hygge goes beyond the IKEA life and living in a Scandi themed home. Trust me, those from Denmark knows how to live!
The Nordic country has set some living goals over the past few years which have left us all with this view of living a ‘hygge’ life – one that favours riding bikes, having extensive and well-used networks of bike paths, useful and innovative living arrangements, streamlined and tidy homes, and impressive, sleek design and architecture.
So how do we take a slice out of the Danish life? At the core of the Danish Hygge life, you’ll find compassion, comfort and community sits at the heart of Danish culture. They apply this to food, wellness and daily rituals – so it’s worth looking at how we can take on their approach and apply to our lives, too.
I took a little look at how the Danes find joy and pleasure in their everyday life, using their meals, food and daily habits to improve their mindsets.
Set a foodie scene
Sitting down to eat your food should be a bit of an occasion. Food is special, it nourishes you, it bonds people together and can be a form of entertainment. So instead of slobbing on the sofa with your pizza and chips, not talking to your other half, switch it up a little. Even the most simplest of meals can turn into a special occasion when you focus on the lighting, set the scene with a beautiful foodie layout, use your best crockery, and let your favourite music playlist create an ambience.
Just a few small changes that you make to your surroundings while dining at home can transform a meal, and lift your spirits too. Food is enjoyable, and it’s great to make it more of a ‘thing’.
Take more breaks and indulge
The Danish and the Swedes are big on taking a coffee break, which they like to call ‘fika’. Now they take this very seriously, and it’s kinda not an option to miss it! It’s an indulgent in life, taking morning breaks with steaming hot coffee, enjoying array of pastries on the side, and more so recently, not conforming to actual cigarettes but preferring vaping or e liquid.
Fika is about slowing down, enjoying nibbles and hot drinks, and catching up with loved ones. It shouldn’t be something we find so hard to fit into our daily lives. Think about how you can fit this in. You could even just try to head to Starbucks with a friend, but better still invite friends over, make them coffee, make it a lunchtime or a weekend brunch thing if you struggle in the week. It’s about relaxing, communication and slowing down.
Focus on cosiness
The word Hygge is all about cosiness, bringing those elements of safety and warm to your home and you life. Have a look at your current home setup especially now we’re in Winter. Does it give you those cosy vibes? If not, take some inspo from the Danes for how to do this.
Invest in an array of tea lights to be lit up around the home, plus floor lights and small lamps dotted around to add that element of light and warmth. Draping a few cosy throws or sheepskin style blankets over sofas and beds is also a quickfire way to add the cosy element – weighted blankets are currently a great option as you can get them in those chunky knit versions too, which look super stylish.
If the weather permits, see if you can go out and pick your favourite flowers and display fresh flowers in a vase in the kitchen to brighten up the space and encourage nature. It’s all about being mindful about how your space is set up, and the feelings it creates within you. The more it will positively impact your mind, you’ll be encouraged to enjoy your meals at home more, and even just the downtime you spend there.
Make each season count
There is a unique magic to each season. Summer, we have the lightest and warmest seasons, Spring we embrace a fresh take upon our homes with cleaning and refreshing the space, Fall we have warming foods and the excitement of Halloween and bonfire, and Winter is all about the crisp weather, frosty mornings and keeping warm.
Try to celebrate the seasons by embracing foods that reflect each one. Load up with fresh vegetables that are the current seasons produce. For Spring, it’s a good one for new potatoes and asparagus. Think about yummy recipes that incorporate this. For Winter, think about hearty stews with root vegetables, and large dinners with roast duck and turkey, and homemade cranberry sauce.
Light the fires in the home along with candles, and aim to make winter dining at home something to celebrate.
Live for the present
While meal-prepping for the week ahead and bulk buying to stock up for the family is the norm across the world for many countires, the Danish do things differently. They appreciate living in the moment, buying what they need, planning for the current day and day ahead, and focusing on fresh produce.
While this might not seem the most efficient way of living for some, there is so much benefit to this way of approaching food and life. You have limited options to work with for the current day and day ahead, which means you use up what you have, it encourages creativity for the ingredients you have access to, and makes eating fresh more accessible. Give it a go! Try to hold off buying in bulk and stocking up for a fortnight, and see how switching up your mindset with this can make an impact.
Leave a Reply