Hygge 101: The Basics Of This Cozy Lifestyle Trend

Gulp. It’s Thursday, November 30th. We are on the eve of December 1st, otherwise known as “when all Hell will break loose.” I don’t know about you, but the next 30 days from now until New Year’s Day will be pretty hectic. I’m excited and a little stressed at the same time. I don’t have the heart pounding, I can’t catch my breath level of stress. It’s more like I need to write a daily “to-do list” because my head is buzzing.

Life comes at you fast this time of year. Every business is hustling to close the year strong and add to the bottom line which means you or your spouse are working late, you may be hosting a holiday party or shopping for something to wear to a company party, then there’s baking 2 dozen cookies for a cookie exchange, going to a wreath-making party, decorating your home for the holidays, ordering holiday cards, assembling gingerbread houses for your kiddos school, or preparing for overnight guests. The struggle is real when it comes to slowing down the pace to embrace the season. As busy as December is, we all need to carve out time for ourselves to enjoy this time of year. We need to Hygge.

Hygge 101: The Basics Of This Cozy Lifestyle Trend

By now, you have probably heard the hype about Hygge (pronounced hoo-ga). Hygge is the Danish word for cosiness, which loosely translated means all things loved and gently worn. So, what does Hygge actually mean in terms of a lifestyle trend? In my book, it means making a conscious decision to indulge in some things that make you happy.

When was the last time you got off the grid, grabbed a book and sat by a fire or curled up in a chair to read for an hour or two? Can you even remember? You’re probably saying, “I don’t have the time for that.” And that’s exactly my point. So, exactly how does one Hygge? Hygge can be anything that’s inherently cozy and relaxing. Some ideas include wrapping yourself in a blanket and binge watching Gossip Girl, taking a hot yoga class, or snuggling up with your loved ones in front of a warm, flickering fire and drinking hot chocolate.

I believe that there is another component to embracing the benefits of Hygge, and it’s really important. You absolutely cannot feel guilty about doing it. One of my favorite sayings is “I wasn’t born to pay bills and die.” If you feel like all you do is work (at a job or at home) that’s not living. What is the point of life if you cannot do things that make you happy? If you don’t know where to start, try postponing a chore that you’d normally do. It could be raking leaves or doing the laundry. Instead, use that time to do something for yourself and enjoy living in the moment.

Below are 14 ways to Hygge: