Getting' Hygge with it: 3 ways to get some Danish Hygge in your life

Hygge doesn’t have a direct translation in English, but it comes from a Norwegian word meaning “wellbeing”. But what exactly is it? And how could you benefit from it?

If you believe everything you read on the internet, you probably think Hygge is all about sitting round the fire in your log cabin in Denmark with your dog, wearing woolly socks and drinking Gluwein. But forget the stereotypes, the Danes say “Hygge” is about so much more than that. It’s an attitude to life which can make your home, and the people in it, happier.

In the northern hemisphere, Hygge is often thought of as a way to survive the long, cold dark, winters. “The Little Book of Hygge” refers to it as “togetherness, relaxation, indulgence, presence and comfort. So you’re asking, what does that have to do with me? (it’s 30 degrees in Brisbane today, right?)

Blogger Anna Lea West calls Hygge  “cosiness of the soul”. And we do like the idea of a cosy soul. Here’s our three top tips for introducing some Hygge to your life:-

Cycle everywhere – The Danes cycle everywhere. Literally everywhere. Did you know there are more bikes than people in Copenhagan? We’re not talking the Tour de France here. Grab yourself a vintage bike, go for a little jaunt round your neighbourhood, and see how happy it makes you feel.(we don't know about you, but this type of cycling makes us feel like kids again).

Don’t stay late at work – Danes have got the work life balance right. Time with family is of paramount importance. Why not try finishing work on time this week and heading home to do something fun with your loved ones?

Take lunch at 11am – with the sun coming up to early in Queensland, an early morning start can give you more time to fit things in before work. But it does mean you’re probably getting hunger pangs around 11am. So why not feed them? In many part of Northern Europe, lunching between 11am and 12 noon is normal due to the early morning starts. And eating lunch at this time gives you a great boost of energy to take you through the afternoon.

So there you have it. Your three step guide to getting Hygge this week.

Oh, and after feeling very pleased with ourselves over our play on words in our title, we’ve just been told “hygge” is prouncounced “hoo-gaa”!!!