Get Hygge-ie with it

GFT: Hygge

I was listening to the Rachel Hollis podcast, and she was talking about a new movement centered around the idea of creating the feeling of being cozy - something I had never heard of before - Hygge. This "Art of Being Cozy" and how we can create this mindset in the face of winter when we are waiting for spring. This practice is, for so many reasons, beneficial for our mental wellbeing. Being the curious person I am, I wanted to look more into this topic with the hope of sharing this for others who also may not have heard of it before.

So, the idea of Hygge (sounds like hyoo·guh) was invented by the resourceful residents of Denmark (who only have six hours of daylight and temperatures dipping below -30 C (-22 F), in an effort to stay joyful during long winters. Hygge is an experience, a feeling, and a mindset of being cozy. Who doesn’t love being snug like a bug in a rug? And this feeling can be created by engaging with your life in a cozy intentional way. Whether it's sipping coffee by the fire or curling up on a sofa with a book or to watch a favorite movie, it is fairly easy to incorporate into your home and day-to-day life.

Create the Look:

You could start by adding beautiful textures - cozy wool knits and soft woven rugs. Outfitting your space with calming candles, plants, treasured family photos, or objects that spark happiness and joy. The goal is to create a space that will ease the mind. Complete the Hygge look with small luxuries - a smart tea kettle, bathrobe, or portable heater - that will make your space feel deliciously decadent, yet satisfyingly intimate.

Create the Vibe:

Now that your space is outfitted for cozy, next, set the mood by lighting some candles. This light ambiance gives an instant peace and sense of calm. You may consider making a habit of lighting a candle with your morning cup of tea or evening meal to either start or end your day with cozy vibes. I like the idea of playing soft and soothing music in the background.

Whether the surroundings are inspiring or not, we all have this wonderful ability to create this feeling from the inside out. Our emotions are these powerhouses of energy that literally transform any now moment for us. We can, with the power of our minds, create a feeling of something cozy and nourishing within us to generate that feeling perceptually. It can be helpful to outfit your space with physical reminders/queues, it could make the process much easier, sure, but it's not required. The best thing to do would be to sit in a quite and safe place then recall a moment in your past when you felt cozy. Closing your eyes and remembering the last time you had joy in a cozy moment. If you’re having difficulty, invoking one of the senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste) would be a tremendous aid to trigger the memory recall action. Perhaps the sounds of a crackling fire, the smell of fresh hot chocolate or baked apple crisp, maybe the touch of some fuzzy PJ’s or the taste of chamomile tea. Actually, the one that will likely have the most success is through your olfactory sensors in your nose. These odor-invoked autobiographical memories are most effectively and more vividly triggered by distinct smells. I’m sure we all have those smells that transport us back to a place and time. For me, it's different lotion for various vacation destinations. Every time I catch a whiff of this one specific brand of body lotion, I am instantly swept away to Nantucket Island when I was 23. I get all the sentimental feelings with it, joy and excitement of my youth, because my olfactory sensors were activated.

So I invite you to recall your last blissful moment of coziness.

Where were you?

Who were you with?

What were you doing? Eating? Sipping? Reading?

What did it feel like?

Really feel like. Hold onto that feeling for a moment or three. I bet if you do you’ll be cozy as can be.