“To follow a hygge lifestyle, you must regularly and mindfully practice the things that bring you solace.”
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you will have come across the Danish and Norwegian practise of ‘hygge’. The theme of cosiness and enveloping oneself in a relaxing or warm atmosphere can sometimes feel like a pipedream – especially as a parent – but it doesn’t have to be overly complicated.
You can make small changes that can add a sprinkle of hygge into your everyday life and when better to try than the month of love, February.
Hygge can mean something different to everyone. Used as both a noun and an adjective in Denmark, it represents a way of life more than just one or two things. Essentially, to follow a hygge lifestyle, you must regularly and mindfully practice the things that bring you solace.
Everyday items that are considered ‘hygge’:
- Candles
- Fireplaces
- Tracksuit bottoms
- Blankets
- Comfort food
- Hot drinks
If there’s something specific to you and your life that makes you feel warm, comfortable, and at peace, regularly indulging in that something is classed as hygge. For parents, creating a cosy atmosphere that allows you to unwind physically and mentally becomes even more crucial, for your well-being and the children’s. Life can get so busy, it’s true, and with multiple responsibilities on the go, and our mobile phones making us accessible 24/7, it can be easy to get swept up in the type of behaviour that actually prevents us from feeling relaxed and calm.
This includes:
- Staring at a phone or computer screen all day
- Spending too much time indoors alone
- Purchasing unnecessary products just to be ‘on trend’
Remember to look after yourself – As a parent, it may feel like your own well-being has taken inferiority over your kids’, which can be a common occurrence. In what feels like a blink of an eye, you’ve gone from having just yourself to look after to now having a whole other life that’s completely dependent on you. To practice hygge make sure you carve out time to look after yourself. Simple things like having a hot bubble bath, making a cup of tea, putting on a fresh pyjama set, and snuggling up with your favourite book all count towards a more hygge life.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help – parenting is stressful – but remember that you’re not alone! To enforce feelings of cosiness and serenity, you need to reduce feelings of worry and tension and asking for help can tip the scales in hygge’s favour.
Don’t feel like you’re being a burden, either. Chances are that the family and friends around you will want to help. Even if it’s asking a friend or relative to babysit for one hour while you catch up on life admin. Whatever would be helpful to you and your situation, don’t be afraid to ask.
Detox from technology – If you get a spare minute or two to yourself, try not to reach for your phone or spend that sacred time on the computer. Mobile devices and heavy social media usage can lead to both psychological and physical issues and, therefore, should always be used sparingly.
Try a detox from technology. Keep any unnecessary technology out of sight and allocate yourself a specific point in the day when you’re allowed just fifteen or twenty minutes to use it. Not only is this good for your health, but it’s also a simple way to practice hygge and reap the benefits of doing so.
What’s NOT considered Hygge:
- Remove screens from the equation, blue light and relaxing are not a good combination
- Don’t set an agenda, hygge is more of a feeling that an activity. It’s meant to be enjoyed, not part of a rigid schedule.
- Don’t choose an activity because you think you ‘ought’ to like it. Hygge is all about feeling and embracing comfort in what you enjoy, not what the internet tells you to.
- Genuine hygge is enjoying the moment and is not performative. If you’re doing it for the #hygge online audience, then it’s probably more about the likes than the feeling you get.
