“Fire is needful to him who is come in, and whose knees are frozen; food and rainment a man requires, wheo’er the fell has travelled.” – Hávamál (“Sayings of the High One” – Thorpe) Stanza 3
Winter is a notoriously tough season. In the aftermath of joyous holidays, depending on religion/area, we are left with cold and dark days. In many parts of the world, inhabitants wake up to darkness and leave work to darkness. For most, human hibernation sets in. With this extreme lack of vitamin D, it’s easy to understand the term “seasonal depression”. Dreading a season which is guaranteed to come once a year seems silly, so we decided to turn to the best winter experts we could think of: the Nordic countries.
Enter in the concept of Hygge. Hygge /ˈho͞oɡə,ˈho͝oɡə/ (noun, Oxford Definition): a quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being (regarded as a defining characteristic of Danish culture). The word has roots in the Norse word “hugga” (verb), meaning to comfort and console. This is also considered the source for the modern English word “hug”.
Nordic countries rank among the happiness in the world, despite Polar Night (darkness lasting for more than 24 hours), which can stretch for weeks to months depending on location. Obviously the ranking is based on many factors, but one take away is the concept of hygge. Hygge targets what happens after a hard day’s work. A focus on the pursuit of everyday happiness.
Break the hibernation mold by inviting friends over for a meal, spend time cuddled up in blankets with your family, or host a game night. Hygge could also be personal: read a favorite book, make a hot drink in your favorite mug, or spend time focusing on gratitude. Hygge helps you banish the darkness and replace it with happiness and contentment. Be aware, it is not an end-state. Unfortunately, lighting one hundred candles in your bedroom will not cause the sun to suddenly appear. Instead, it’s an approach to daily life. Dark at 4pm? Gives you plenty of evening to play with. Horrific snow storm? Enjoy being safe at home with those you love or put on your snow gear and go play.
Action: Experience a taste of hygge. Pick one solo approach for the week and one social approach.
Hints: work on your goals, actually use your fireplace, start/resume your hobby, or read a book (paper format recommended).
Further Reading:
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