Can You Hygge The Office | 30 Days of Hygge Challenge

Can you Hygge the office? It is Day 30 of my 30 days of Hygge challenge and I was tasked to add Hygge to the office. This took me a few days to think through because I don’t have a desk office at my day job. So how could I add Hygge to work when I don’t have a typical desk?

To work through this task I started thinking about what is Hygge life. The root of Hygge is building relationships and taking care of yourself by balancing professional and personal life. The Danes have mastered how to bring this balance through Hygge life.

I came up with a few solutions and will also list a few that were part of the 30 days of Hygge challenge. In short, there are many ways to add Hygge to the office, some are simple and others challenge you especially if you are an introvert. Keep reading to find how you can Hygge the office.

I’ve also created a Hygge Challenge that you can join. It’s free just click the button below and it is sent to your email.

Join the Hygge Challenge

Can You Hygge The Office?

Yes, you can and it is easier than you may think. Some may seem practical and others might bring you out of your comfort zone. In the 30 days of Hygge challenge, we discovered that home decor choices make Hygge life possible in your home. These same rules can apply in the office as well. They don’t need to mean a full renovation but adding small personal items can make the difference.

Adding Texture to the Office

If you have a home office adding texture to home decor is much easier because of the flexibility you have in owning your own space. You may not be able to add an area rug under your desk, but you can make your office more Hygge just by hanging an inspirational quote on your cubicle wall or adding a small figurine to your desk.

On one of my business trips overseas, I saw some “hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil” figurines that spoke to me. Unfortunately, I didn’t get them, but since then I found other ones that bring just as much pleasure and they are often on my desk underneath the computer screen. They don’t get in the way of my workspace, but they do bring moments of pleasure when I glance at them.

Is your office sometimes cold? When you are trying to stay warm but can seem to get warm, it will affect your productivity. The simple solution is to have a comfortable wrap available that will take the chill off and allow you to keep working.

Bringing a Photo to the Office

This is a simple solution to bring some Hygge to the office, after all, Hygge life loves photos. Have a picture of someone special on your desk. This could be of your kids, your spouse, your parents, even your pets. Don’t over clutter the desk though because Hygge is not about adding stress it is about bringing comfort.

If you don’t have room for a picture on the desk, can you change the screen saver for your computer? What about hanging a small craft your child gave you to your cubicle wall?

Bringing Nature to the Office

During the 30 days of Hygge challenge, we learned that bringing nature indoors is a perfect way to add Hygge to your home decor. It is more about adding elements of nature into the decor than just adding a plant to your desk. On that note though, I found it easier over the years to care for a plant at my office than at home, so try a plant for the desk if you like.

As for other elements of nature, the picture frame could be a warm wood or the small texture item could be made of stone or another natural material.

Connecting with Your Coworkers

There are many ways to add Hygge to the office on a personal level, but let’s talk about connecting with your coworkers for a moment. I’m a firm believer that a team works better together when they know each other a little more. Knowing what a person’s strengths are or what they struggle with helps balance a team for success.

As an Industrial Engineer, I spent many years learning about people and what worked well for them and what didn’t work for them in their work life. My biggest success came from getting to know that person a little more from a personable level. It was then that I started to build a relationship with the person, one that built trust and teamwork.

There were many times over the years that I was able to go beyond my current scope of work to help find improve someone’s productivity or help fix an issue that was a consistent problem. I’d happen to walk by them and see the frustration on their face or hear it in their tone of voice as they talked about something else.

It was the mindfulness and compassion within me that would help them find simple solutions to resolve the problem. Many times I’d have to build that trust with people before they’d open up enough for me to help. I’d use these empathetic listening skills to help find ways to improve their productivity.

If you aren’t in a continuous improvement position, how can connecting with your coworkers add Hygge to your life?

Warning: If you are an introvert this is going to challenge you.

Studies have shown that connecting with others is important to your mental health. You need to find ways to connect with someone, anyone. I’m not telling you to spend your workday talking with everyone in the office about your personal life. That wouldn’t be productive for you or them!

I am telling you that you need to find ways to not be “about work” all the time. It can be a simple “Hello” with a smile. Maybe you hear a coworker mention they want to become more active but never have time to go to the gym. Why not ask them to join you for walks at lunchtime?

Maybe it is making the most of your afternoon breaks and having coffee with your coworkers. This breaks up the day and will sometimes bring a good laugh to your day when you need it the most.

There are many ways to add Hygge to the Office, including dressing for comfort and confidence. I’m confident that you will find what’s best for you. What’s important to know is that Hygge isn’t just about home, it can be used at work as well. This is precisely how the Danes have mastered the balance between professional and personal life.