What is Hygge? Danish people are the happiest people in Europe according to the European social survey. The Danish word hygge (pronounced hue-guh) is defined as “a quality of cosiness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being.”
Hygge can be as simple as sitting around a campfire with friends or playing a board game with family. If you have ever enjoyed reading a book indoor on a rainy day while sipping on a cup of hot chocolate, you’ve experienced hygge without even knowing it. It’s about being playful and less results-focused. As adults, we tend to not play enough. But life doesn’t have to be so serious all the time! After all, it should be about enjoying all the little things in life and cherishing every moment with loved ones.
How to bring more of the Danish hygge happiness into your life? Here are 5 ways to achieve optimal hygge.
1. Light a natural candle
If you ask a Danish person, they're likely to tell you that candles are the most important part of creating a comfortable atmosphere. Each Dane burns around thirteen pounds of candle wax each year. Danes prefer natural and organic products. In fact, Danes rank toward the top of the list in Europe when it comes to buying organic products. P.F. Candle co, a California based home fragrance company is known for its fair priced natural candles. Their botanically-inspired candles are made of 100% domestic soy and infused with all-natural scents.
2. Get an oversized cozy scarf
Danes in general enjoy a casual tone and a comfy dress code. A cozy scarf is a must. According to Meik Wiking, a famous Danish happiness guru and author of the little book of hygge, the golden rule of choosing a scarf is "the bigger the better.” Danes love the comfy oversized silhouette that manifests coziness and warmth. MINIMO 100% cashmere blanket scarf comes in 4 different colors to complement every wardrobe. What’s better than wrapping your neck with this ultra-soft scarf on a chilly day?
3. Take a hot bath
What’s more relaxing than a warm bath after a long day? To make your bath even more higgle, dim the light, light the candles, and put on some soothing music. Herbivore Botanicals' Calm Bath Salts is my personal favorite for creating a calming mineral-infused bath experience. The brand uses the highest-quality natural ingredients including food-grade, plant-based, and toxin-free materials. It’s not only soothing but also incredibly luxurious.
4. Set up a cozy nook at home
The one thing that every comfy home needs is a hyggekrog, which means “a nook.” It’s a place in the room where you love to snuggle up in a blanket with a book and a cup of tea after a long day. It’s always nice to fill this happy spot with some cute pillows. Loom + Kiln offers a variety of vintage and handmade decorative pillows that adds coziness and characters to a living space.
5. Spend some quality time with loved ones
According to the World Happiness Report commissioned by the United Nations: “while basic living standards are essential for happiness, after the baseline has been met, happiness varies more with quality of human relationships than income". Danes value meaningful relationships more than anything else. Life is short. Don’t miss the opportunities to spend time with the people that you love!
