Denmark has been the happiest country in the world since 1973, and yet its people pay the highest taxes anywhere! To be “happy as a Dane,” you can simply adopt their recipe for happiness: take a break and practice “hygge.”
What exactly is “hygge”?
The word “hygge” doesn't come from Danish but from Norwegian, where it means something like “well-being.” It first appeared in Danish writing around the end of the 18th century, and the Danes immediately embraced it into their culture.
It is a Danish art of living, particularly suited to winter, blending comfort, safety, intimacy and authenticity, with a touch of joyful nostalgia. The term describes the sense of well-being that belongs to this season, radiating from candlelit interiors, the warmth of wood fires, a warm bath, woollen clothes, wholesome recipes. It's a more sophisticated, more outgoing take on Anglo-Saxon “cocooning” — one where you truly savour the simple things of everyday life and the people around you.
A few examples of “hyggelig” moments (the adjective describing hygge):
- Roasting chestnuts in the fireplace
- Picking fruit in your grandmother's garden, then making jam with her
- Hiking through the forest and stopping in a clearing for a picnic
- Watching the Harry Potter films in your pyjamas on Christmas Eve
- Taking shelter in a small café while the rain pours down outside
- Eating homemade pumpkin soup with croutons
- Baking an apple pie for tea time
- Doing a puzzle or playing Monopoly as a family
- Slipping into clean sheets after a hot shower
- Reading a novel
The principles of “hygge”
Take time for yourself
You slow down, you take the time to appreciate life, and you even learn patience and boredom. In our society, it's very hard not to feel guilty when you're “doing nothing.” And yet these moments are precious: you dream, you rest, you breathe.
Pay attention to small pleasures
Sometimes our routine absorbs us so much that we forget to be glad for what we have. Try to notice the beauty around you: the light at the end of the day, a neatly arranged shelf, a soft rug underfoot, a purring cat. Be grateful for what you have. To cultivate this gratitude, you can write it down in a journal: if you set yourself the challenge of noting 5 small pleasures a day, you'll no longer risk missing them.
Cultivate simplicity and authenticity
“Hygge” is found in moments more than in possessions, so there's no need to burden yourself with the superfluous — though that doesn't mean living an ascetic life. In “hygge,” quality trumps quantity: genuine, natural, kind relationships are one of the cornerstones of Danish happiness.
Live in the present moment
Doing just one thing at a time, mindfully, helps you appreciate the positive in everything. “Hygge” also lies in accepting outside elements, especially bad weather: you can live in step with the seasons, adapting to life's twists and turns! It only exists by contrast with less pleasant moments — a fire in the hearth when it's cold, a shower after a day outdoors, a delicious cake after hours of cooking. As they say, comfort follows effort!
How do you get “hygge” right?
Be yourself
Your true self. Let your guard down. You won't be attacked during “hygge” and you won't need to attack back. When you stop trying to prove something, you can connect with others in a far more authentic way.
Forget controversy
If your topic is too heavy, divisive or controversial, it probably isn't right for “hygge,” which thrives on a balanced flow and a light-hearted conversation. Complaining, negativity, judging and arguing have no place in the space of “hygge.”
See yourself as a member of the team
Everyone looks for what they can do to contribute, without being asked. This keeps any one person from ending up doing everything alone: when everyone works together to prepare, serve and converse, “hygge” is in full bloom.
See “hygge” as a shelter from the outside world
The time of “hygge” aims to offer a temporary shelter from the pressures of the outside world: social climbing, networking, competition, materialism. It's a place where anyone can relax and open their heart without judgment, whatever is happening in their life.
Remember it's for a limited time
Doing “hygge” can be hard for a non-Dane: no one trying to be the centre of attention, no one bragging or complaining, everyone trying to be present without arguing. If you remind yourself it's only for a dinner, a lunch, or a limited stretch of time, it will be much easier to truly enjoy it.
“Hygge” doesn't translate; it's lived — a Danish art of living that blends comfort, safety, intimacy and authenticity, with a touch of joyful nostalgia.
