What Is Hygge?
11 Ways to Embrace the Hygge Lifestyle This Season
Have you heard a lot about hygge in recent years, but still aren't exactly sure what it means or entails? Well, have you ever had a wonderful night sitting by the fire with a glass of cocoa, enjoying the company of your partner, your family, or just yourself, and thought, "This is the life?" That, my friend, is hygge. Have you woken up on a chilly morning, lit a candle, wrapped yourself in a blanket, and read a book? Hygge again. Escaped a stormy night by enjoying a hot dinner with friends? That's hygge, baby.
Hygge, pronounced "HOO-gah," is a Scandinavian way of life that celebrates coziness, shared meals, and companionable interactions with loved ones. Emphasizing warmth, kinship, and an appreciation for the little things, hygge is a perspective on life that started in Denmark and has contributed to the nation's high happiness ratings (it ranked #2 in the world in 2020). Now, Americans are turning to hygge as a way to find happiness within.
Many see hygge as an excellent form of self-care, especially during seasons when weather-related depression runs high. By embracing the indoors and taking plenty of time to treat yourself to little luxuries, hygge is an ideal way to combat seasonal affective disorder.
While high season for hygge is winter, the Danish tourism board assures us that it can be experienced year round. If you want to hygge-ify your home, here are some ways to incorporate the peaceful Nordic lifestyle into your own everyday habits.
