{"id":56725,"date":"2017-03-09T07:15:35","date_gmt":"2017-03-09T12:15:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/?p=56725"},"modified":"2021-05-15T09:58:00","modified_gmt":"2021-05-15T13:58:00","slug":"hygge-fika-cozy-happiness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/lifestyle\/hygge-fika-cozy-happiness\/","title":{"rendered":"Hygge, Fika and How Getting Cozy Can Lead to Happiness"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Hygge,
Photo: Twenty20<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Maybe you\u2019re burned out from our crazy busy culture. Maybe you\u2019re tethered to your phone (a serious source of stress<\/a> according to the American Psychological Association<\/a>) or have fallen down the social media rabbit hole. Whatever the reason, many of us are trading happy hour for a night of Netflix, reading or DIY spa treatments.<\/p>\n

In your social media deep dives you might have seen fires, snuggly blankets, fuzzy socks and warm mugs of coffee<\/a> and cake flooding Pinterest and Instagram<\/a>, making staying in and getting cozy the new night out. And it\u2019s all thanks to our friends in Denmark and Sweden, who\u2019ve perfected the culture of comfort. Some even say it\u2019s the secret to why Scandinavians are among the happiest people<\/a> on Earth.<\/p>\n

Curious? We talked to experts to get the low-down on the benefits of getting comfy, Scandinavian style.<\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/strong>Single-Tasking: The Secret to Less Stress, More Productivity<\/a><\/p>\n

What the Hygge and Fika?<\/h2>\n

Hygge: n. the Danish practice of creating cozy environments to promote emotional well-being<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The cozy-at-home boom started with hygge (pronounced \u201choo-ga\u201d) \u2014 the Danish art of coziness, togetherness and well-being. \u201cHygge is part of the cultural DNA of Denmark,\u201d says Meik Wiking, CEO of the Happiness Research Institute<\/a> and author of The Little Book of Hygge<\/a><\/em>. \u201cPerhaps hygge is to the Danes what freedom is to Americans.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to Wiking, hygge feels like home. Think cuddling with a loved one on the couch, sharing food and drink<\/a> with family or sitting around a roaring fire with your close friends while snowed in at a cabin in the woods. \u201cThe key ingredients are togetherness, relaxation, indulgence, presence and comfort,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s basically like a hug, just without the physical touch.\u201d<\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/strong>22 Simple Steps to a Healthy, Happy Morning<\/a><\/p>\n

Recently, the Swedish custom of fika has also become popular. \u201cFika is really just the Swedish word for coffee break,\u201d says Anna Brones, author of Fika: The Art of the Swedish Coffee Break<\/a><\/em>. Traditionally, you have coffee and something sweet like a cinnamon or cardamon bun or chocolate<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut it\u2019s not just a thing you do when you have free time. It works its way into the culture,\u201d says Brones. You can stop for fika whether you\u2019re at the office or have a day off. Brones says that at most Swedish companies people get a fika break in the morning and<\/em> in the afternoon. (Talk about work perks!) And unlike American coffee<\/a> breaks, where you down your coffee in front of your computer or while squeezing in another quick meeting, fika means taking a real pause in your day to chat with your co-workers and friends. \u201cIt\u2019s not really the food or the drink but the act of taking a break that\u2019s important,\u201d Brones says.<\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/strong>7 Desk Items to Help You Calm Down, Stat<\/a><\/p>\n

Get Cozy to be Happier, Healthier and More Productive?<\/h2>\n

Fika: n. the Swedish word for coffee break<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

While hygge and fika may mean hanging out in PJs and noshing on comfort food<\/a>, there may be something deeper that’s driving our need to know more about it.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s so much interest in Denmark and the rest of Scandinavia because these countries often rank highly on the happiness lists<\/a>,\u201d says Wiking. \u201cToday, when happiness researchers analyze the common denominators among those who consider themselves happy, a pattern emerges without exception that these people have meaningful and positive social relationships<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hygge and fika offer one way to build those connections while combating the glorification of being busy. \u201cWe\u2019re on information overload, work overload, communication overload. People don\u2019t slow down anymore,\u201d says Brones. \u201cThis provides a nice excuse to slow down. It\u2019s a reset. There\u2019s plenty of studies on efficiency and creativity that show that we need regular breaks.\u201d<\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/strong>12 Keys to Achieving Work-Life Balance<\/a><\/p>\n

In fact, researchers from Baylor University<\/a> found that taking short, frequent breaks during the workday resulted in fewer aches and pains, higher job satisfaction and reduced emotional exhaustion<\/a>. Another study<\/a> found that when we work longer hours, we\u2019re less productive.<\/p>\n

Being present<\/a> and thankful for the little things in life also plays a role, especially in hygge. \u201cHygge helps you to be grateful for the everyday because it\u2019s all about savoring simple pleasures. It\u2019s making the most of the moment,\u201d says Wiking. By practicing hygge, you get a dose of happiness on the daily, not just during your once-a-year vacation.<\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/strong>17 Ways to Get Back to Being Happy<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Hygge,<\/a>
Photo: Twenty20<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

How to Bring a Little More Comfort to Your Day<\/h2>\n

\u201cPerhaps hygge is to the Danes what freedom is to Americans.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Step one: Designate your cozy space<\/a> at home. Fill it with pillows, soft blankets, maybe even a big bean bag chair or comfy cushion. \u201cIt\u2019s the thing every home needs and it [should be] the place where you love to snuggle up in a blanket, with a book and a cup of tea,\u201d Wiking says.<\/p>\n

While you can practice hygge or fika by yourself, Wiking and Brones say there\u2019s a social component to both that seems essential to the special foundation of these ideas. Wiking suggests getting others in on the fun by starting a new tradition with friends and family. (Friday night board game, anyone?) \u201cAny meaningful activity that unites the group will knit everyone more tightly together over the years,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/strong>7 Products to Make Your Home Instantly Zen<\/a><\/p>\n

Brones recommends making a regular fika date with your friends to share a cup of tea<\/a> or coffee. While sweet treats generally fill the menu, savory snacks aren\u2019t off limits. And don\u2019t forget to give your brain a much-needed break at work, too. That could mean just five to 10 minutes of paging through a magazine, says Brones.<\/p>\n

Keep in mind, while staging an extravagant caffeine<\/a> break or surrounding yourself with cozy accessories has been tied to fika and hygge, they aren\u2019t the whole story. \u201cThe point is to rethink how you structure your life. Are you making it a priority to find some balance<\/a>, take a break and take time to be more involved in your community?\u201d says Brones. \u201cYou can\u2019t buy your way into hygge or a balance lifestyle. You have to create that lifestyle.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Swapping happy hours for cozy nights in just might be the secret to happiness. Learn why, thanks to hygge and fika \u2014 the art of finding comfort at home. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":41,"featured_media":56733,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,12,15],"tags":[148,187,253,117,282,341,378],"class_list":["post-56725","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lifestyle","category-mental-health","category-stress","tag-coffee","tag-happiness","tag-relationships","tag-relaxation","tag-stress","tag-tax1living-well","tag-tax2happiness"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56725","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/41"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=56725"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56725\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/56733"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=56725"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=56725"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=56725"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}