Hygge and Minimalism
Brrrr! It’s getting chilly! We haven’t turned the heat on in our Minnesota house yet, so we are counting on the sun to warm us up. Our electric fireplace even stopped working and we only used it once.
This time of year always causes me to want to curl up with a fuzzy blanket and a hot cup of coffee or tea. Have you heard the term “hygge”? The word hygge always pops up this time of year, even though the concept applies year-round.
If you haven’t heard of hygge or you need a refresher, grab a blanket and a hot cup of something to drink, and we’ll learn about hygge together and find simple ways to apply it to our lives.
What is Hygge?
Hygge is a word that comes from arguably the happiest country in the world: Denmark.
This word is so engrained in Denmark’s culture, probably mostly due to the people’s need to survive the long winters that could cause them to be unhappy or even depressed. They know how important it is to find a way to enjoy life during their long, frigid winters.
This is something we in Minnesota can definitely get behind!
Hygge is difficult to explain in that there isn’t a direct translation. It’s a Danish word that represents a state of being cozy, comfortable, or content. It is the word the Danish use for enjoying the simple things in life. It is a word that is hard to explain because it was meant to be felt.
Hygge is a state of well-being.
In case you are brave enough to share this word out loud with another human being, hygge is pronounced somewhere between “hue-gah” and “hoo-gah”. Go ahead and try it. Didn’t want you making a fool out of yourself.
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What Does Hygge Have to Do with Minimalism?
Hygge is a complement to the minimalist lifestyle in that the focus is on getting the most out of life.
It’s about being content with what you have, enjoying life’s moments, and prioritizing what matters. It’s about creating a cozy and welcoming life for your own soul and others.
So, hygge is also about community. It’s about enjoying life WITH good people.
For more information on minimalism, check out this post I wrote on simple living and minimalism.
Simple Ways to Bring Hygge to Your Life
If a little hygge is starting to sound good for your soul, try some of these ways to bring some coziness to your life:
- Curl up with a blanket and relax.
- Drink something warm while reading a book.
- Use throw pillows and blankets to create a welcoming and comfy atmosphere for guests.
- Choose a home that’s small and cozy instead of large and empty-feeling.
- Turn off the lights and light some candles or turn on lamps.
- Sit by the fire.
- Sit back and play a game with some friends or family.
- Single task and give attention to your experiences.
- Bake some cookies or make a pot of soup.
- Gather with your friends or family for a meal.
- Soak in the tub with the lights down.
- Give someone a hug.
- Cuddle with your kids or significant other.
Forget life’s worries. Be present in the moment. Be warm towards yourself and others. That’s hygge.
What do you think of the concept of hygge? Share with us in the comments!
Loved this and saved to pinterest as reminder to reread this winter.
Thanks for reading and sharing! I’ll have to write another post about how to bring more hygge even in the summer. 😉
I love this. I need more relaxation in my life.
Haha! Don’t we all? 😉
Such a lovely post – and perfect timing for me to find this! Thank you xx
Thanks, Erica! I’m glad you found it then. You are so welcome!
Lovely article. I really like the word hygge. It seems that it is my word for these days. I love to sit on the couch, candles lit and just enjoy the evening with a book or a good movie.
Me too! I’ve been lighting a candle every day lately or sitting by the fire with a warm blanket. It feels good to just “be” sometimes.
This is a term I only just learned this year! I think I’m a natural type of hygge person because I love being cozy and doing activities to help unwind and relax. I just wish I had a fireplace to curl up next to. 🙂 Thanks for the ideas!
Heather | http://www.heatherleguilloux.ca
It’s so good that you’ve made it a regular part of your life! Your life is probably a lot better and healthier because of it. 🙂
I love your writing, feels so easy to read 🙂 We often use ‘hyggelig’ in Norwegian and it has a similar purpose! I love how you tied hygge to minimalsim
Thanks, Julia! That means a lot. So does “hyggelig” come from the same concept? What does it look like?
I have heard of this term but didn’t quite understand it completely. Your post perfectly explains the concept of hygge and thank you for that!
Thank you so much! Now that you understand it, what do you think of it? 😉
Hygge practices are so simple but seems so difficult to live out sometimes. It’s hard to just sit, relax and enjoy life. I practice minimalism as much as I can and I think I’m doing fairly well, but still need some work on hygge. I love the simple recommendations list. Thank you!
I agree. We are all just so busy these days! It’s hard to just be.
I love Hygge living! But then again, I think I loved it before I knew what “IT” was 🙂 haha. Definitely try to practice minimalism more now as I get older. Thanks for sharing! xx Bee
That’s like me too. Same with minimalism. I’ve been working towards a more minimalist lifestyle for years without knowing that’s what it was!
I agree! Hygge and minimalism go hand in hand. They make a great combo, I think.
They do make a great combo! Thanks for reading, Carri!
This is a relaxing post. I’ve always like the concept of minimalism. Living a simple happy life, ain’t that beautiful 🙂
Thanks! I think a simple life can be a beautiful one for sure. 🙂