walk in the park. But it is true that the Danes prefer to meet at home, something that is far from the Mediterranean culture.
6. Make yourself comfortable
As mentioned, the hygge has a lot to do with enjoy the everyday pleasures. And this has to do with being comfortable surrounded by elements that help to do so, such as candles, thick blankets, a good book or a hot chocolate.
7. Externalize hygge
This word is very frequent in Danish, being used both as an adjective, as an adverb and as a verb. It perfectly defines the feeling of harmony and peace that the small pleasures that we have been defining cause you. Therefore, it is necessary that you express when an experience that you have just lived has been hyggelig for you.
8. Do hyggelig things
Hyggelig refers to all those actions that make you closer to hygge , that is, everything that causes you peace. Of course, it must be borne in mind that not everything that seems hyggelig is, since something that you may like a lot may have elements that are not really hygge at all .
Remember that everything should be calm and should cause you harmony, never stress or be linked, for example, to electronic devices.
9. Run away from “non- hygge ” environments
Just as there are things that are not hygge , there are also places that are not. The opposite of this term is uhyggelig and it basically refers to everything that, far from giving you peace, causes you fear, fear or does not invite you to be comfortable.
10. Get together in small groups
Although this depends somewhat on your personality and even the size of your house, the hygge is best done in small groups. This prevents parallel meetings forming within a larger one or that a relaxed conversation cannot be held because there are many voices ringing at the same time.
