Denmark is one of the happiest countries in the world, and it seems hygge is one of the reasons why.
For those who live in winter-inclusive climates, the annual dread has probably already set in: How will you make it through the rest of the season? Is it possible to not be miserable as the days get shorter and the temps get colder? The answer: It just might be.
Not discounting the very real presence of seasonal depression that affects many people, for many others, shifting away from winter dread and disdain is a matter of mindset. In Denmark and other parts of Scandinavia, where winters tend to be even more brutal than here in the U.S., that’s done with the help of hygge (pronounced hoo-gah) — and it’s a way of life. They must be onto something: Denmark is consistently ranked one of the happiest countries in the world, coming in at number two on the United Nations World Happiness Report for the past three years. “The Danes are exceptionally good at decoupling wealth and well-being,” says Catarina Lachmund, Senior Analyst at The Happiness Research Institute in Denmark. “After our basic needs are met, we realize that more money does not lead to happiness and, instead, we focus on what brings us a better quality of life.”
That’s where hygge comes in. Hygge, a word with roots in the Norwegian language, doesn’t have an exact definition or English translation. It can be a noun (“Hygge is important to me”), a verb (“Let’s go home and hygge”), and even — in a slightly different form — an adjective (“Tonight is so hyggeligt”). “The true essence of hygge is the pursuit of everyday happiness,” Lachmund says.
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“Hygge has been called everything from ‘the art of creating intimacy’ [to] ‘coziness of the soul,’ and ‘cocoa by candlelight,’ and some of the key ingredients are togetherness, relaxation, indulgence, presence, and comfort,” Lachmund says. “It’s basically like a hug, just without physical touch.” She continues, citing the CEO of The Happiness Research Institute and author of The Little Book of Hygge Meik Wiking, who Lachmund says “believes [hygge] is largely down to the Danish way of living life. Danes focus on the small things that really matter, including spending more quality time with friends and family and enjoying the good things in life.”
While hygge can be practiced year-round, winter presents the perfect opportunity for leaning into it, particularly in places where winter is defined by cold temperatures and short days. Mads Klarborg, Creative Director for the longstanding Danish lifestyle company Klarborg, says hygge in Danish culture originally took hold during the winter as an antidote to the harsh climate and limited sunlight. “You had to crowd together into your homes to get warm,” he says. “You’d have lights and you got to spend a lot of time with your family and friends.”
A hygge mindset could even mean you’ll look forward to winter, rather than just endure it. “People look at it as an opportunity to spend more time with family and friends, and you don’t have to go out all the time,” Klarborg says. “You can just have a good time in your home, find a warm blanket, light the fireplace, and relax.”
Keep reading for more tips from Klarborg and Lachmund on how to hygge your way through this winter.
Make Hygge a Conscious Choice
Hygge isn’t something that happens passively. “It’s a mindset we use in our everyday lives,” Klarborg says. “We can have a bad day at work, and nothing is going as planned, and when we get home to our families, we can just say, ‘Okay, now I want to forget about the bad day; I want to hygge.’ You put all the bad things aside and decide for yourself, ‘Now I’m going to hygge.’”
The same goes for your interactions with others: Klarborg explains that in Denmark, people “agree that hygge is an important aspect of everyday life.” Families and groups of friends are all in on the hygge mindset and plans; they gather together intentionally, they create traditions, and they prioritize the hyggeligt vibes.
Gather With Your People
Hygge, in fact, is inherently social. “Our social relationships are one of the key factors for happiness,” Lachmund says. “It is especially those social connections that create the association between hygge and happiness.”
For those of us who connote “socializing” with exhausting (even if fun) outings, rather than recharging moments, it’s key to separate hygge as a much more low-lift experience. “Ultimately, hygge is about being with close family and friends,” Lachmund says, sharing an anecdote about a self-proclaimed introvert who was pleasantly surprised by hygge. “While she was brought up to take part in social activities with lots of people — in the realm of an extrovert — she found that hygge suited her much more as a way of socializing without being draining.”
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Think small: “Hygge can be practiced in any form of community,” Lachmund says, later adding, “Hygge is about feeling safe and secure and, ultimately, you know it when you feel it. It can be cuddling up to a loved one on the sofa or sharing comfort food with your closest friends… Eat cake with friends, make sure the lighting is right, and seek to create the perfect hyggekrog (a cozy nook or space to curl up and relax) in your home.”
Set the Stage
Your environment plays an important part in a successful hygge moment — especially when the outdoors are dark and dreary. “We have a really long tradition of lighting a lot of candles,” Klarborg says. You don’t necessarily have to go the candle route, he notes, but cozy lighting — think table lamps rather than overhead bulbs — goes a long way.
Focus on the Now
That said, that the perfect set-up works only if you’re fully present. “Candles and blankets are tools to increase the feeling of hygge — but wrapping yourself in a blanket while rushing from one meeting to the other won’t make this stressful situation hyggeligt,” Lachmund says.
“The work-life balance in Denmark allows Danes to make time for hygge,” she notes. While the U.S. may not have a similar national buy-in, if you can control your own work-life balance, your hygge aspirations will benefit from tipping the scales toward the latter. “Hygge is about the now: how to enjoy the moment and make the best of it.” As Klarborg notes, there’s an element of mindfulness in the hygge lifestyle and mindset.
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Skip the Shopping List
During Klarborg’s recent trip to the U.S., he says lots of people expressed interest in hygge but frequently asked what to buy to achieve it. “You don’t have to buy anything,” Klarborg says. “Some companies will just print the word ‘hygge’ onto the back of a chair and say, ‘You’ll get hygge [for] only $900.’”
Sure, you may want to buy a few new candles or a cozy blanket, but you don’t need to do any of that. “You have to agree that hygge is something you can create yourself,” Klarborg says. “You don’t need a chair [with] a stamp saying ‘hygge.’ You just need your home and your family, and maybe something you like to do. Some people like to do puzzles; I like to lean back, have a cup of coffee, and talk with my wife about how the day went and make plans for the future.”