So who has heard of Hygge? Yes, but what is it? Well Hygge (pronounced Hue-guh) is a Danish word and although there is no direct translation to English it is linked with a feeling of cosiness, comfort and happiness and often described as ‘cosiness of the soul’.
Denmark is one of the happiest countries in the world and many say this is because of Hygge.
People usually associate Hygge with winter months and think of getting all cosy in the dark, cold evenings, with lots of hot chocolate complete with Marshmallows and fluffy blankets, but why not use it all year round?
So how can you bring Hygge into your life, especially during the summer months?
Hygge is quite a personal thing and everybody’s Hygge will be slightly different, but to me it’s something that gives me that contented, cosiness feeling inside. It’s about being in the here and now and enjoying the little things. What does Hygge mean to you?
Here is a list of how you can bring a little Hygge into your life – Summer edition.
Summer Hygge
o Watching the sunset/sunrise
Set your alarm a little earlier (or maybe a lot earlier!) make yourself a coffee, take yourself outside and watch the sunrise. What a perfect start to the day. Or if you can’t do that in the morning then watch the sunset instead.
On the Met office website you can find out what time the sun is due to rise and set in your area, so you can be prepared.
o Stargazing in the garden
Wait until it gets dark (you could watch the sunset first), lay a blanket down and just lay and look at the stars and maybe if you are really lucky, you may spot a shooting star.
o Having doors and windows open to fill your home with fresh air
This is something that I try to do as often as possible at any time of the year. It just helps to freshen the house and lets all the fresh air in.
o Afternoon reading in the park
Or outdoor space. I usually have to find a quiet park as I am easily distracted by what is going on around me and can quite easily just sit for hours ‘people watching’, so I like to find a nice quiet park bench and sit with my Kindle and get lost in my book.
o Barbecues with friends and family
What better way to spend a day, than with friends and/or family in the great outdoors, with yummy food cooked on the BBQ. I love mushrooms cooked on the BBQ.
o Fresh flowers
A way to bring the outside in. I don’t know about you but flowers just make my heart sing. From Daffodils in the spring to Peonies in the summer, I love them all. What are your favourite flowers?
o Walk in the woods
Several studies have shown that being out in nature has such a positive effect on your mood, mental health and can help to lower stress and anxiety. I love to get out and walk especially in the summer evenings and read can read more about that here.
o Picnics on the beach
The gentle sound of the waves and the sand between your toes…
actually I prefer a pebble beach, but whichever you prefer, prepare a picnic and take a trip to the coast. Maybe if you live near the coast you could watch the sunrise and then have a breakfast picnic on the beach?
o Take advantage of all the fruit and berries that are in season
My favourite fruits are strawberries, but they have to be local, in-season strawberries. Nothing beats the sweet taste of fresh fruit and berries. Have you tried making fruit kebabs?
o Making the most of the natural light and longer evenings
Open all the curtains and pull back the blinds and let the natural light shine in, take an evening walk, sit in the garden after a long day at work or take the kids to the park. Just enjoy the long days of summer.
To read more about Hygge, get yourself a copy of Meik Wiking’s book, The Little Book Of Hygge: The Danish Way To Live Well
Hope you all have a fantastic Summer and hopefully get to bring a little Hygge into your life.
