With much of the UK moving into yet another lockdown, my household is still reeling from the disappointment of having our Christmas social plans cancelled. I love entertaining and look forward to meeting friends and family at this time of the year when most people have time away from work.

This is what drew me to the Danish concept of ‘Hygge’ which is pronounced ‘who-gar’ not Haggar like ‘Haggar The Horrible’, my favourite bloodthirsty cartoon Viking. Denmark is the world’s happiest country, and their happiness is attributed to the feeling of wellbeing they derive from Hygge.

What Is Hygge?

According to Meik Wiking, author of the bestseller, ‘The Little Book Of Hygge’, the integral DNA of the Danish people is their ability to take pleasure in the simple things in life and enjoy cosy contentment. In the hurly-burly of life, we forget that the ultimate purpose of our lives is happiness

5 Ways To Practice Hygge During Lockdown

  1. Home Baking During the first lockdown, there was a shortage of flour as many families enjoyed the joy of baking again. There is something special about the scent of freshly baked bread or cake wafting through the house and the family sitting down to share in the meal.
  2. Candlelight Flickering candlelight makes us relax naturally while bright artificial light takes us tense and alert. The Danish recommend sitting in candlelight cupping a warm drink to feel comforted
  3. Soft Knitted Clothes and Blankets Try lounging on your sofa wearing a knitted sweater with a warm throw around you to feel relaxed and comforted.
  4. Take Notice Of The People And Things In Your Home Hygge is learning how to appreciate familiarity. We have to learn to be content with what we have and as we stay at home under lockdown, this is a chance for us to practice making ourselves happy in our own home and environment. I have never appreciated the beautiful countryside around me until 2020.
  5. Be Friendlier And More Forgiving Instead of worrying about gaining weight or setting unattainable standards for yourself, allow the occasional extra slice of cake. Be gentle with yourself for now. You can hit the gym later.