To Hygge or Not To Hygge

“To Hygge or To Not Hygge” that is the real question Hamlet was asking in the Shakespearean play. Literally, he is questioning his own existence and some say perhaps debating his own demise, but let us (for the sake of all things happy and hygge) put the dark thoughts aside and surmise what he should have been contemplating. In this dark time of the year, and for some, this penitential season, it is hard to think beyond the dark surmises our mind immediately rushes to. In this way I can totally relate to Hamlet's way of thinking…but enough! What he should have been thinking was how to improve his mood, how to retrain his dark moody thoughts to something more uplifting. Now, I am by no means any sort of mental health doctor, but I do know happy thoughts lead to better outcomes. And what better way to create more happy thoughts than by hygge. I will now launch into three easy ways to incorporate hygge into your days so we can avoid the Hamlet mindset and shift our thoughts to the happiness that being hyggelig encompasses. 

The first thing you should know about having more hygge moments in your day is that it is not about pulling out the fluffy sweaters, lighting the magical candles, eating the sweet scrumptious dessert we now crave every minute of every day…it is about the power of pausing. If we take a minute in our busy world to pause over our breakfast, cup of coffee, look into the sun etc. etc. and give the time for our brain to recognize the good and beautiful–that is a true hygge moment. Yes, there are other things that can help make a big glorious hyggelig moment or event, but the beauty is in the mundane. The power of hygge comes from being able to pause and enjoy the little pleasures of life and to see the glory God created for us to enjoy.

The second thing we can do is the first thing, but making it a habit. Yes, I know another habit to be had, another thing you need to check off your to-do list, but really! DO IT! Don’t think of it as a habit, but instead give something your full attention for just a few moments. The scarce beautiful weather, the hot tea to be cuddled and sniffed, the hug from a friend…these are all moments we take for granted, but I bet if you enjoyed them and made a point of making them more hygge by simply pausing…there would be no question on whether or not to hygge. 

Now the third thing is really nothing…I just needed three things to say because everything is better in sets of three. But to be true to my word, the third thing is just a word of encouragement. If you are new to hygge, just take these small steps of pausing in your day and soon you will be creating hyggelig moments of memory. This is the endearing quality of hygge. You can pretend to be a hygge expert (ahem!) or never even know what it is and still be hygge.

In all earnest, I just want people to be more happy in what may be dark times. The only way I know how to be happy day-to-day is to hygge. As a new mom every little thing changes from day to day. And if I didn’t have those hygge moments and really enjoy the changes I see in my little (realistically for those who know him – big) baby then I would struggle to have some sort of happiness in the postpartum months. Thanks to hygge, I can relish in the moment and pause to be happy for where I am at--even in the most difficult times.