Recently a widely read American publication ran this headline Here's how hygge took over America. Hygge is not a term many of us are familiar with. So what is it and is it really taking over America? If so why and how?
Hygge is defined as a quality of cosiness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being. It is about being warm and cosy and comfy; spending convivial and enjoyable time with others.
All the things that comfort us can be considered part of the hygge lifestyle: warm socks, furry boots, cosy PJs, a cheerful fire. It is about a delicious cup of hot coffee, comfort foods, scented candles or simply curling up with a good book.
Experts suggest that the long and dark winter months are probably responsible for the emergence of Hygge. As the daylight hours shorten and it gets too bitterly cold to go out, people stay indoors and try to create warm, welcoming, comforting indoor spaces.
Countries close to the Arctic Circle get only a few hours of sunlight in a day; giving rise to a phenomenon called the Winter Blues; now termed as SAD or the Seasonal Affective Disorder. Many otherwise healthy people exhibit symptoms of depression during the winter months. Hygge helps counter this phenomenon.
Denmark gets only about seven hours of daylight in the winter months; which can be really depressing. Hygge likely developed as a survival strategy; rather like some animals who hibernate; preparing their living quarters and eating for the hard times ahead.
Warm light is an important facet of hygge. Candles, firelight, table lamps as opposed to ceiling lights, yellow light as opposed to harsh white lights help create the atmosphere essential to hygge.
Soft pillows and cushions, throws in attractive colours, warm rugs, soft slippers, fleecy blankets all help create that feeling of soft cosiness and comfort that characterises hygge.
Hygge has an important social component: it isn’t just about the objects that create the atmosphere but the people. Long chats with friends and loved ones, having a barbecue or a singsong, playing a game… all these are vital to the hygge lifestyle.
Disconnecting from gadgets and lowering screen time also helps live the hygge lifestyle. It helps us slow down a bit, appreciate the simpler things in life and live in the moment without that sense of FOMO.
It can be a good idea to create a hyggekrog or a cosy corner where one can reconnect with oneself and do the things that make one happy. A window seat, a fave chair with a warm blanket, an aromatic cup of something and a book --- these can be the little components of the hygge lifestyle --- which could well make us happier.
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