What The Heck Is Hygge?

Have you heard of Hygge? 

It’s a word that I learned sometime last year that I'm really fond of. 

Hygge (pronounced hoo-gah) is a Danish/Scandinavian word defined as: 
a quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being

I think that Hygge is a great inspiration for this season. Especially since I think the added stress & tension of the last year & a half has really worn on all of us. 

From my understanding, the Danish birthed this word out of a desire to appreciate & enjoy the long winter months, when you could easily feel cooped up, confined by the weather, or bored instead.

When I think of Hygge, I think of warm fuzzy blankets, candles, a book, and a delicious cup of tea. 

I think of morning coffee with a dear friend while wrapped up in a blanket. 

I think of sitting around a fire with someone strumming the guitar and sipping a hot toddy. 

I think of how cozy & comforting my home feels with so many houseplants, bringing a feeling of the natural outside world, inside with me.

 I think of slowing things down, contentment, & presence.

Creating an environment of comfort for ourselves is a really sweet way to lean into self-care. 

I've been extra aware lately, that as a collective, the last year and a half has really taken a toll on us. We've had to navigate brand new types of stress, altered & compromised ways of living, and division among family, friends & community, just to mention a few. 

Our nervous systems have taken a beating, and it seems like most everyone I know has dealt with more anxiety in this time period than ever before, myself included. 

This is why I wanted to share this special word with you today. 

There are so many little things that we can do to create a quality of calm, cozy, contentment, & presence for ourselves. 

These little things can go a long way in caring for our spirits and our nervous systems. 

I'd love to encourage you to read an article or two on Hygge to inspire yourself. Your friend google can help you with that. 

I'd love to encourage you to find some time and ways to embrace this, to create some comforting environments and time for yourself. 

Light some candles & take a bath
Take a little time each day to curl up with your favorite soft blanket & read a book.
Get some houseplants to bring some of the natural world into your living space. 
Whatever tickles your fancy. 

You very much deserve that. 

Wishing you coziness & contentment, 

Shelly