“The true secret of happiness lies in taking a genuine interest in all the details of daily life” – William Morris
One of the great blessings of the universe is that even in a year like 2020, Fall still arrives with a change in weather, holidays around the corner and its fair share of stress. This summer I discovered Hygge (pronounced Hoo-ga). The word originates from a Norwegian word that means well-being and also hug, hence my obsession!
In The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking, the concept is broken down into a simple manifesto: Atmosphere, Presence (think turning off your phone!), Pleasure, Equality, Gratitude, Harmony, Comfort, Truce, Togetherness & Shelter. Sounds simple enough yes? Yet in our current culture of constantly running about taking the time to slow down has become seemingly impossible for many. I offer ten examples of how to embrace Hygge and incorporate into the craziness of the world today.
- Set a consistent time of night before you go to sleep and turn OFF your cell phone.
- Cook a hearty meal with loved ones.
- Read a book, enjoy a hot beverage.
- Open the curtains for natural light.
- Ride a bike and enjoy nature.
- Putter in the garage.
- Linger after dinner instead of clean up.
- Grab a cozy blanket and watch a movie.
- Sit outside and watch a sunset, sunrise and wave to a neighbor.
- Take a moment and feel gratitude for something that happened that day.
Now Hygge will not end holiday stress, nor will it solve the ills of the world today. It can however help us give ourselves permission to remember something our elders once knew, taking time to slow down and appreciate what we do have in our lives will not harm us and may in fact help those smiles to feel more genuine.
