By now you’ve probably heard of the Danish and Norwegian concept of Hygge (pronounced “hoo-ga”). The Danes are described as the happiest people in the world, and with Hygge being such a large part of their lives, we think it’s definitely worth getting on board with.
With the cosy season well and truly at our doorsteps it’s time to think about the fun and rewarding ways this “cocoa by candlelight” concept can be brought into your cold winter evenings, so snuggle up by the fire with your favourite journal and get cosy.
Hygge Habits
Much like gratitude journalling and habit tracking, Hygge is also about bringing positive habits into your routine. A fun way to make room for cosy activities is to create a Hygge habit tracker and jot down all the habits you’d like to start doing. You could even create a Hygge checklist of all the essentials you need to feel extra cosy, warm and relaxed.
To help you get started, Hygge can be categorized under a few core concepts.
Lighting
It’s important to create a calming atmosphere with no harsh lighting, and make sure to light some candles – lots of candles
Togetherness
Invite your nearest and dearest over
Food and drink
Lots of stews, thick soups, crusty rolls and warming spices, like cinnamon and nutmeg. Anything baked or homemade is also good!
Clothing
Chunky knits and fluffy socks
Bring the outdoors in
The Danes love to bring the natural de-stressing power of nature inside: think furry throws, wooden accents and plants
Hygge is ultimately about an atmosphere and an experience, rather than about things – to appreciate the here and now. So with the holidays coming up, think about how you could give the gift of Hygge to a loved one and encourage them to take time for themselves and unwind, or invite your loved ones around and share a home-cooked meal with hot drinks and warm blankets aplenty. After all, that’s what the cosy season is for!
About Paperblanks: When creating our Paperblanks line, we were driven by a desire to keep the beauty of books alive. By drawing inspiration from great artists and craftspeople, our aim is to help you feel inspired and creative every day and to help you create your own personal pieces of art. For more about Paperblanks and our journals, visit our website at paperblanks.com.
