As a homebody who loves to live life centred around the hearth and home, in tune with the seasons of nature and seasons of life, it should be no surprise that I really love the concept of hygge and find that sometimes, I need to practice emotional hygge.
What is Hygge?
Hygge is a Danish (and Norwegian) concept that captures the cosy vibes of a snowy winter outside, while you’re sat inside by a warm fire doing quiet activities like reading, knitting possibly by candlelight with your favourite warm beverage, your favourite people or animals, and wrapped in blankets in your favourite comfy clothes.
It’s pronounced, in my Australian accent (with a nice bogan twang), “Hoo-guh” (or “hue-gah”) and literally translates from Danish to English as “fun.”
The main point of hygge is to slow down and relax in a cosy safe space, which is soothing to the soul and the body. Hygge for this reason boosts wellness on all levels.
Emotional Hygge in a Nutshell
Hygge is something I’ve really taken to, along with anything that promotes slowing down and taking time to get cosy and feel genuinely well.
While hygge mostly applies to the winter months where in many places it’s snowing, and cosying up is really the only option, it’s applied to many other life situations and seasons.
This is why I often practice emotional hygge.
I apply the principles of hygge and the activities commonly associated with hygge, but on a level that specifically soothes my emotions and brings me more calm and spiritual wellbeing.
I often talk about the seasons of our lives in a general sense. We can also identify what season of life we’re in as it relates to the actual four seasons and natural cycles. When we can identify which of the four seasons we’re in now, then we can take steps to look after ourselves accordingly and move with our natural rhythms.
If you’re in summer, you may be full of life and energy and filled with a vibrant productivity ready to get things done, make changes and/or live life to the fullest.
If you’re in autumn, things may seem to be slowing down, you may be drawn to restful activities or just rest in general.
If you’re in winter, you may want to rest completely and gather up some reserves. It’s a time of rest, relaxation, contemplation and going within.
If you’re in spring, you might feel like things are blooming and blossoming, opening up and coming out after a period of rest and dormancy. Activity is likely starting again and you feel renewed and ready to start fresh.
Note that none of these seasons are better or more desirable than any other (despite what a lot of people think about summer being the best season and winter being something to endure, which interestingly I find the opposite to be the case), and it’s very much an individual preference and opinion.
The seasons of your life will probably also take varying lengths of time, and may not follow a summer, autumn, winter, spring pattern, but then again they may. This is all very individual.
So if you’re in an emotional winter, it might be time to get your emotional hygge on.
I’ve recently been in an emotional winter, and at various other times in my life as well. What this looks like is a need to retreat, to rest, to go within and reset things away from the hustle and bustle. I’ve needed to really slow down and give myself some time to reset in a cosy and safe environment. At these times I don’t really feel equipped to tackle big things or to be productive all the time.
Slowing down and resting is something I’ve come to realise should be honoured rather than used as a means to be more productive.
So when I need to emotionally retreat, I practice emotional hygge.
Here are some things I do when I need an emotional hygge reset:
- Reading
- Knitting and watching tv
- Going for a nice long rambling walk
- Journaling
- Tend to my garden at a leisurely pace (and smell the flowers or watch the bees)
- Cups of tea in the sun
- Lots of time spent with my cat Sophie
- Wearing my comfy clothes
- Eating comforting meals and foods
All of these things I do at a gentle and leisurely pace (and often incorporate these things into my days to break up the ‘work day’ so I’m making sure I’m recharged and functioning at my best), without rush or shoulding or pressure.
I take the pressure off, do things I enjoy, and do the things that I need to do slowly and intentionally.
Final Thoughts
What season of life are you in?
How do you look after yourself if you need to practice some emotional hygge activities?
Let me know in the comments below or at [email protected]. I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Love,
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