Stop! Hygge time
Hygge, pronounced hue-guh, is a Danish word meaning feeling cozy and comfortable. It is one of the reasons I started MŌR JOY. I was on vacation in northern Minnesota during a cold, dark winter. Rather than feeling cold and dark, I was surrounded by things that were warming, calming, and comforting. Hygge is more of a feeling than something you can buy, but there are things you can do to create a hygge mood right at home.
Create a hygge space
Create a space that is all yours. A space dedicated to your enjoyment and comfort. It doesn’t have to be a big space. It can be a corner of a room or a nook in the basement. It can be a small table or desk or maybe a favorite chair and fluffy pillow.
After you create a hygge space, fill it with things that give you joy and make you happy. A super soft blanket, a soothing light, and a candle with your favorite scent. Fill the space with simple pleasures like dark chocolate, an aromatic tea, or a big mug of coffee. Put happy pictures on the wall so no matter where you look, you are reminded of how much you have to be thankful for - your family, friends, a pet, and travel destinations.
Dedicate space for your favorite books so when you are sitting in the space, you are reminded of all the great stories you’ve read and great minds you admire. Create a playlist just for hygge-time that has quiet, warm, soothing music and tones. Warm lighting, like what you’d see during a sunrise or sunset is good for the soul compared to bright, blaring lighting. Stringing small white lights around the shelving can make it feel festive year round. A fireplace is a sure way to feel warm and cozy. If you don’t have a fireplace, a small heater or warm slippers are a good alternative.
Research has found that simply seeing or being around nature can help you feel more calm and relaxed. Add some plants or flowers to your hygge space or put up pictures of nature.
Stop for hygge time
Even if you create the perfect hygge space, most people can’t spend all day there. Life gets busy and we get distracted. But there are ways to consciously put more hygge into your day, even when things are crazy.
We know that rest and recovery are vital components to an athlete's training regime. After being challenged, the body needs time to heal with rest. Even if you aren’t training for the Olympics, for many of us, our daily schedules can feel like we are training for a marathon. Non-stop meetings, endless emails, multiple schedules, running a household, and trying to make time to eat, exercise, and get the right amount of sleep. But why don’t we ever talk about the importance or recovery for us working warriors? Maybe it’s because an athlete has a very prescriptive plan they follow based on research and science. Until recently, due to the extraordinary stresses of the pandemic, there hasn’t been much research on the benefits of resting for an average person. We haven’t found that perfect formula because everyone is different in how they handle stress and recover from stress. But there are some tried and true things you can do to help prevent being overwhelmed.
Deepak Chopra created an acronym that is easy to remember and helpful in stressful times. The acronym is S-T-O-P and reminds us to stop and slow down when things are hectic.
“S” stands for stop. Stop what you are doing and take a moment to break away from whatever is causing you stress.
“T” means to “take three deep breaths”. When we are tense and busy our breathing can become shallow. Just the simple task of bringing in more oxygen can slow your heart rate, increase blood flow, and induce relaxation.
“O” is to “observe”. Pay attention to how you feel. How is your breathing? What sounds do you hear? What are you seeing? Look up at the world instead of staring down at your computer or phone. The further your gaze the better. Use all of your senses.
“P” means to proceed with awareness and compassion.
Another technique that seems obvious but isn’t so easy, is “doing nothing”. The benefits of meditation are highly touted. Just 10 minutes a day can be life-changing. But, to some, the idea of meditating can be overwhelming and stressful as it comes with the expectation of doing something vs. doing nothing. Instead, let yourself just sit and do nothing. See what happens. Don’t put any rules around sitting, just allow it and see what happens. You may be pleasantly surprised.
“When nothing is done, nothing is left undone”
The next time you get carried away with the stressors of everyday, remember to stop - hygge time!
