With "Hygge: Definition of Danish Serenity" we are in the first part of the Series of articles about the Scandinavian elements for a happy and satisfied life and visit Denmark first.
There, they know "hygge" - a concept that emphasizes the role of cosiness and comfort for a relaxed life and thus sets a counterbalance to our fast-paced and stressful times.
Hygge has experienced a real boom as a trendy word in recent years and there are books worldwide in a wide variety of languages. In Denmark, hygge plays an important role in daily life and is deeply rooted in the country's cultural identity.
It is not so easy to find a suitable hygge definition. Because what exactly hygge is can vary greatly from person to person. It's always about what contributes to feeling good and comfortable – or "hyggelig" – personally.
Hygge: definition and historical roots
But I still want to try to give a hygge definition, even if, as I said, it's not that easy.
Where exactly the word hygge comes from is a matter of debate among scholars. From this point of view alone, a hygge definition is difficult.
Some say that hygge comes from the Old Norse "hyggja", which means "to think". But it could also be related to the Old Norse "hugr", which means "courage".
Then there is the theory that hygge comes from the Norwegian "hyggja", which means "to make comfortable" and thus comes quite close to the core of hygge.
The word hygge can first be proven in writing in Danish culture in the 18th century. So although the word itself has not been in use for that long, the historical ideas behind it have been "in use" for much longer.
Hygge and the Vikings
Because they probably go back to the Vikings. They were rather known for being quite uncomfortable fellows - the opposite of hygge. But in the cold and dark Nordic winter, the Vikings were also happy to make themselves comfortable in their longhouse by candlelight and warm food with their family.
And that's probably where the historical roots of hygge lie: hygge as an antidote to the lonely and cold winter evenings of the north.
In the meantime, however, hygge has developed into a lifestyle of its own, which ensures well-being and happiness all year round and is all about finding joy in the little things in life.
Whether you're spending time with your loved ones, enjoying a warm cup of tea, or simply curling up with a good book, it's all about creating a sense of comfort, security, and relaxation in your home and life as a whole.
Conviviality as part of hygge
Social contacts and the cultivation of relationships and friendships are an important part of such a hygge lifestyle. Spending time with friends and family and building positive relationships is therefore an important building block of the hygge definition.
By taking time to nurture our relationships and support each other, we can create a sense of community and connection that makes us happier and more satisfied.
And science also confirms this.
This is how a Meta-study , which examined almost 150 individual studies with a total of 300,000 participants, came to a clear conclusion: good social contacts have a life-prolonging effect, while loneliness has a negative effect on life expectancy.
So, taking good care of your friendships and relationships is not only hygge, but also healthy!
And there are many ways to do this: cooking a delicious meal together, organizing game nights or just going for a walk together are typical hygge activities that also have a positive effect on health. But small gestures such as hugs or laughing together can also help to create a feeling of connection.
Bringing more hygge into your own life therefore also means taking time with your family and friends and giving priority to this time.
Hygge encourages us again and again to concentrate on the essentials and to value our relationships as important building blocks for a happy, satisfied and healthy life.
Hygge definition and food
Good food and warm drinks – preferably with family or friends – are essential elements for more hygge in life. Because hygge is all about making sure you feel good and what better way to achieve this than through good, healthy meals and warm, soothing drinks?
Danish cuisine offers a variety of hearty dishes that are perfect for cold winter nights. Warm soups and stews in particular go well with a hygible atmosphere.
Also popular with the Danes: a good cup of hot coffee together with a piece of homemade cake or pastry. Or you can try a cup of hot cocoa or spiced tea as a pick-me-up.
Whether it's a home-cooked meal or a visit to a cozy café, enjoying good food and warm drinks with your closest friends or family is the perfect way to add some hygge to the day.
Hygge can also be done alone
But you can also live hyggelig alone. As part of the hygge definition, it is even necessary to take time for yourself to relax and recharge your batteries.
One way to do this is to read a good book or watch one of your favorite movies. If you take a little time out in this way and lose yourself in another world for a while, you get some distance from the stress and worries of everyday life.
Of course, this is a lot of fun in the colder season, snuggled up under the blanket with a warm cup of tea or cocoa - that's exactly the origin of hygge.
So at the next opportunity, grab a novel you've always wanted to read, or watch a classic movie you like, make yourself a hot cocoa and really relax from scratch.
Life is always about balance and finding the right balance between tension and relaxation – an idea that is not only hyggelig, but also forms the basis of the Swedish lagom, which is the subject of the next article in my little Scandinavia series.
Hygge outfit
But you can also bring more hygge into your life by choosing your clothes. Namely, when it comes to achieving hygge, comfortable clothes and socks are a must! After all, there is nothing better than making yourself comfortable on the sofa in your favorite sweatpants with cuddly socks.
The hygge definition actually includes everything that is warm, soft and comfortable - and of course this is especially true for clothing. Because nothing is closer to us than what we wear. Therefore, choose clothes in which you can move freely and in which you feel relaxed. This is another way to make your life a little more hyggel.
Slow down and enjoy the moment
One of the fundamental aspects of a hygge definition is to slow down, slow down and enjoy the moment. In this respect, hygge has many things in common with another trendy word of our time: mindfulness. Mindfulness ).
One is almost inclined to say that the Vikings were the first to practice mindfulness 
.
Most of us live fast-paced lives. We are constantly on the go and most of us have an almost endless to-do list, which seems to get fuller the more tasks you tick off.
This lifestyle can cause stress and make us feel like we're never really present in the moment.
To practice hygge, take the time to slow down and relax and enjoy the simple things in life. Instead of constantly looking at the phone or drifting off into the future in your thoughts, try to be present and present and perceive and appreciate your immediate surroundings.
Take a moment to sip a hot cocoa while you tuck into your favorite book wrapped in a cozy blanket while the rain patters on the window outside. These small moments of relaxation and appreciation can provide great comfort and lead to a more fulfilling life in the long run.
The importance of nature for hygge
We have seen that hygge is closely related to cosiness, warmth and well-being. But what does all this actually have to do with nature?
In fact, nature plays an important role in the hygge definition. Danes make it a point to spend a lot of time outdoors and connect with nature to create a cozy and peaceful atmosphere.
Hygge definition and nature go hand in hand
Because nature not only offers us a beautiful setting for relaxing moments and beautiful memories - it also has a direct influence on our well-being.
There are now a whole series of Studies , which prove that spending time in nature has a positive effect on physical and mental health.
Here is a little thought experiment:
Imagine in your mind's eye walking through a picturesque forest. Or you can imagine yourself walking along a beach. Make the inner picture nice and big and bright and as vivid as possible.
How does that feel?
Just the idea of such a walk in the forest or by the water makes us calm down and feel more relaxed. In such moments, we are completely in tune with our surroundings and forget all our everyday stress. The feeling of calm and balance sets in - that's exactly what pure hygge is!
How much more hygge do we experience when we are really out and about in nature?
Finding hygge in nature
Of course, you can't just walk in nature. There are a whole range of activities in nature that you can do to bring more hygge into your life.
Of course, this can also be a walk in the city park. But you could also have a nice picnic at a lake or you could do a real "bath in the forest", the so-called "Bath in the Woods". Forest bathing , which has many positive effects on one's own health.
For example, I like to be outside with my dog and roam with him through the meadows and forests in the area. Often I just sat down somewhere in nature for 2-3 hours and enjoyed the sun, the fresh air and the nature around me.
You wouldn't believe how relaxing an afternoon like this can be!
But even consciously listening to birdsong at the open window and even relaxing watching the clouds in the sky are activities that bring more hygge into your life!
By the way, you can also find some ideas and suggestions for more hygge through such activities at the Daily Flow! – Exercises here on Flowfeather.
If you have a balcony, you can design it with plants and create a hygge atmosphere. You can find many suggestions on the page Bio balcony by Birgit Schattling, to whom I have already referred several times. And if you have a garden, you have even more opportunities to use it to bring more hygge into your life.
Nature in your own four walls
But even if you don't have a garden or a balcony, you can bring more nature and thus more hygge into your own four walls. How about, for example, a cozy reading corner by the window with a view of the (hopefully) green backyard or a houseplant arrangement in the apartment?
With such small design elements, you can create a hygge atmosphere at home that makes you feel good.
The Danes also like to bring natural elements such as fresh flowers and plants into the home to provide a feeling of calm and relaxation. In addition, natural materials such as wood and wool are often used in Danish homes to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
Do the same and use more natural materials in your home and create more hygge in your home!
Wooden furniture and decorative items add warmth and structure to a room, while stones provide a sense of grounding and stability. You can also use natural scents such as essential oils or candles to add extra coziness to your hygge home.
And of course, in a real "hygge household", candles should not be missing. It is not for nothing that the Danes are the world champions in candle consumption!
By integrating these natural elements, you can bring the grounding and calming effect of nature into your own four walls and thus experience more hygge.
So, overall, nature is an essential part of the hygge definition, and the Danes have found ways to incorporate it into every aspect of their lives.
Result
Hygge is an important aspect of Danish culture and makes a decisive contribution to increasing people's well-being and life satisfaction. Hygge stands for cosiness, togetherness and closeness to nature.
The idea behind it is simple: create a cozy place where you feel comfortable and take time for the little pleasures in life - alone or together with your family and friends.
Nature also plays a central role in this: it offers both the space for joint activities and the retreat for relaxation. By being aware of these aspects, we can all learn from the Danish philosophy of life and enrich our own lives with a piece of hygge.