Decoding the Hygge lifestyle that's becoming a global sensation

Picture yourself sitting near a warm fireplace on an icy cold winters night. You are wrapped up nice and snug and your dog lies beside you. As you flip through the pages of your favourite book, with a piping cuppa hot chocolate beside you, then you look out the window and realise that it's Friday night and you don't have to go to work tomorrow. 

Does this scenario fill you up with happiness? If it does, then the Danish lifestyle concept, Hygge, is just for you! 

Hygge (pronounced as ‘HUE-guh) literally means ‘feeling cosy’. It's a lifestyle concept practised by the people of Denmark, where priority is given to things that make one feel happy. They take time off every day to indulge in all the good stuff in life and be present in each moment.  An ideal hyggelig (that’s 'hygge like') state would be one in which you're with a person, or a pet, whose company you enjoy. 

Hygge is also defined as the absence of anything disturbing, emotionally overwhelming or interrupting to what makes you feel euphoria. So basically, it's focusing only on what is comforting to the soul. 

According to Elle magazine, it has been known that because of Denmark’s harsh weather conditions, hygge has come to be associated with warm blankets, thick sweaters and fireplaces. Danes also associate candles with the concept, as it creates a warm and mellow ambience.

In recent times, this whole lifestyle has caught on as a major trend and has become a global sensation. However, it's existence in Denmark has been for years on end, and Danish doctors are even known to prescribe 'Hygge' along with medicine, as a cure for diseases.

As reported, Hygge expert and the author of 'The Little Book of Hygge', Meik Wiking explained that it works best when you don't have to contend with a large empty space around you, so ideally, you should be indoors. 

The Oxford dictionary added ‘Hygge’ to their ‘2016 Words of the Year’, because the concept went viral after being discovered as the reason behind Denmark's reputation as the happiest country in the world.

To conclude, I'd just like to add that while Hygge might not give you eternal happiness, it'll most definitely elevate your spirits for a fair amount of time, leaving your mind, body and spirit recharged and rejuvenated. And for those of us who don't belong to cold countries, and don't have the privilege of feeling cosy under a warm blanket, while it snows outside, simply practice focusing on things that make you feel alive and happy. That ought to do the trick!