Is It The Key To Happiness?
When we were in Copenhagen recently, we saw the word “hygge” (pronounced hoo-ga) everywhere. We were browsing a bookstore, and I saw this book. I’d like to say I bought it from that store and took it home, but if I’m being honest, I actually bought it on Amazon once I got home, ha ha. I mentioned here that I had read it and loved it! If you are unfamiliar with the term hygge and what it means, let me break it down for you. The translation of hygge in English essentially means a quality of coziness and comfortability. Here is why I am obsessed with hygge-
In The Little Book of Hygge – Danish Secrets to Happy Living, Meik Wiking describes hygge “like a good hug without the physical contact”. The number one rule of a successful hygge is candles. If lit candles are not involved, it can’t be hygge. Every restaurant we ate in in Copenhagen had candles on the table. The Danes typically use unscented candles as they consider scented candles artificial. While I understand this practice, I see candles as a form of aromatherapy, with the specific scent I chose setting the mood I want to create. Another essential element of hygge is a warm beverage. According to Wiking, “hot drinks are what 86 percent of Danes associate with hygge”. The warm beverage of choice for Danes is coffee, and is so closely associated with hygge it has it’s own term “kaffehygge”. A proper hygge is not done alone, but with a small group of 3-4 people. Wiking also explains that “simple, slow, rustic elements are a fast track to hygge”. Who doesn’t love sitting by a fireplace with a cozy blanket and a warm beverage? Have you ever had that experience leave you unhappy? I bet that answer is no. Which leads me to my next point.
Denmark is regularly ranked the happiest country in the world. In fact, the offices of the Happiness Research Institute (yes that’s a thing) are located in Copenhagen. Meik Wiking, the author of The Little Book of Hygge, is CEO. This book explores the relation of hygge to their inherent happiness. Another key to this is their focus on work/life balance. After reading it myself, I think they are on to something. I find human behaviors fascinating. In another life perhaps I would have gone into psychology or anthropology. I recently saw that the most popular class at Yale currently is a course on happiness. I saw a segment on the Today Show talking about it, and the professor is releasing the class online for free! I signed up, and if you’re interested, you should too!
I have never read something that describes me more accurately. Might as well be my autobiography. I am very much an introvert and keep me social circle very small. In the Little Book of Hygge, Wiking explains that “hygge was the best thing that could happen for introverts” because it is “social without being draining”. I feel like I would fit in great in Denmark, but penetrating a hygge group may prove difficult as Wiking states that “Danes are not good at inviting new people into their friendship circles”. The Danes and I do have some key differences though- they are meat lovers and consume high amounts of sweets. I don’t eat meat and don’t particularly care for a lot of sweets. But that said, there are more than enough similarities in myself and the principal of hygge that have me considering that following these principals just may be the key to happiness.
If any of this sounds intriguing to you, I highly suggest you give this book a read. Even though hygge groups a typically small, let’s bend the rules and create a virtual hygge group together! I’ll bring the candles 🙂
-Ash