What is Hygge Life | 30 days of Hygge Challenge

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During busy seasons, busy moms around the world crave just being home. They need and silently ask the powers at bay to give them just one day at home. No expectations. No plans. Just blissful fun, laughter, or moments of quiet (and not the quiet where you need to find the kids to see what they did now). The Danes have cracked the code for improving life and balancing public and personal time. They call it Hygge, but what is Hygge life?

Before discovering this term, I had integrated it in many ways throughout my Seeking Simple Life journey. I honestly, didn’t know about minimalism, Hygge, mindfulness, or intentional living until I started my website and realized there were names for these lifestyles. How I simplify life is a mix of all four of these lifestyles because that is what works for us.

Now as I seek to help others along their own Seeking Simple Life journey, I decided this year to dig deeper into each lifestyle and try to integrate it more into our own life. So far we discovered that we are very much aligned with creating an intentional life, and have even raised our kids with intentional parenting.

As I dig deeper into Hygge, I’m curious to discover if it truly is aligned with other areas of my life. I suspect that it will align with how we slowed life down, so we could spend more family time with the kids. Self-care will be a huge benefit for Hygge life, I’m sure as it is about taking the time to enjoy life with those you love.

Join the Hygge Challenge

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What is Hygge Life?

Hygge was the word of the year in 2017 according to Britta Olsson, Author of Hygge: The Danish Art of Happiness. According to Britta, she explains that Hygge life is more of a feeling, a way of living, more than physical items you need to create the lifestyle. Although some of those physical items may help create the feeling for you personally, what you need will depend upon your individual needs.

When reading Britta’s description of this feeling of Hygge, I was often transported to a time when life was pretty simple, my childhood. The Hygge-type memories included many sights and smells of being with my grandparents or even being at home growing up in my small town.

The heat from the sun as I helped Grandma in her garden, then shelling peas with the smell of fresh bread baking.

The hum of a tractor as I sat beside Grandpa as he worked in the field.

My Uncle’s laughter, as we played games around the table at the end of the day.

Curling up with a book on a Saturday, after the chores were done. 

The feeling of the wind through my hair as I biked around town after school or on weekends.

The crisp, bitter taste of the first crab apple of the season picked from our back yard.

The sounds of the kids laughing as we played kick the can or red rover in the local park.

The Building Blocks of Hygge Life

Hygge Life, according to Britta, engages our five senses to create that feeling of Hygge: sight, sound, taste, smell, and touch. I call this The Rule of 5. Each one is extremely personal for you and your needs to create the Hygge life you need. What I need, maybe different for you and that is completely okay. After all, if we all were exactly alike, life would be boring.

Sight: According to Britta, taking in nature around you is an important aspect of Hygge life. This is not surprising to me, because studies have shown that nature is a great stress reducer. Learning to take small moments to appreciate the beauty of falling snow, or the strength and flexibility of a tree bending in the wind, or even the beauty of a wildflower growing along a hiking path is a great way to help bring balance in a busy lifestyle.

Sound: These are the sounds that you can hear during the quiet moments in the comfort of your home. For me, they include the sound of rain on the window, or the giggles coming from our kids’ rooms as they enjoy some much-needed friend time. It’s even the weird creaks that our older home makes sometimes.

Taste: Ah food! These, for me, are the foods that I love or bring a flood of memories from my childhood. Many of these items are homemade but simple foods. We weren’t gourmet cooks, but that aligns nicely with the Hygge lifestyle. Hygge is using favorite seasonings and ingredients in foods that you will enjoy. Making the meals enjoyable and nourishing to the last bite. They are not just meals to eat quickly so you can get to the next event.

Smell: Have you ever walked past a bakery? Think about that moment and the feeling you got during that moment of bliss. Was it a memory or a feeling of comfort washing over you. It can be created using candles (much easier on the waistline that food), baking, flowers, aromatherapy, and even the smell of a campfire.

Touch: The comfort in your furniture is just one way to create your Hygge lifestyle. A cozy blanket, the comfort of a luscious area rug, or even holding a hot cup of coffee in the morning before your busy day starts.

Join the Hygge Challenge

Creating Your Hygge Lifestyle

A large part of the Hygge Lifestyle is creating time with those you love: friends, family, and creating time for yourself. According to Britta, 78% of Danes meet with friends at least once a week. I don’t know about you, but as a busy working mom, the simple idea of getting together with friends once a week stresses me out. After all, it would be just one more thing added to my calendar!

I am a huge supporter of getting together with friends and having a ladies’ night out, though. I had one of those once a month for years and it was a huge benefit to my mental health. Maybe this Hygge lifestyle will force me to get out of my introvert comfort zone.

The Danes also consider lighting a hugely important aspect of creating a Hygge lifestyle. They believe that lighting creates the ambiance of Hygge and that feeling of comfort within the home. The furniture must be comfortable and inviting. Accessories are important for creating that comfortable, inviting home.

According to Britta, she claims that the Hygge lifestyle and a healthy lifestyle aren’t compatible. I would disagree with this. She claims that allowing yourself to indulge in food that will make you happy, is an important part of the Hygge lifestyle. What if you were able to combine foods that were healthy and appealed to your senses, allowing yourself to enjoy every bite?

Finally, finding time to unplug for a bit and enjoy time with friends, family, or even by yourself is the core of a Hygge lifestyle. It allows you to be in the moment and not be distracted by unnecessary noise.

30 Days of Hygge Challenge

As part of Britta’s book, I’m committing to going through her 30 days of Hygge Challenge. I’m expecting some personal challenges, but it will be nice to bring more Hygge into our life after the last few weeks.

As part of this journey, I promise to write about my day and my thoughts on the Hygge task of the day.  I hope that you will join me along this journey and add some Hygge lifestyle to your life.

The Danes have figured out how to balance public and personal life by using Hygge. They are considered one of the happiest people on earth. I’m looking forward to experiencing a small part of that lifestyle over the next month. Will you join me along this 30 day Hygge challenge?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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